An early autumn view from the Hickory Trail
The Hickory Trail is actually an old service road that once provided access to the trail’s shelters and follows a ridge extending from McAdams Peak to the Park’s Scenic Drive. Not far from McAdams Peak is an area known as Twin Mounds, which overlooks a prairie area that has been restored to its natural state and is being maintained by prescribed burns. Some of the prairie grasses growing here include little bluestem, big bluestem (the Illinois state prairie grass), indian grass and side-oats gramma. Common wildflowers that grow in the prairie area are leadplant, tick trefoil, prairie mimosa, sunflower and late boneset.
The scenic view from this location faces the south and on a clear day St. Louis and the Arch can be seen. Scott Isringhausen, the Park's Site Interpretive Program Coordinator, considers the Twin Mounds location to have the best vista in the Park for enjoying fall colors. Not far from Twin Mounds is the Twin Shelter that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and overlooks another example of hill prairie.
The Hickory Trail connects with five trails: Goat Cliff, Ridge, Ravine, Hickory North and Oak.
