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Granite boulders among the fall colors on the St. Francis River

Millstream Gardens Conservation Area

· Hiking Tiemann Shut-Ins Trail to Silver Mines ·

December 30, 2019 Comments Off on Millstream Gardens Conservation Area

Millstream Gardens Conservation Area near Fredericktown, MO provides spectacular access to the Tiemann Shut-Ins of the St. Francis River.  The hike between Millstream Gardens and Silver Lake Recreation Area will make you think that you are hiking along a river in Colorado.  I chose to tackle this approximately 6 mile hike on a sunny fall day in November.

 Trailhead

I opted to begin the hike on the Millstream Gardens side of the loop, and parked near the picnic area.  There is a very unique shortleaf pine standing guard over a bench positioned just above the river.  Some say that this is the most photographed tree in Missouri.  While difficult to prove that statement, these photos will show you why it draws so much attention.

  • Unique shortleaf pine in picnic area at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area
  • Close up of twisted trunk on shortleaf pine at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area
  • Twisted trunk on shortleaf pine near bench at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area

Tiemann Shut-Ins Trail

From the picnic area, I began my solo hike along the St. Francis River along the Tiemann Shut-Ins Trail.  The trail is earthen and rocky, and starts close to the river before climbing up along the hillside overlooking the river.  There are a few lookouts that offer scenic vistas, and plenty of places where you can wander off for a closer view of the shut-ins.  There is a 1 mile paved trail at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area that does provide some viewing of the shut-ins, but if able then the earthen trail by far provides the best viewing.

  • Tiemann Shut-Ins at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area
  • Bench on the Tiemann Trails Shut-Ins Trail overlooking the St. Francis River at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area
  • Long distance view of Tiemann Shut-Ins at Millstream Gardens
  • Cat’s Paw lookout of the St. Francis River
  • View of the St. Francis River between two pines
  • Low water at the Tiemann Shut-Ins
  • Tiemann Shut-Ins from above at Millstream Gardens

Solitude

Perhaps it is a testament to the massive opportunities for Missouri hikers, but somehow I found myself completely alone for the first 4 miles on this warm, sunny fall day. I took advantage of the quiet, and found a large boulder above the river to eat lunch and lay in the sun like a dog to take a nap. I really do enjoy the presence of people, at least some people, but I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend this day. The noisy river, the breeze through the pines, and the splashes of fall color along the banks made for a memorable day.

  • Granite boulders among the fall colors on the St. Francis River
  • Green grass, blue water, and yellow fall color contrasts with the pink boulders at Millstream Gardens
  • Large granite outcropping at Millstream Gardens Conservation area
  • Upstream view of St. Francis River near Millstream Gardens Conservation Area

Turkey Creek

Somewhere approximately halfway between Millstream Gardens Conservation Area and Silver Mines, the trail passes through Turkey Creek Picnic Area. The day use area is located at a bend in the river, and provides the perfect location for a scenic lunch for those traveling by car. I believe that there is a $3 a day usage fee, but not certain.

Picnic tables at Turkey Creek Campground
Turkey Creek Picnic Area at the banks of the St. Francis River

From the campground, I believe that the trail changes name to Turkey Creek Trail and climbs back up the hill along the river towards Silver Mines. This is my favorite stretch of trail, rugged with elevation changes, but incredibly scenic.

  • Shadows across the trail highlight the shortleaf pines mixed in with fall color
  • Turkey Creek trail sneaking between large granite outcropping and shortleaf pine
  • Turkey Creek Trail nestles up against large granite outcroppings

Silver Mines

I hiked only as far as the dam on this day, mostly because I again soaked up the solitude and the sun at the overlook above the old rock dam. With no one to push me along and no schedule to keep, it only made sense to enjoy the show. It is often in these moments that I find God’s presence in nature. And it is in these moments that I am at peace with the world and my place in it. I hope that I never stray so far that these simplistic moments in the wilderness are forgotten, or worse, ignored.

  • Old rock dam at Silver Mines Recreation Area
  • View downstream from dam at Silver Mines Recreation Area
  • Sitting on large granite boulder overlooking St. Francis River at Silver Mines

Only after lingering far too long did I begin the hike back to Millstream Gardens Conservation Area. I opted to pull myself up the rope that is mysteriously placed above the lookout. Soon I was back on the trail again, this time with an increased pace. Finally back at the Turkey Creek picnic area I ran into my first hikers of the day. We traded pleasantries and I left the young couple to enjoy the river scene I had just parted ways with. The closer I got to the trailhead, the more people I began to see.

Rope leading from the river up to the trail along granite wall
The life rope leading up the hill from the dam at Silver Mines

Under-rated hike

There is no doubt that this hike originating from Millstream Gardens Conservation Area deserves more attention. You can opt for really any length, and options range from paved to off the path. Use caution along the river, though, as the rocks can be slippery and the current fierce. This stretch of river is used for whitewater kayaking during periods of high water. That sort of recreation isn’t for me, but it would be neat to watch the paddlers from one of the overlooks above. So whether hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, kayaking, or fishing, I think a visit to Millstream Gardens Conservation Area is worth it.

For more information, check out this link:

https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/millstream-gardens-ca

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Paul McCaslin

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