TravelWorld International Magazine Summer 2024

The water along the Spring Trail at Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a
mesmerizing sight to behold. Crystal clear and serene, it flows gently
through the lush forest before spilling into the Lake of the Ozarks.
t the bottom of the cliff, the Spring Trail—a
favorite of mine—follows a spring-fed stream
to its source beneath a rocky outcropping.
In my teens, my friends and I would take the
trail, to splash around in the shallow stream,
balance on fallen logs, skip rocks, and shiver as
we lowered ourselves into the 58-degree water.
The park has since closed the spring to swimmers
to help protect the delicate ecosystem; however, if
you want to cool off, you can jump in the lake near
the trailhead's parking lot. There's also an option
to rent kayaks from a lakeside kiosk there, but you
must pay and pick up a key at the park's visitors
center first. A two-hour rental runs $20 for a single
kayak or $25 for a tandem.
We were handed a floating keychain emblazoned
with the instructions: "Get in - Sit Down - Shut
up - Hold on." Once we lowered ourselves into the
kayaks, we couldn’t abide by the instructions. My
daughter delighted in jumping out of the kayak and
swimming in the cove where the spring-fed stream
meets the lake. Meanwhile, my gaze wandered
upward, drawn to the castle ruins perched on
the cliff above us. I'm still in awe of the park's
extraordinary setting and singular beauty that still
has a hold on me after all these years.
Exploring the showy
caverns of Bridal Cave
Another unique feature of the Lake
of the Ozarks lies underground.
Bridal Cave echoes with legendary
tales of Native American lovers
pledging their devotion to each other,
surrounded by stalactites, stalagmites,
columns, fragile soda straws, and
other impressive onyx formations
that have taken centuries to grow. The
stories gave rise to its name, while also
prompting more than 4,000 couples
to tie the knot within this mystical
underworld.
Located in Camdenton, at mile marker
10.5 of Lake of the Ozarks’ Niangua
arm, the cool embrace of the cave
is a great place to find respite from
the summer heat—no matter your
relationship status. We took a onehour
guided tour through dimly lit
passages connecting eight chambers.
The second chamber is the infamous
Bridal Chapel, where a magnificent
display of stalactites makes up
what's known as the "Pipe Organ."
The formation indeed produces
sonorous tones with each gentle
thump; however, the instrument has
been silenced following damage to its
delicate features in the past.
The cave was expanded in the 1990s
with a blast of dynamite that revealed
more hidden wonders within the
depths. The final stop on the tour is
Mystery Lake, a serene 30-foot-deep
aqua-colored lagoon shaped by the
slow dance of dripping cave water.
Cool air spills from the entrance to
Bridal Cave through a gate blocking
its entrance between tours.
A tour guide leads a group through the
formations within Bridal Cave.
The Pipe Organ formation in the chapel
chamber of Bridal Cave has been the
backdrop for thousands of weddings.
A bachelorette party tours Bridal Cave.
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A kayaker heads directly for the ruins of a stately mansion
sitting high atop a cliff.
The stone shell is all that remains of the cliff-hugging
mansion that overlooks the Lake of the Ozarks. The
castle-like structure caught fire in the 1940s.
TIP: Before the tour at Bridal Cave,
head to the gift shop adjacent to the
entrance. There, kids can grab a free
bag of fish food to feed the giant carp
gathered underneath the dock below
the cave’s cliffside entrance. The large
fish wriggle and writhe as they vie for
some of the tasty treats.
Flowstone formations inside Bridal Cave
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