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5 Best Natural Wonders

It’s never too early to start enjoying the outdoors. Spend the day trekking through some of Southwest Missouri’s finest natural wonders, and take in a little history, too.

Don Corrigan is something of a nature connoisseur. He isn’t a historian, a geologist or even a conservationist, but he does know a great deal about Missouri’s natural wonders. In fact, he wrote the book on it, which we consulted to glean the best places to spend a day in the great outdoors.

Corrigan’s book, Show Me… Natural Wonders: A Guide to Scenic Treasures in the Missouri Region, is the ideal guide for any 417-lander looking to get a little closer to nature. “I wanted to do more of a meditation,” says Corrigan. “To explain what nature has to offer, and not just the nuts and bolts.” So grab a copy and hit the trail.

1. Grand Falls, Joplin

If you’re looking to escape to a little water retreat, Grand Falls is the place you seek. The park is home to Missouri’s largest continuous waterfall, but Corrigan debunks the myth that Grand Falls is similar to Niagara Falls in New York. “Niagara Falls is full of people, traffic, noise, carbon monoxide, fast-food joints, large hotels, trinket shops, ice-cream vendors—and long lines of tourists waiting to get on some boats to feel some spray from the falls,” says Corrigan in his book. Grand Falls, in comparison, isn’t a tourist Mecca but a quiet retreat for the wandering explorer. 

 2. Crystal Cave, Springfield

Just north of Springfield, Crystal Cave is a stunning geological feature. The cave’s claim to fame is its large amount of crinoids, Missouri’s state fossil, located in its walls and ceilings. Stalactites loom from the ceiling, and pieces of fossils stick out from the sides of the cave. For explorers, Crystal Cave has an enormous cathedral room, with ceilings nearly 100 feet tall and an impressive underground waterfall.

3. Marvel Cave, Branson

Marvel Cave is the deepest cave in Missouri, and nature-lovers enjoy its vast geological formations, including a cathedral room, Arrowhead Entrance, the Liberty Bell and the Sphinx. In the 1500s, Native Americans named this spot Devil’s Cave due to the haunting screeching sounds coming from the depths of the cave. Later, the cave was purchased by Hugo Herschend, and it became a part of Silver Dollar City.

4. Talking Rocks Cavern, Branson

Talking Rocks is almost a wonder within a wonder: a cavern located on the Springfield Plateau. The living cave continues to grow, and it currently features more than 90 natural formations, including a 100-foot-tall chamber, an 18-foot stalactite and several deposits of onyx. Fifty-minute tours for all age groups are given throughout the day, and kids are invited to participate in the SpeleoLAB, a tour that educates students about cave formation.

5. Grand Gulf, Thayer

The main feature at Grand Gulf is the 139-foot-deep gulf that was created by the collapse of a giant cave system. Some even speculate that it may have been caused by an eruption along the New Madrid fault line. But whatever the cause, southwest Missouri’s natural gem is an impressive place. If you’re in the mood for a hike, the Canyon Trail will take you along the gulf floor. Visitors can also walk along boardwalks and sidewalks, which give views of the gulf’s natural bridge.