Missouri, the Show-Me-State, is proud of its parks, and Hawn State Park is sometime thought of as the state's loveliest. Almost 5,000 acres of forested land, La Motte sandstone cliffs and barrens, wild orchids, dogwood and azaleas, all centered around Pickle Creek.
     The original tract of land was donated by Helen Coffer Hawn in 1952. Today's park boundaries encompass 3,271 acres, with the Whispering Pine Wild Area holding over 2,000 acres. Trails are woven throughout this Missouri wild areas land, aided by the Ozark Chapter of the Sierra Club. The ten mile Whispering Pine Trail is regarded as one of the best in the state, leading the way to exploration of Pickle Creek, pictured here, and River Aux Vases.