Whispering Pine Trail (Hawn State Park) Hiking Guide
Missouri State Parks says Whispering Pine is generally considered one of the best hiking and backpacking trails in the state. Built by volunteers from the Ozark Chapter of the Sierra Club in 1976 and 1977, it makes two loops through pine and hardwood forest in western Ste. Genevieve County, crossing Pickle Creek and following the River Aux Vases past sandstone bluffs. You can hike the north loop in a long morning or both loops as a full day or an overnight.
Distance and Loops
Missouri State Parks lists Whispering Pine as a 9.5-mile multi-loop trail rated rugged and estimates about nine and a half hours for the whole thing. Hiking Project measures the combined north and south loops at 10.2 miles with about 1,011 feet of climbing. The trail is signed counterclockwise with colored arrows: red for the north loop and blue for the south loop. Hiking Project puts the north loop at about 6.5 miles and says the south loop adds about 4. White Connector 3 shortens the hike without leaving the trail.
Creek Crossings and Footing
The trail crosses Pickle Creek on rocks, and the park warns of slippery conditions, low-hanging vegetation, steep grades and occasional water over the trail. After heavy rain the park has posted that Pickle Creek crossings were too high to cross, so check conditions after a wet spell. Hiking Project notes that the south loop is less traveled than the north and that the trail can get overgrown in summer.
Water and Camping
There is no water at the trailhead. Fill up at the park office or campground, and treat anything you take from Pickle Creek or the River Aux Vases. Backpackers can stay at designated camps on the trail, booked online in the camping section of the state's reservation site. All trails at Hawn are for hiking and backpacking only; horses and mountain bikes are not allowed.
Hours, Dogs and the Park
Hawn's gates open at 6:30 a.m. every day and close at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Whispering Pine trailhead sits in the day-use area past the park office. Leashed dogs are allowed, with Missouri State Parks capping leashes at 10 feet. The park covers 4,956 acres, and the trail passes through both the Pickle Creek Natural Area and the Whispering Pine Wild Area.
When to Go
The park singles out spring and winter as especially good times on this trail, with summer days ending in a dip in Pickle Creek and crisp fall weekends suited to backpacking. Missouri State Parks runs a tick awareness advisory from March through October, so check yourself after any warm-season hike here.
Hiking tips for Whispering Pine Trail (Hawn State Park)
- Fill water bottles at the park office or campground; there is none at the trailhead.
- Follow the arrows counterclockwise, red for the north loop and blue for the south.
- Use White Connector 3 if the group needs to cut the day short.
- Skip the hike or turn around if Pickle Creek is running high after rain.
- Reserve a backcountry camp online if you want to split the trail over two days.
Nearby trails to explore
- Trail Through Time (Pickle Springs Natural Area)
- Shut-Ins Trail (Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park)
- Mina Sauk Falls Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Whispering Pine is a long day or an easy first backpacking trip, and both go better with a group. Use TrailMates to find hikers from St. Louis for Hawn, decide on one loop or two through the event's group chat, and start together from the Whispering Pine trailhead. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.