White Oak/Woodchuck Trails - Hiking trail near Doniphan, Missouri, United States - Description

These short nature trails located in the Float Camp Recreation Area along one of America’s clearest and most beautiful rivers, (the Current River), provide excellent opportunities for enjoying the beauty of nature. A rich variety of wildflowers are present: yellow and purple wood sorrel, false Solomon’s seal, and false dandelion; catbrier and dogwood and horsemint; blueberry and coralberry; wild ginger and wild plum – each in itself is a wonder. If you use a magnifier on the flower of a horsemint you will discover how intricate its texture is: tiny purple dots on a pale white petal. Trumpet vine and Virginia creeper climb on large trees. Fleabanes look like small versions ox-eyed daisy, while the midget purple flowers of a scurf pea are humble enough to escape the attention of a hurried visitor. It is unusual but possible to find a skullcap (what a startling name!) with sawtooth leaves and purple and white irregular flowers. Bring a camera, and be prepared to relax and observe the wonders around you.

Woodchuck Trail: Woodchuck Trail is a half mile long trail connecting Float Camp Picnic area with the campground. It climbs a small hill in a well-shaded area under a mixture of sycamore, black walnut, shortleaf pine, and white and scarlet oak. Halfway along, a bench sits at the highest point of the trail. The trail exits on the area’s entrance road; on the right is Maldon Spring and on the left, the White Oak Trail.

White Oak Trail: White Oak Trail is a 1.5 mile loop trail originating at the Float Camp Picnic Area’s parking lot. A very nice sigh marks the beginning of the trail – a casual walk through a forest environment. The predominant species along the trail are white and scarlet oak, as well as some very large shortleaf pine trees. Elm tree are also found here. The trail is located near the Bootheel area in southeast Missouri; you find sweetgum and buckeye trees here that normally grow in bottomland swamps. The trailbed is unsurfaced native material and relatively wide. The lower portion was a logging road at one time. In the middle of the path, oak and pine sprouts are coming up; the new oak leaves are dark red. On the carpet-like green moss, you find a burning-red mushroom or two. Box turtles, forest interior birds, and squirrels are residents in the woods on both sides.

From Doniphan MO, take Hwy Y north 4.5 miles. Float Camp Picnic Grounds and Campground are on the east bank of the Current River and the trails are within the areas.