Hiking, Biking, & Riding
Plenty to Explore
With over 54 miles of trails Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area features a trail for everyone! Trails are open a half hour prior to sunrise until a half hour after sunset. The exception is Pigeon Roost trail, which remains open for campers. Always check for HSP-CA permitted hunting seasons which can impact trail closures. Current hunting seasons account for 12 days of closure annually and those days are in the late Fall and Winter seasons. You can share your experience with us by posting it to social media and using the hashtag #ExploreHobbs.
Trails
Description: The Multi-Use Hidden Diversity Trail is designed for equestrians, mountain bikers and hikers. No motorized vehicles, except for electric bikes, are allowed. Users have the option of four trail sections or loops. The trail follows ridge tops and rims with lots of curves and a few hills that drop 200 to 300 feet in elevation. The entire trail is surrounded by woods that are mainly comprised of oak and hickory.
When weather conditions warrant, the trail is subject to closure. In addition, all or a portion of the park’s trail system may be closed occasionally for permitted hunting seasons or maintenance repair. Contact the park to check on the current trail status before traveling to Hobbs to participate in these activities.
In addition, the Hidden Diversity Trail is closed one day each June to support an annual bike race. Historically this is scheduled on the first Sunday of the month. Please call 479-789-5000 for up-to-date information and/or check the Event Calendar. Hikers and riders should use the Hidden Diversity Trail brochure for more detailed information.
Description: The Historic Van Winkle Trail is a foot-traffic-only half-mile trail that leads hikers through a tunnel under State Highway 12 to the site of the historic Van Winkle lumber mill and home in Van Winkle Hollow on the West Fork of Little Clifty Creek. View the remnants of a sawmill and an antebellum garden owned by Peter Van Winkle during the 19th century. Beginning in the 1840s and continuing throughout his life, Van Winkle acquired approximately 17,000 acres of land throughout Washington, Benton, Madison, and Carroll counties by filing for land patents and purchasing foreclosed land. The tunnel and associated walkways were designed to provide barrier-free access to the historic site. Wayside interpretive panels along the trail provide hikers with information about this historic area. The trailhead features a parking lot large enough to accommodate three school buses or recreational vehicles and 18 automobiles. Water fountains and a vault toilet are located adjacent to the parking area.
Read More in the Trails of Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area Brochure
Description: Foot traffic only and prohibited access to the Multi-Use trail. This is an easy trial with one small elevation increase. The trailhead is in the same vicinity as the Historic Van Winkle Trail. This nature trail travels upstream and Historic Van Winkle travels downstream through the pedestrian tunnel toward Beaver Lake. The trailhead shares the same parking lot, restroom, and picnic area with the Historic Van Winkle Trail on State Highway 12.
The trail follows some old level road beds, paralleling the West Fork of Little Clifty Creek, crossing three Boy Scout – Eagle Service Project elevated bridges and returns on the opposite stream bank en-route to the parking area.
The upstream portion of the creek sinks under the stream bed gravel, especially during dry spells, then re-emerges further on downstream. A nice spring flows year-round on the west side of the trail and it is reported that at one time this, and many springs in the region, produced moonshine during prohibition.
One of the three bridges crosses this spring flow, just below some small beaver dams. Spring flowers abound up this hollow/valley!
Read More in the Trails of Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area Brochure
Description: The Pigeon Roost Trail is a double-stacked loop trail, in a figure eight formation, featuring a short loop of approximately four miles for day hiking and a longer loop of eight and one-half miles for longer day hikes or overnight use at the designated campsites. This moderately difficult trail is excellent for beginners, Scouts and families looking for adventure and scenery without having to travel a great distance.
Campsites are marked with signs and each has a tent pad, or depending on the campsite, multiple tent pads, and fire ring. The trailhead and its associated parking area are located on State Highway 12. The trail passes several sinkholes and some portions follow ridges overlooking Beaver Lake. Some of the primitive campsites on the trail offer views of the lake, especially in winter when leaves are off the trees in the surrounding Ozark oak/hickory/pine forest. Wild turkey, whitetail deer and other wildlife are commonly seen along the trail.
About 100 yards down from the trailhead, on the right, stands an uncommon tree, bent into two right angles. It may be a marker tree or “thong” tree. Native Americans marked trails, springs, caves, salt supplies, river crossings, etc. with trees bent to grow in this unusual fashion.
The trail is named for the now extinct passenger pigeon which once roosted by the millions here. Pigeon Roost Trail received its name from the fact that huge numbers of passenger pigeons seasonally roosted from Van Winkle Hollow to the Madison/Benton County line— a roost some five miles in length. Massive market hunting and the clearing of forested land in the late 1800’s led to the sudden extinction of this bird. The last official stronghold of the passenger pigeon was on property that is now Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area.
Read More in the Trails of Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area Brochure
Description: Approximately one mile from the Hwy 12/303N intersection, the one and a half mile Shaddox Hollow Nature Trail can be accessed from its trailhead parking lot.
The first one-half mile of this loop trail follows a ridgeline, providing an easy hike. The trail then descends into Shaddox Hollow. The descent is rather steep in places. This trail winds along the creek through stands of hardwoods and other native Ozark vegetation. Interesting limestone bluffs are found along this section. After progressing up the creek, the trail begins the ascent back to the trailhead. This climb can be strenuous in places.
Trail features include disappearing/sinking streams, typical Ozark forest, limestone bluffs with glades above, wildflowers in season, icicles in winter, spur to Beaver Lake shoreline, ancient fossils, spice bushes, Native American thong trees, dogwood, service berry, and redbuds blooming in springtime. Hikers can observe how flora competes for sun in a park initiated prescribed burn area.
The trail is named after an early settler named Solomon Shaddox. Guided tours available.
Read More in the Trails of Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area Brochure
Description: Two loops give visitors a choice of an almost level ridge top, with a six foot wide concrete inner loop surface trail, or an outer loop, with a four feet wide concrete surface trail. This trail is ADA accessible.
Through direct observation, interpretive hikes, interactive exhibits and panels, students and visitors will learn many geological concepts and features, like the Springfield Plateau which is the Ozark Mountain plateau that encompasses the majority of the park.
Read More in the Trails of Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area Brochure
