grand gulf & mammoth spring

Today we went hiking at Grand Gulf State Park (Missouri) and Mammoth Spring State Park (Arkansas).

Missouri’s “Little Grand Canyon”

I’d heard that people sometimes call it “Little Grand Canyon”, and definitely wanted to check it out. After visiting, I can see what they mean.

Look out below!

It’s 130 feet to the bottom. At certain times of the year, this canyon can fill up all the way to where we were standing. The water drains out through the cave at the bottom, travels underground, and ends up at Mammoth Spring in Arkansas.

Mammoth Spring

We’ve driven by Mammoth Spring on the way to many adventures in Florida. Today was our first time to stop. It was quite a site to see, and we enjoyed walking the trail around the spring.

Along the path at Mammoth Spring.

eureka springs and war eagle

We decided to take Z to War Eagle. We took the older boys when they were close to his age, so it was time for him to see where I vacationed as a kid.

We went to Eureka Springs first, because I’ve always wanted to see Thorncrown Chapel.

Inside the chapel looking up

It was a really neat place. Then we headed down the road to War Eagle Mill. It’s a working mill on the banks of the War Eagle River.

War Eagle Mill from the bridge

We went in the mill, which had changed a lot inside from when I was a kid. We also walked across the bridge I used to fish from and saw the cabin we used to rent.

My “home” for a week during some summers.

War Eagle is special to me because it’s where my Grandad was born.