News Release No. 424

EXPLORE ROARING RIVER STATE PARK
ON A GUIDED HIKE OCT. 22

Volume 33-424

Contact: Sue Holst

(For immediate release)

573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 12, 2005 -- During the peak of fall color, take a guided hike through one of Missouri's most scenic parks -- Roaring River State Park near Cassville. On Oct. 22, a park naturalist will lead this four-mile hike beginning at 9 a.m. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the hike will begin at the park's Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center and is free and open to the public.

Explore the 2,075-acre Roaring River Hills Wild Area during the height of fall color and learn about the plants and animals that live there. Follow the rugged terrain on Fire Tower Trail into the wild area, where rare Ozark chinquapin trees thrive on chert-covered ridges and spicebush and ninebark bushes grow in the deep hollows. Twenty-six endangered plant and animal species live in or around the wild area. The group also will pass through part of Roaring River Coves Hardwood Natural Area, which lies within the wild area.

Participants should wear comfortable hiking shoes, dress for the weather and bring along water and a lunch or snacks. You may also want to bring a hiking stick, a camera and binoculars. The hike should last until about 2 p.m.

Roaring River State Park is located seven miles south of Cassville on Highway 112. For more information, contact the park's nature center at 417-847-3742 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit the Web at www.mostateparks.com.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/parkssearch.do.

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