Trail Through Time (Pickle Springs Natural Area) Hiking Guide

Pickle Springs Natural Area packs arches, hoodoos, box canyons and small waterfalls into a few hundred acres of sandstone in Ste. Genevieve County. The Trail Through Time is the only trail, a short loop that winds through the rock formations and down along Pickle Creek. The Missouri Department of Conservation calls the place a geological wonderland, and it earns the name.

no permit neededdog-friendly
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
2 mi
Elevation gain
276 ft
Trailhead
Farmington
sandstone arches, hoodoos and the Keyholebox canyons with glacial relict plantssmall waterfalls on Pickle Creekrose azalea blooms in spring
springfallwinter

Distance and Route

Hiking Project measures the Trail Through Time at 2.0 miles with about 276 feet of climbing and rates it intermediate; MDC does not publish a length. From the parking lot the trail enters the woods and splits, and you can go either way around the loop. Going left, the path opens into large formations including the Keyhole and the Terrapin, then descends stairs to Pickle Creek and Pickle Springs before rolling back to the lot. The grades are gentle, but the tread is rocky and natural.

What Grows Here

MDC counts more than 250 vascular plant species at Pickle Springs, including glacial relicts left over from a colder, wetter Missouri. Hay-scented fern, four-toed salamander, large whorled pogonia and ground cedar are among the species of conservation concern found here. Rose azalea blooms along the sandstone valley in spring. MDC also says an amphipod, a tiny crustacean, has been described from these springs and is known from nowhere else.

Getting There

MDC's directions are from Farmington: take Highway 32 east, then Route AA east, then Dorlac Road north to the lot on the west edge of the area. The area map shows a single parking lot at the trailhead. There are no facilities listed for the area, so use the restroom before you leave town.

Rules for a Natural Area

Pickle Springs is a designated Missouri Natural Area, and the MDC lists only hiking and bird watching as activities. Stay on the trail; Hiking Project notes that rocks off the path can be slick with trickling water and the ground muddy. Dogs are permitted on a leash. Camping, target shooting and collecting edible wild greens are prohibited here.

Pairing It With Hawn

Hawn State Park is a short drive away in the same county, so many hikers combine the two. A morning at Pickle Springs followed by a section of Whispering Pine at Hawn makes a full day without much time in the car.

Hiking tips for Trail Through Time (Pickle Springs Natural Area)

  • Go left at the first split to reach the Keyhole and Terrapin early in the hike.
  • Wear shoes with grip; wet sandstone and creekside rock are slippery.
  • Stay on the marked trail to protect the rare ferns and mosses in the canyons.
  • Visit in spring to catch the rose azalea bloom along the valley.
  • Plan restroom stops in Farmington, since the area has no facilities listed.

Nearby trails to explore

  • Whispering Pine Trail (Hawn State Park)
  • Shut-Ins Trail (Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park)
  • Mina Sauk Falls Trail

Hike this trail with TrailMates

Pickle Springs is a long drive from St. Louis for a two-mile hike, so it is worth sharing the trip. Use TrailMates to find people heading south for the day, sort out carpools and a possible Hawn add-on in the event's group chat, and meet at the Dorlac Road lot. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.