A simple long walk in the woods can heal the spirit, and it doesn’t hurt our physical side either. The photos in this post were taken on a Monday walk in the Ozarks, but not on any particular trail. It was a treat to hike with Steve and Chris, both trail enthusiasts and maintainers. I’ll describe our location simply as somewhere in the Ozarks.

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Hiker-dog made a full day of it. She must have run twenty miles to our eight walked. I’ve only seen her chew wood out of a log one other time. Must have been something good hiding in there!

Steve had the idea of using part of the Ozark Highlands Trail and some bushwhacking to come up with a 20+mile loop. As soon as I saw the bluff area pictured above, I knew the route had to be developed because of the beauty and interesting features.

I never get tired of looking at rocks. That’s a good thing because we see quite a few in the Ozarks.

Redbuds showed their color down below the tree canopy and this long bluff.

We often see rock walls and old footings from historic structures built by earlier residents.

We saw some tall trees during our walk.

Water adds another layer of beauty in the Ozarks. This creek was flowing strong enough that we studied it for a few minutes before crossing.

Water flowing over rock is always special! As we crossed a small drainage, I paused for a photo using a log for my tripod.

The soft gurgling of water made for pleasant hiking next to this stream. My hot feet thanked me for spending a few minutes with this small cascade.

If you’ve ever heard the roar of a waterfall inside a hollow in the Ozarks, you understand how it draws you toward the sound, wondering what you’ll find. These falls looked to be about ten feet high. Nice spot for a break.

Hiker-dog was thrilled to spend a full day exploring the Ozarks, and she appreciated all of the positive attention.

Watching her grooming made me long for a hot shower. After a tough climb, we made it out of the woods and I got my wish.

I completed the day feeling good and thankful for my health.

Rock, wood, and water. How amazing that these elements combine to form such beauty for us to enjoy! When in doubt, get out there somewhere in the Ozarks.