Kaintuck Hollow Trail - Hiking trail near Rolla, Missouri, United States - Description

Kaintuck Hollow Trail is south of the Mill Creek Recreation Area. Twenty-four miles of trails lead you through an oak forest, interspersed with hickory, cedar, dogwood, and pine plantations. There are several trail loops offering a variety of routes to match your experience, with lengths from one to fifteen miles. Walk through a natural tunnel 175 feet long or taste water from an artesian well at Mill Creek Recreation Area. You can visit Wilkins Spring Pond with it’s daily flow of 3 million gallons.

The trail has 9 sections-- Acorn Section follows an old logging road west of Kaintuck Hollow for about 4 miles. West from Acorn, Butterfly Section leads you down, through cedars, then over a dry streambed covered with large, mossy rocks. The Mushroom Section connects the Acorn and Pine Tree sections. Pine Tree Section is about 3 miles long. It runs parallel to a gravel road connecting Mill Creek Recreation Area with Hwy T. Squirrel Section connects to Oak Leaf Section, not far from the Natural Bridge and tunnel. Deer Track Section begins as a wide track. After passing a small lily pond, it loops southwest to Wilkins Spring and back to Acorn. Cardinal Section follows an old double-track on the ridge top for about a half-mile, where it branches to the east before descending into Kaintuck Hollow. Grouse Section runs south from Wilkins Spring intersecting with the Acorn Section.

From Interstate 44, exit #179, go south on Hwy T for 2 miles, and turn right onto Hwy P. Take Hwy P for 2.8 miles, turn left onto Forest Road 7550, and go 2.3 miles farther to Mill Creek Recreation Area.