Mooner’s Hollow Trail Guide

Mooner’s Hollow Trail is a hiking trail located at Saint Francois State Park in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

This hike is roughly 3 miles in length, moderately difficult, and a true loop trail.

This trail is a visual feast, offering a variety of sights, including various hardwood forest environments, barrens, bluffs, and scenic creeks. It is moderately difficult, with some creek crossings, but the stunning scenery makes every step worth it.

Hikers that are in shape and dog walkers will both enjoy this trail.

I hope you enjoyed my trail guide for Mooner’s Hollow Trail. If you did, consider buying me a pizza as a thank you!

 

Getting to Mooner’s Hollow Trail

Getting to Mooner’s Hollow Trail at Saint Francois State Park is relatively easy.

If using GPS, put “Saint Francois State Park” into the unit for accurate directions to the state park. Once you’re in the park, follow the main park road (stay left) through the gate. Once you get to the T-intersection, Mooner’s Hollow Trail will be on your left.

For directions to the State Park from Cape Girardeau, click here for the best Google Maps Link.

For directions to the State Park from St. Louis, click here for the best Google Maps Links.

For directions to the State Park from Carbondale, click here for the best Google Maps Link.

The closest town to this trail and state park is Bonne Terre, Missouri. The closest major roadway is US-67, which leads to where the park entrance road begins. Use caution around this area, as vehicles are going more than 60 miles per hour on the roadway.

The GPS Coordinates to the State Park entrance road is 37°58’26.4″N 90°32’13.9″W

The GPS Coordinates to the Mooner’s Hollow Trailhead is 37°58’11.9″N 90°32’01.0″W

The trailhead offers multiple parking spaces, playground equipment, picnic tables, and a pavilion. Please contact the state park for information on renting the pavilion and area for events. To the south of the trailhead, around the climbing area of the state park, there are more parking spaces available.

Look for the brown signs in the park to find any trailheads, parking, river access, and facilities.

 

Mooner’s Hollow Trail Information

Mooner’s Hollow Trail has a rich history that adds a layer of intrigue to your hike. During prohibition, moonshiners used the area to create their illegal hooch. The nearby Coonville Creek provided cold and clear springs and deep valleys where moonshining could be done without detection by the authorities.

The length of the trail is around 3 miles. The trail is moderately rugged for a few different reasons. There are rolling hills that could cause discomfort for some hikers. There are a few creek crossings, too. Once creek could become very deep during high water. The creek is slippery when crossing it so be sure you use caution. Some portions of the trail are rocky and uneven, too. Hikers should be in good shape when using this trail for the best experience.

The elevation was around 300 feet when going clockwise. Counterclockwise, it is under 300 feet on All Trails. Some portions had short but steep rolling hills along the trail.

The trail is very easy to follow, with arrow blazes installed on trees. At no point did we get off the trail or feel lost.

The start of the trail going counterclockwise features a sturdy and safe bridge over the creek at the trailhead.

There is plenty to see along this trail. We experienced a few creek crossings. The biggest creek has water of about 2 inches deep with about a 10-12 foot crossing. Your feet could get wet here, depending on what footwear you are using. This creek featured a beautiful waterfall around the area where you cross. There is another crossing a few steps up from the waterfall if you don’t feel safe to cross there. There are several other areas of bluffs, potential waterfalls when the area is wet, and scenic glade-like environments at the top of the trail.

The trail terrain is mainly a dirt singletrack trail surface. Many portions are rocky and uneven. When the area is wet, some of the hillier spots could be difficult to hike up and down. Please use caution and pay attention.

The trail is very scenic, with a lot to see in the 3 miles you will be hiking it. It is also popular, and while there wasn’t a large crowd the day we went (on a warm Saturday afternoon), we saw quite a few hiking it.

 

What to Wear and Bring

The trail is well-maintained and wide enough that you won’t snag your clothing. Wear your normal comfortable hiking clothing, such as hiking pants or shorts, leggings or bike shorts, breathable tops, hiking socks, and a broken-in pair of comfortable hiking shoes or boots. Avoid wearing denim, cotton, or leather, as this material doesn’t breathe well and holds in moisture.

Bring plenty of water and a snack. To be safe, I also recommend bringing a hiking backpack with a first aid kit, extra layers if needed, a rain jacket, trekking poles, and a flashlight.

Pending the season, bring bug spray and sunblock if needed.

There are no trash services along the trail. Please practice Leave No Trace by packing in what you pack out and leaving the trail better than you found it. We like to carry a small grocery bag with us in case we find trash along the way.

If you’re bringing your dog with you, make sure it’s on a leash at all times. Bring plenty of water and food for it. Please clean up after it and bag up its waste to take off the trail after you’ve completed your hike.

 

Hiking Tips

Rest assured, this trail is well-maintained and safe for hikers and dog walkers. However, it’s always good to be prepared. Here are some tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable hike.

The best time to visit this trail is during the late spring, summer, and fall seasons. Visiting during the winter and leaf-off months might also prove to be a good experience. Make sure you check ahead and know of any closures the state park may put into action during high water or dangerous weather conditions.

This trail is for day use only. On nicer days, hiking it in the early morning hours might be the best way to beat the crowds.

Use common sense and put safety first when hiking Mooner’s Hollow Trail. There are a few emergency locator signs along the trail that you could use to give your location in case you need assistance. Some portions of the trail can be hazardous, including creek crossings, steep sections, high points, and areas with uneven terrain that you could trip over. Venomous snakes occur in this area as well as poison ivy.

Please tell someone where you are hiking before you go, prioritize safety, and try to hike with a friend if you can.

Be sure to watch the weather on the day of your hike and dress accordingly. Refrain from using the trail during days with adverse weather conditions. The state park may close the trail on such days, so you should have a plan B just in case.

Please use common sense hiker etiquette when using Mooner’s Hollow Trail. Yield and communicate with other hikers, runners, and dog walkers. Keep your pets on a leash and pick up their waste. Refrain from playing loud music or disrupting other users of the trail.

Respect all wildlife and natural features when using this trail.

 

Nearby Attractions

Saint Francois State Park has other trails and attractions. Pine Run Trail is a 10-mile hiking and horseback riding trail located within the park, and Swimming Deer Trail is a 3-mile hiking trail also in the park.

Basic and electric sites are available in the seasonal campground within the park.

While there are no designated swimming areas in the park, there are river/creek access points. Please swim or use this area at your own risk. Fishing is also possible in these areas.

There are numerous locations within the park for picnicking and events.

There is also an area where you can go repelling and rock climbing with a permit.

The closest town to Mooner’s Hollow Trail is Bonne Terre, Missouri. For dining, shopping, attractions, and lodging options, please see Bonne Terre Visitor Information.

 

Final Thoughts on the Mooner’s Hollow Trail

We really enjoyed hiking the Mooner’s Hollow Trail. One of the first things we noticed was how clean and well-maintained the trail was. It seems like Saint Francois State Park takes a lot of pride in its conditions. I recommend you use the guide above and visit the trail to see for yourself.

Comment below if you have hiked this trail. Tell me what you thought about the trail and what your favorite part of the hike was.

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Watch the videos for this trail!

Below is a recent video that we filmed while enjoying this area.

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Enjoy these photos taken around this area!

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