Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club

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Adventures with Uncle Bob

Ball Mill Resurgence Natural Area

The area is administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Directions: From Chester, IL follow MO Highway 51 to Perryville. Turn right onto US 61. Follow it to County V and turn right. This asphalt road turns to gravel at a junction sign directing you to veer right. Look for the next unmarked road junction and turn left there in order to arrive at the parking lot.

After walking approximately 0.4 mile on a fire lane, the one mile loop trail will be visible. I suggest starting on the north (left) part of the loop trail. The trail ascends and descends among numerous sinkholes and ravines. At the bottom, you will see the resurgence pit (a curved rock wall). As the published natural area brochure indicates, this pit “acts like a sinkhole and drains surface water away to caves and underground streams. After heavy spring rainstorms, the flow reverses and the resurgence becomes a spring. Rock fragments in the bowl are tumbled and ground smooth by the issuing waters."

A variety of wildflowers can be found in this natural area: Ginger, Thimbleweed, Bellwort, False Solomon's Seal, Hooked Crowfeet, Columbine, Doll's Eyes, Bloodroot, and Wild Geranium. A brochure can be obtained at the office on County Road T, the next intersection in town on MO highway 51. For more information contact Bob Tyson at 684-5643.

While visiting this natural area, why not also take in the Perry County Community Lake Loop Trail?

For additional information on these or other outing locations, call Bob Tyson at 684-5643, or, mailto:robkay43@webtv.net ■