Low Mo

 Headed down to the River with fellow blogger XO today.  Water level is very low....  the pole was two thirds under water last spring...                               All images copyright 2013 David Remley

                      According to the National Weather Service the Missouri River level is between five and
                                                                                   six feet.

 Large numbers of people were using the River Walk today... bikers, skateboarders, hikers, walkers, and runners... Below the portion of the walk that goes under the ASB Bridge.   Above the walkway from the end of Main Street to the river observation tower.

                  Above, Heart of American underbelly,   below, good flight... not so good landing....

Take A Hike

The Cliff Drive Scenic Byway has lots of opportunities to get some good exercise by walking the Drive or by hiking the Indian Mound Trail. I've created maps that show both the human hiking trails (red) and the routes the animals use (green) which are oftentimes usable by us as well. Blue represents water in either spring or pool form. The top map shows the Byway from Elmwood Ave. and Gladstone Boulevard east to Indian Mound and Belmont Ave. The bottom shows the Byway from Elmwood and Gladstone west to Scarritt Point and the midpoint access to the Drive. HyperHouse is indicated by a red dot on the top map.

Cliff Drive is closed each weekend to motorized traffic so it's a great time for a family hike. The Trail is moderate in difficulty but make sure footwear is waterproof.

Click on the images below to make them larger. These are stolen from Google Maps and marked up in Photoshop. The top map shows the Indian Mound portion of the Byway, the bottom shows the Scarritt Renaissance section.

Cliff Drive was created between 1890 and 1910. It was designed by George Kessler for whom the surrounding parkland is now named. Originally called North Terrace Park it was complemented by West Terrace Park which was adjacent to what is now Case Park by Quality Hill.

Indian Mound Trail: A Visual Trek

One block west of Indian Mound in Old Northeast KC at Gladstone Boulevard and White Avenue is the entrance to the Indian Mound Trail.
While the sign says "8 mile" the portion of the trail that is along the bluffs and in the woods is 1.3 miles and runs from White to Elmwood. This post covers just that portion.
It's a trail of mild difficulty.... a few logs to climb/step over. But you will have to have waterproof footwear that is suitable for various path conditions.

There is a little trash at the very beginning of the trail but none after the first few yards.
This is the last remnant of a double-wide set of stairs that went from Gladstone Boulevard at Topping down to the railroad yards below. Built by the railroad to make getting to work easier for the railroad and mill workers who lacked automobiles or who didn't mind the walk.
Looking down to the foot of the bluff where all the springs drain to form a "fen": a marshy area that is home to thousands of frogs and other aquatic life.
Closeup of the fen with it's algae rich water.
Spring number 1.


Spring number 2. There are a succession of springs that flow year round down the hillside and across the trail. Some have strategically place rocks or small foot bridges but some require you to walk in mud.
Entrance to my favorite spot on the Trail, Maple Grove. In a couple of weeks these leaves will all have turned to bright yellow. It's beautiful. I'll post some fall color shots of Maple Grove when they reach their peak.
Looking north from the trail... Chouteau Trafficway over the tracks in the background.
Spring number 3.

Spring number 4. Although it doesn't look like much here, the flow really picks up further down the bluff.

More Maple Grove.
Rock puzzle.
Maple Grove looking north from the trail down the bluff.
Same spot looking south up the bluff.

Eastern side of Maple Grove.



The trail is maintained by Boy Scout Troops who can actually earn a merit badge for hiking the whole length of the route.
Spring number 5.
Scouts have put a walkway over Spring 5... it's very welcome.
Spring 6 above and below.

Tenacity. Watched this tree grow over the last 20 years and split the rock.
You can exit up here... but the trail isn't through yet. This is at Gladstone Blvd. and Lawn.
Old remains from when Cliff Drive was constructed beginning in 1890. The little structure above held the blasting caps for affixing to the dynamite which was stored in the building below. Both were intact (roofs and all) until the 60s when they were leveled to keep hobos from setting up house.
Spring number 7. Deer particularly like this one. I don't know why.

I call these the "Five Sisters"... one sister is hiding behind the trunk on the left.
There are a lot of very old trees along the trail.
Spring number 8 above and below. This one has the largest flow of any along the bluffs. The path it takes down the hill is another old railroad/mill walkway that the workman used to go to and from their job sites.

Final part of the wooded trail heading up to Cliff Drive.
You come out here by the east entrance to Cliff Drive (at Elmwood). One can continue on along the 2+ mile length of the Drive and make a day of it.