Trail Overview
Cave Spring Road, National Park Service 105, or Carter County 235, is a gravel road within Carter County and Ozark National Scenic Riverways land. The road leads north from Missouri Route E over small hills and elevation changes before hitting a mild uphill grade, passing a dispersed campsite area, before going back downhill into a valley where the natural wonder of the Cave Spring rests at 36.89592, -90.89612. The Cave Spring area features a mild hiking loop over the top of and into the mouth of the Cave, where the spring pool collects before pouring past the manmade dam at the entry. Even though Cave Spring is commonly overshadowed by the larger springs and rivers in the area (including a second "Cave Spring" in Shannon County), this one is unique due to its placement being far more remote, with the area always being peaceful and therapeutic. The location just projects this "alive and well" feeling in the natural rock and lush watercress growing along the trickling spring stream.
Difficulty
Cave Spring Road is a simple 1/10 base-rated gravel road, showing only mild forms of erosion in spots, having a mild grade going up/down the hill it rests on, with the potential of small natural 6" cobbles on the edges of the road and natural rock sticking out at the surface in the road surface, with the rare chance of mild erosion. Expect the normal gravel road complications of potholes, mounding, and washboards. Difficulty could increase due to heavy rain, extremely wet seasons, or lack of maintenance, but it would be a rare scenario.
