HIKE TO THE OVERLOOK
by john gilbert
April 3, 2019
(Click on any Image to enlarge it)
Before we can hike to the Eagle Bluffs Overlook, we first have to get to the beginning of the trail. There are mutiple ways to get to the trailhead, from the south or from the north. The south meaning you are coming from the Jefferson City, MO area or the north coming from the Columbia, MO Area. On this trip, I came in from Jefferson City, MO. From the south. I traveled Hwy 63N to Ashland, MO. Took the Missouri Y exit at Ashland. At the top, you will enter a roundabout and you will want to take the 3rd exit onto E Broadway. Immediately after crossing the overpass you will enter another roundabout and you will now take the 1st exit so that you stay on E Broadway. Continue on E Broadway for about 1.5 miles and take a right onto Hwy Mm. After traveling about 2.8 miles you will take another right onto S Andrew Sapp Rd. Stay on S Andrew Sapp Rd for 2.5 miles which turns into W Nashville Church Rd for about 0.5 miles. This will come to an end at Missouri N; however, there is no sign indicating Missouri N. At this T you are going to go right for about 0.2 miles then turn left onto Woodie Proctor Rd. Continue on Woodie Proctor Rd for another 2.7 miles then take another left on to S Smith Hatchery Rd for 1.4 miles. Turn left onto Old Plank Rd S for 0.9 miles and then continue straight onto S Warren School Rd. for just 0.2 miles. The trailhead parking lot will be on your left.
Now, folks, this is the scenic route and I must admit it was some beautiful rural landscape. It is rolling hills and winding roads. It was a pleasant drive. But there are quicker and easier ways to get there from Jefferson City, MO. Consider Hwy 163 to Route K, then go left on K until you reach S Mt Celestial Rd. After approximately 0.3 miles turn right onto S. Warren School Rd for 1.4 miles and the trailhead parking lot will be on your right.
Coming from Columbia, MO south on Hwy 63 take the AC exit. Go right onto Grindstone Pkway which becomes E Nifong Blvd. At the E Nifong Blvd and S, Providence Rd intersection go let. Stay on this road until you come to Route K and Hwy 163. Vear right onto Route K. Travel K until you come to S Mt Celestial Rd and go left. After approximately 0.3 miles turn right onto S. Warren School Rd for 1.4 miles and the trailhead parking lot will be on your right. There may be other ways to get there from Columbia, MO but these are the routes I checked out.
When all else fails plug-in these GPS coordinates. GPS: 38.850425 (38°51’153”N) -92.437020 (92°26’1327”W). This will get you to the parking lot. It is not a very big lot and will hold maybe 4 cars. There is also a message board in the corner next to the trailhead.
This is a decent trail and appears to be a grass road which is apparently used by a local farmer. The trail is marked with four-foot orange t-posts.
There are a couple of triangle markers mounted on t-posts along the trail to indicate a direction change.
This land road will pass by a silver metal farm equipment building at which point the trail narrows into a well-used trail. It is a one-mile trip one way to the observation deck. I would rate this an easy trail with slight elevation changes as you get closer to the deck. Lots of songbirds serenade you on your way. Right now there are no leaves on the trees and it was easy to see I was approaching the overview as I was able to see bodies of water through the trees.
The conservation department has built a sloping bridge to aid in your decent to the overlook.
Prior to reaching this point the trail forks and you can approach the overlook from another bridge to the north.
Back to my orginaly trail and after crossing this first bridge you will come to a series of steps to your final destination the Overlook.
Now just enjoy a panoramic view of the Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.
Well, this concludes another blog and I will leave you with one more set of GPS coordinates from the overlook itself, 38.849987 (38°50’.9992N), and -92.419425 (92°25’.1655W).
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