My Corner Online

Missouri Index & Map Other States Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9 Set 10 Set 11 Set 12 Set 13 Set 14 Set 15 Set 16 Set 17 Set 18 Set 19 Set 20 Set 21 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 Set 23 Set 24 Set 25

Castor River Conservation Area

This is a general map of the Castor River Conservation Area. It is HUGE. You can see in the above video as I explain the area on the south end which we visited for this day trip on October 27, 2024. We looked at the two camping areas, the shoot range, and tried to find Blue Pond Natural Area to no avail. Then we visited the Sweet Gum Access before driving home. We are sure to come back and check out the rest once we get our camper that we ordered.

This should not be confused with Amidon Memorial Conservation Area, Castor River Shutins, Pink Rock. This is a totally separate place on the Castor River not even close to this Conservation Area.

This is from the toilets looking towards the trail we hiked down.

There were lots of awesome Autumn elements along the trail.

This is from the beginning of the trail looking at the horse camp area.

We did not go too far down the trail as it got rougher and was more for horses than humans.

There was some Autumn colors while we were there.

This is the horse camping area.

This is the trail walking away from the parking lot at the shooting range. It was actually a nice walk and we might have gone further if it were not getting long in the day.

Some Autumn colors in the distance shining in the sun.

This is approaching a creek that went over the road. There was a nice sound like a babbling brook.

This is where we were and the creek was called Pond Creek.

This is coming back and the parking lot is in the distance.

We drove to the Blue Pond Natural Area. The map made it look like the first parking area should be here, but we were not sure.

This could be the first or the second parking area. The map was a little deceiving.

The sign showed we were in the right area. We walked up the road a ways as the gate was closed, but never could find the natural area. We may not have gone far enough up the road as we never saw another parking area.

This is walking away from the gate and our truck in the parking lot.

It was a nice walk up the road though!

We found this area which could possibly be a parking area. We walked around the line and took a short hike. We might have been in the right place and not gone far enough. We felt like we were almost there, but not quite, the entire time. Maybe we will find it next time. I did not have but one bar on my phone which was not enough to search for directions.

This is a scene from the parking lot at the Sweet Gum Access which was just down the road. I loved the setting sun making the Autumn colors golden.

We had to walk down to the Castor River.

The water was not as pretty as it is further up the Castor River were we go every Summer to sit in the water for a day. Maybe at another time of day and during the Summer this water might be different.

The water was very green, but right near the edge it was clear. I might still put a chair in the water here some day. It was beautiful with the reflections in the water and the Autumn colors.