How Pike Run Trail (St. Francois State Park) Met My Expectations

I hiked Pike Run Trail this muggy Sunday June morning and it did not disappoint. Some may be surprised to hear this but here is what I expected from this trail.

It’s the second week of June in Missouri and it’s been raining for a month. On top of that Pike Run is a horse trail, but again it met my expectations.

My expectations were:

• A muddy mess
• Shitty trail – yes literal shit
• Overgrown

  

• Gnats, mosquitos and ticks
• No “wow” spots to take in
• A few inclines

And Pike Run Trail met those expectations. I’m not going to bash this trail because I expected this in June in Missouri. So why would I choose to spend my Sunday hiking this particular trail?

I needed to hike a good distance. I hadn’t hiked over 10 miles in about a year. I’ve done 5-7 but hadn’t hit the 10 mile recently. Because it’s two loops, I could have cut my hike short if I didn’t feel I was up to the 10 miles on this day. Because of schedules and hiking preferences, I was going to probably going to be hiking alone. Since I was hiking alone, I wanted somewhere that I was sure had cell service on parts of the trail.

Here’s a specific list of why you may want to hike this trail:

• If you want the option to hike a longer distance with an “out” to make it shorter
• If you are hiking alone it is a horse trail that is used often so if you run into trouble you more than likely would happen upon a group of riders
• If you want cell service while hiking alone
• If you want to practice some inclines and descents
• If you want to spend a few hours alone with your thoughts in nature

Here’s why you may want to hike it in June:

• If you want to add to your hiking experience by spending half the hike in mud
• If you want to work on some arm exercises while swatting away bugs and spiderwebs
• If you want to work on your bushwhacking skills while still on an actual trail

  

• If you want to channel your inner 5 year old and spend half the hike with your finger up your noise digging out gnats (just being honest)
• If you want to be reminded that your face is a magnet for gnats and mosquitoes to swarm around which forces you to wear your sunglasses even when it’s shaded
• If you want to see a number of different mushrooms including some unique orange ones
• If you want to hike through some wildflowers

  

• If you want to see countless butterflies in different varieties

  

  

  

• If you want to startle a few deer and watch their white tails take off
• If you want to hear and cross a creek several times

  

Here is why you may not want to hike it:

• If you don’t want to hike around countless piles of horse manure or through muddy horse tracks
• If you don’t want to fight off the overgrowth in a few spots
• If you don’t want cell service so your teenage son can’t ask you if you will bring food home
• If you want pretty views or overlooks to stop and enjoy

So as you can see, there are far more reasons to hike this shared horse trail than to not hike it – even on a humid June Missouri day. I would have to say that you have to know what your expectations are going into this hike. This hike is more about the process than the destination.

Here is what I learned or took away from this hike:

• I enjoy a Sunday morning hike more than housework
• I learned what my pace is on my own and what I am capable of doing while being self -motivated.

  

• I don’t cuss on inclines anymore but still do when startled by a squirrel.
• I need to adjust my backpack settings after losing weight because they aren’t the same.
• I need to be aware of my own noises on the trail. I used the bigger pack today and it affected and changed what I could hear around me.
• I enjoy the process of hiking just as much as the end result – an overlook or spectacular view. I am OK with a “walk in the woods”

  

So “my words of wisdom” are – “Don’t cross those horse trails or “boring” hikes off your list – just change your expectations.”