Ozarks day trip: Fairy-like setting at Greer Spring Trail worth the drive

Not quite two-and-a-half hours from Springfield, the Greer Spring Trail in Oregon County of the Missouri Ozarks is well worth a road trip.

Good for hiking novices or more experienced types, the trail and its ultimate destination — a gorgeous cascading spring creek — is especially photogenic. It’s a great spot to indulge a passion for capturing the beauty of the Ozarks, for both photographers and those who just want to spice up their Instagram.

That's why we chose it for the first in a series of stories about photo-worthy outdoor spots near Springfield. We're calling it “Picture the Ozarks.”

Depending on how long you linger, the Greer Spring Trail can take less than two or three hours, leaving plenty of time to visit another trail or spring in the area.

We recommend stopping next to see the historic Greer Spring Mill, just half a mile north of the trailhead along MO-19 (west side). Then head to Falling Spring Mill (20 minutes away). No hiking this time! Just drive up, park and explore. It’s a great place for a picnic lunch — and of course, more photos.

What's so special about Greer Spring?

The downhill trek on the Greer Spring Trail rewards hikers at the end with a fairy-like creek ravine and not one hidden spring outlet, but two.

The second-largest spring in Missouri, its daily flow of roughly 220 million gallons of water cascades 1.25 miles through a shaded canyon before the Greer Spring Branch joins the Eleven Point River. Nearly two miles out and back, the trail traverses through an old-growth wooded section of Mark Twain National Forest — pretty enough by itself and certainly photo-worthy, especially with the reds and yellows of fall or when spring wildflowers and woodland dogwoods bloom.

But it’s the lush spring creek that will capture your heart as you capture its image.

Your guide to Greer Spring Trail

Accessed from a parking lot, Greer Spring Trail starts fairly level but soon begins traversing downhill. Hikers will cross a few wooden bridges and pass convenient benches.

While the well-maintained path is easy to hike, it gets narrower and rocky near the end. Hiking footwear, and trekking poles for some, are recommended. (And expect to take your time on the return trip when you’ll appreciate those benches. It’s all uphill heading back – which is what makes this a moderate hike.)

Near the end of the hike down, after crossing a final bridge, the sound of rushing water heralds the spring creek and a viewing platform. Stop at the platform for a first look at the creek through trees. From here, three sets of steps descend to the rocky spring ravine and a shaded bluff line.

The spring and stream

After descending the steps, pause to soak in the beauty of this unexpected gem. Now it’s time to explore.

Just left is a small cave, interesting rock formations and a small bronze memorial plaque to Doniphan resident Samuel G. Beaty. Descending further, moss-covered rocks, trees, ferns and lush green undergrowth make a picturesque foreground to the scenic spring cascades that look and sound like a mountain stream.

Whether you carry a camera or use your phone, the urge to shoot photos or video is irresistible here. Wander along the creek to find a variety of compositions. It’s a particularly great spot for long-exposure photography. (If you are the hiking friend of a photographer, find a comfortable place to hang out: You’ll be here for a while.)

While you can’t see them from the trail’s end, Greer Spring has two outlets about 250 feet apart from which water flows. The uppermost outlet flows from beneath a small cave. To view, pick and clamber your way upstream along a rocky rough path. Here, the spring emerges from a cave into a small misty pool banked by ferns and mosses, before it cascades into a waterfall and soon becomes a roaring stream. Banked by large rocks and dolomite bluffs, space in this area is limited if there are many other hikers.

To find the lower spring outlet, head back to where the trail ends and continue downstream. As a narrow path ascends along the edge of small rapids, the stream curves beyond sight of the trail. Watch for what resembles blue-ish boiling water where the second spring outlet roils and churns from its rocky bed to the stream surface. There’s more to explore for those who wish to linger, or return to the steps, head back up the trail and continue your road-trip adventure.