Hike #7 - Mt. Kessler

Today we took on another local favorite, Mt. Kessler.  Mt. Kessler is going through a lot of changes.  Most of the trail is on private land. (Email ahead for the required waiver if you ever plan to go: kesslergreenways@pgtc.com.)  Because it has gotten so popular, and visitors were consistently blocking the landowners' driveways, they recently extended the trail to a new trailhead at Ozark Mountain Smokehouse for more parking.  The city also now owns and is developing the access on the other side of the mountain.  We've done that once, and it is another place the kids classify as a "walk" instead of a "hike."


The highlight of Mt. Kessler is Rock City and comes about 3/4 of a mile in (it used to be 1/4 mile in). This is a short stretch in the trail with some very interesting rock formations that are just begging to be climbed.  This is a really enjoyable trail all the way that is never overly strenuous in any one spot but definitely gets you worn out before you are done.  Eventually you get to the "top" of the mountain and there are at least four trails that go off for several miles in various directions.  We would love to get to explore them, but by the time we get to them, we are ready to head back every time.  Last time we were here there was a really good sign pointing the way to all of the different trails.  Now the sign is either broken or some markers have been purposefully taken off.  We honestly aren't looking forward to the changes coming to the trail as the city takes the lead.

Travel time from home: 15 minutes
Today's miles: 4.5
Remaining miles: 70.37