Cuivre River State Park: Hamilton Hollow Trail Hike

Hamilton Hollow Trail is a short hike through the tallest trees in Cuivre River State Park, which is located north of Troy, Missouri.

This is a 0.9-mile hike on a natural surface with an elevation gain of 92 feet.

*The main blog photo shows the trailhead sign. Pictured here is the stone picnic shelter.*

Start of the Hike

I parked in the lot at the end of Big Sugar Creek Drive. The trail begins near a stone picnic shelter constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, an organization established during the Great Depression to provide employment opportunities.

I located the sign for the trailhead and started my walk through the woods.

Logs are in place along the trail, so watch your step. Along the trail, look for green trail markers.

Back Section

I came to an intersection and turned right. If you go left, you can connect to the 5.75-mile Blackhawk Point Trail. Now, I was on the Hamilton Hollow Trail section, which follows a part of the 7.25-mile south loop of the Cuivre River Trail. This section of the trail is open to horses, and I noticed many hoof prints along the way.

Look for a trail sign on the right after a brief walk, which leads you to the last part of the Hamilton Hollow Trail loop.

Evergreen trees tower above me as I walk, and then I pass beneath some other large trees, reaching for the sky.

I cross a small streambed surrounded by wildflowers.

Finally, the trail emerges from the woods on the opposite side of the shelter.

As I walked back toward the parking lot, I noticed a pond. I walked along the field near the woods to my left and came across a sign warning against ice skating. I took a short detour to check out the pond before leaving for the day.

Final Thoughts

The Hamilton Hollow Trail is an easy hike that can be combined with another trail in the park. The Frenchman’s Bluff Trail is a 1.5-mile loop and starts at the far left of the parking area.

The state park is filled with trails, so if you camp here, you have plenty of time to check a few out in this 6400-acre park.

DETAILS

Restrooms are located by the parking area. More activities include camping, swimming, fishing, boating, and horseback riding, among others, in this large park. If you would like more information, you can go to the website.

Trailhead Drive: Take either Interstate 64 or Interstate 70 to U.S. Highway 61 and go north on it. Then, exit onto Missouri Highway 47 and proceed east. Next, make a left onto Missouri Highway 147. Follow this road, which becomes Big Sugar Creek Road, until it ends at the trailhead after passing by the Visitor’s Center.

Hours: 6 am – Sunset, daily, Year-Round — Camping is available

Trailhead Address: Big Sugar Creek Road Parking Lot, Troy, MO 63379