Hercules Glades Wilderness

We first visited Hercules Glades Wilderness on December 18, 2010. Our first hike here was organized by the Springfield Nature Center. We returned on December 29 for our first ever backpacking trip. Since then, Hercules Glades has been a regular backpacking destination.

Our First Wilderness Hike. If we were going to give backpacking a go we thought it might be an idea to visit a wilderness first and discover what we were letting ourselves in for. Three-minute read, 12 pictures
Photograph of Ginger and Gary Allman on the Coy Bald Trail
December 2010, and our very first backpacking trip. Five-minute read, +21
Off backpacking for the weekend (365:147). Two-minute read
Just before I stuck my head in the falls behind me (365:148) - Invigorating was one word for it. Three-minute read, +9
Lunch by the bluffs on Long Creek (365:149). Two-minute read, 8 pictures
Waking up (365:150) - For once we didn't hang around too long drinking coffee and eating breakfast, though it was still ten am before we were back on the trail. Two-minute read, 7 pictures
Teenage Girl crossing Long Creek at Hercules Glades - www.ozarkswalkabout.com
Taking advantage of a long weekend, we took Lanie with us on a three-day backpacking trip to Hercules Glades. 15 pictures
Stock Pond by the Devil’s Den West Trail.
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Pool below Long Creek Falls.
Morning Coffee at Long Creek Falls, Hercules Glades Wilderness - A wonderful and peaceful way to to start the day.
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Morning coffee and hot chocolate by Long Creek

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Black Eyed Susan, Ginger and Lanie.

Bluff on Beaver Creek – Hercules Glades Wilderness I’ll be writing more in a few days. For now, we camped at the top of this 260ft. bluff last night. It took a bit of bush-whacking to get there but it was worth it.

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We spent a long weekend backpacking in Hercules Glades. The highlight being an afternoon resting and enjoying the spring sunshine on top of a 260 ft. bluff overlooking Beaver Creek. 29 pictures
A picture from last weekend's backpacking trip. We were checking out a stock pond to see if it might provide drinking water. The pond was not only quite large, but also surrounded by cattails which had started to break apart and seed.
Ginger spotted this picture which worked very well. We probably should've put more water in the Platy.
Every so often the knot under the sole between my toes breaks off. When it does I have to stop and tie a new one.
Old man's beard on the trees at the edge of the bluff

Ginger signs us in at the Tower Trailhead, Hercules Glades Wilderness. We had a little navigational problem getting started. The beginning of the western half of the Pees Hollow trail isn’t marked, and the trail isn’t much used. With all the fallen leaves we went past the start of the trail and had to backtrack. The views were well worth the effort.    The Pees Hollow Trail

Gary on the Pees Hollow Trail. Copyright © 2016 Ginger Allman, all rights reserved. This truck cab is a bit of a landmark on the trail – it’s just to the south of a spring – so there is water nearby. There is also a fire ring close by. Copyright © 2016 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Fire Ring on the Pees Hollow Trail. Copyright © 2016 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

Camped for the Night at the Hercules Glades Wilderness. 4 pictures
Branch of Brushy Creek off of the Pees Hollow Trail, Hercules Glades - This creek was mainly dry, but near where we camped there was some water. 3 pictures
Three Days Backpacking with a Hammock at Hercules Glades Wilderness - My first backpacking trip with a hammock. Ten-minute read, +55
View From The Ridge at the Start of the Pees Hollow Trail. One reason why I prefer fall, winter, and spring to summer is that you can see the views and the 'bones' of the land...
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