Unlock the magic and mystery of Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Missouri
You can walk around three sides of the castle at Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton, Missouri. But, you can’t go inside the ruins.
There’s only one place in the entire world where you can see castle ruins rising from a bluff above the Niangua River. Plus, karst topography, a fresh-water spring, a natural bridge and more.
And, it’s in Missouri.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton sits on more than 3,700 acres in the Missouri Ozarks. In fact, the Niangua is one of the rivers that feeds the Lake of the Ozarks, a massive manmade boating and fishing playground with a surface area of 54,000 acres.
History of Ha Ha Tonka State Park
If things had worked out differently, Ha Ha Tonka would’ve been Missouri’s first ever state park. But, the price just wasn’t right in the 1910s or 1920s, when the state tried and tried again to buy the property.
So, that honor went to Big Spring in Van Buren instead.
Big Spring opened in 1924. Then, in 1969, the state turned it over to the National Park Service to become part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
At that time, Ha Ha Tonka still wasn’t a state park. That would take another 9 years.
Finally, however, Ha Ha Tonka got its due. It became Missouri’s 61st state park in 1978.
Today, it’s free to visit and explore, with both natural and manmade wonders to enjoy.
Why’s it called Ha Ha Tonka?
A viewpoint along the Castle Trail at Ha Ha Tonka State Park overlooks the Niangua River arm of the Lake of the Ozarks.
Indigenous people were here for centuries before white settlers began to arrive in the 1800s. Hunting in the woods. Fishing in the streams. Possibly even sheltering in the caves.
Local lore says it was the Osage who bestowed the name Ha Ha Tonka on the area. It’s thought to mean laughing waters or smiling waters.
Development in the area started with a gristmill in 1830. Another mill followed after the first burned. Then, a post office in 1872.
In 1895, at the urging of locals, the post office changed its name from Gunter’s Big Spring to Ha Ha Tonka.
And, so the name Ha Ha Tonka endures to this day. A nod to the people who once moved freely across the land — taking advantage of its many natural resources.
But, who are here no longer.
When Missouri became a state in 1821, it began forcing indigenous people to move west.
The beauty of the land endures, as well.
Although, it’s been altered. Most notably by Robert McClure Snyder, who bought the 5,000 acres known as Ha Ha Tonka Lake and Spring in 1904.
The highly successful Kansas City businessman saw the property as the perfect spot to build a country home.
But, not just any country home. Synder envisioned a European-style castle perched at the edge of a bluff.
Its remnants are now one of the major attractions of the park, along with its stunning natural features.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park guide: 5 things you must see
There’s a ridiculous amount of natural and manmade marvels at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. You can see them all while exploring the park’s 11 trails — some easy enough to be wheelchair accessible, some much more strenuous.
The park’s trail system covers more than 16 miles.
To help you plan your visit, I’m sharing the top five things to see while you’re there, so long as you’re able.
1 Castle ruins
Bonnie and Clyde in front of the castle ruins at Ha Ha Tonka, which is a dog-friendly park.
Synder’s abode — or what’s left of it — is why most of us venture to Ha Ha Tonka State Park.
After all, you don’t get the chance to see castle ruins in Missouri very often. In fact, this is your only chance.
What’s now merely walls — albeit extremely beautiful walls — was once a 12,000-square-foot, 60-room castle. The centerpiece of the home was a skylight-topped, 3.5-story atrium. Perhaps merely a mansion by European standards. But, by Midwest standards, a castle through and through.
You can pick up the Quarry Trail from two different places along the Castle Trail.
Another thing that makes it a Midwest castle: materials such as sandstone, limestone, walnut and oak came from onsite. Hike the 1.75-mile Quarry Trail loop, blazed in green, and you’ll see two sandstone quarry sites.
Many of the laborers were also local. Save for the stone masons in charge of shaping the walls of the castle, stable, carriage house and water tower. Snyder imported them from Scotland to lend an authentic old-world feel to his dream.
The work kicked off in 1905.
Snyder, however, didn’t live to see it through. He died in 1906 at 54 years old — one of Missouri’s first automobile accident fatalities.
His sons held onto the property, taking another 16 years to finish the interior.
As time went on, they began spending less and less time at the property.
In the 1940s, they leased it to a hotel operator. But, the venture was short lived.
In the fall of 1942, a fire at the castle spread to the stable and carriage house, destroying all but the stone walls of each. Fire later damaged the water tower in 1976 as well.
Missouri took over the property the following year.
The state’s preservation efforts to stabilize the ruins are, no doubt, part of the reason why the walls still stand today.
All to delight visitors, who can sit and marvel at how a home that was designed to last for centuries didn’t even last 50 years.
Where to park to see the castle ruins at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Stone masons from Scotland oversaw the construction of the castle at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.
As you drive into the park on Natural Bridge Road off Missouri Highway D, follow signs for the ruins. There are two parking lots that will get you incredibly close.
You’ll get to the lower lot first. It’ll be on your right as you drive uphill. Google Maps has it marked as the Castle Trailhead.
Assuming you don’t have any mobility issues, go ahead and park here. It’s the larger of the two lots and even has bathrooms (vault toilets) and a water fountain.
From there, you walk through a shady wooded area and past the carriage house ruins to the castle. Part of this walk, 0.4 mile one way, is uphill.
The upper lot by the water tower is the smaller one. Please be courteous and save it for those with mobility issues.
The castle ruins are 0.2 mile one way from the upper parking area.
Both lots connect to hard-surface walkways suitable for strollers and even wheelchairs.
Another courtesy note: Save the 3 extra-long parking spots in the lower lot for RVs. You might like the extra space, but RVs need it.
2 Ha Ha Tonka Spring
Recent heavy rain turned the usually brilliant turquoise spring a murky color.
With an average daily flow of more than 58 million gallons, Ha Ha Tonka is Missouri’s 12th largest spring.
The state’s largest, interestingly enough, is Big Spring. It has a daily discharge of about 286 million gallons.
At Ha Ha Tonka, the spring flows from a water-filled cave at the base of a scenic bluff.
The water you see here comes from 100 square miles of the surrounding area.
Its cool temp — the water stays about 56 degrees Fahrenheit year-round — is great for underwater plants like watercress and coontail.
Fish, waterfowl and aquatic animals all enjoy nibbling on the plants. Which is why it’s important not to swim in the spring. You might spoil many meals to come for the local inhabitants.
Where to park to see Ha Ha Tonka Spring
The lower part of Spring Trail is a paved walkway.
For easiest access to the spring, take Tonka Spring Road off Missouri Highway D.
You’ll shortly come to a parking lot on your right.
The lot is marked as Ha Ha Tonka Lake Shelter on Google Maps, which shows there is also a bathroom. However, we can’t confirm the bathroom, as we didn’t use this parking lot.
Here you’ll find the trailhead for the 1.4-mile Spring Trail loop, blazed in blue. For the first 0.4 mile, you’ll be on a wide, flat paved walkway. This takes you along the water’s edge to a wooden deck-like viewing area for the spring.
To continue all the way to the spring itself, you’ll need to traverse stairs, a wooden walkway and a natural-surface trail that squeezes between dolomite boulders.
At the spring, the trail gets strenuous, continuing up 316 wooden steps.
You’ll ascend 200 feet on this part of the trail. At the top, you can turn left to head toward the water tower or right to loop back to the parking lot.
3 Natural bridge
The natural bridge is part of the Ha Ha Tonka Karst Natural Area.
A natural bridge is a rock formation that has a gap underneath it, creating the appearance of a bridge spanning from one side of the gap to the other.
These are oh-so-covetable locations for outdoor, hiking and photography enthusiasts.
Some of the most visited natural bridges in the U.S. are Rainbow Bridge National Monument and Natural Bridges National Monument, both in Utah. You can also find natural bridges in Virigina, Kentucky, New Mexico and, of course, Missouri, among other states.
The natural bridge at Ha Ha Tonka State Park consists of sandstone over dolomite. It formed when a cave collapsed, leaving behind both the natural bridge and a sinkhole.
Today, you can walk under the bridge, perhaps even seeing a waterfall running off it after a heavy rain. The bridge spans 60 feet from one end to the other. It’s 100 feet tall and 70 feet wide.
On the other side of the bridge, you can continue into Colosseum Sinkhole, which is 150 feet deep.
Where to park to see the natural bridge at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
The natural bridge is just a short walk from the Colosseum Trailhead parking lot.
Take Natural Bridge Road off Missouri Highway D and follow signs for the natural bridge. At the fork on Natural Bridge Road, stay to the left. (The lower parking lot for the Castle Trailhead will be on your right.)
This fork of Natural Bridge Road dead-ends at a small parking lot. It’s marked as the Colosseum Trailhead on Google Maps. There are picnic tables and a water fountain here but no bathrooms.
From here, you can access the 0.6-mile Colosseum Trail loop, blazed in yellow. The natural surface trail starts as a gravel walkway before becoming more rugged as you approach the natural bridge.
You’ll walk under the bridge, down into the sinkhole and back up again before arriving back at the parking lot.
4 Karst topography
A short portion of Spring Trail at Ha Ha Tonka State Park squeezes between walls of dolomite.
If you spend enough time exploring Ha Ha Tonka State Park, you’ll come across karst topography.
Both the spring and the natural bridge are part of what’s known as the Ha Ha Tonka Karst Natural Area.
About 20% of the continental U.S. consists of karst topography, according to the American Cave Conservation Association.
Karst topography forms in areas with soft, soluble rock, such as limestone and dolomite. As water dissolves the rock over time, features like caves, sinkholes and underground waterways form. The underground water comes to the surface by the way of springs.
Along with Missouri, states like Kentucky (Mammoth Cave National Park), Tennessee (Western Highland Rim and Cumberland Plateau), Florida (Everglades) and Texas (Edwards-Trinity Plateau) have a significant amount of karst landscape.
Where to park to see karst topography at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
You can see karst topography on both the Colosseum and Spring trails at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. So, park near either of those trailheads.
The Spring Trail is the more accessible one, with a hard-surface walkway. The Colosseum Trail is natural surface.
I share how to get to both of the parking areas above.
5 Wildlife
A mallard duck couple forage for food in the water near Ha Ha Tonka Spring.
The final thing I recommend watching out for at Ha Ha Tonka State Park? The locals!
We saw both a mallard duck couple and an otter in the water along the Spring Trail. Along with squirrels busily being squirrels near the castle ruins.
You can also keep an eye out for beavers, minks, crayfish, northern water snakes, red-eared slider turtles and more in or near the water.
On land, watch for white-tailed deer, racoons and foxes. In the sky or in the trees, you might find a variety of birds, including blue-gray gnatcatchers and black-and-white warblers.
You may even come across striped-back scorpions and Missouri tarantulas in the glade areas, such as on the 6.8-mile Turkey Pen Hollow Trail loop, blazed in red. But, I hope you don’t.
Where to park to see wildlife at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
To see the local critters of Ha Ha Tonka State Park, you can park anywhere, really. The Spring Trail along the water’s edge is, of course, your best bet for seeing aquatic life.
Details about where to park for the Spring Trail are above.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park guide: Other useful things to know
There’s more to see and do at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. Two notable things we haven’t checked out yet are the Ha Ha Tonka Oak Woodland Natural Area and the Big Niangua River Trail.
You can see the woodlands from Turkey Pen Hollow Trail. The area preserves almost 3,000 acres of post oak, black oak, white oak and black hickory trees, along with prairie grasses.
The river trail is a 13.3-mile stretch of water with markers showcasing 20 points of interest. You can float the trail in a canoe or kayak. Motorized boats won’t be able to access all parts of the trail.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is one starting point for the river trail. There are kayak stairs off Tonka Spring Road, past the Spring Trail parking lot.
Location, hours, activities and other details
1491 State Road D
Camdenton, Missouri 65020
Ha Ha Tonka State Park hours and cost
The park is open daily, with the gates closing each day at sunset. There are no entry or parking fees.
April through October
Park opens at 7 a.m.
Park office open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional closings to assist large groups or conduct interpretive programs.
November through March
Park opens at 8 a.m.
Park office is not regularly staffed, but phone messages are checked during the day Mondays through Fridays.
A hydraulic pump filled the tank at the top of this tower with water from a spring nearly 300 feet away. Water from the tank flowed to the mansion by way of gravity. Employees of the estate, and their families, lived in quarters on the tower’s lower floors.
Some things you can do at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Hiking
Photography
Picnics
Backcountry camping (in certain areas; requires a reservation with the park office)
Paddling (in certain areas)
Fishing (in certain areas)
Some things you can’t do at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Go inside the ruins
Swimming
RV camping
Overnight parking
Cycling
Mountain biking
Horseback riding
Rock climbing
Going off trail
Picking wildflowers
What to bring for your day at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Water
Trail snacks or even a picnic — be sure to dispose of all garbage in a trash bin or take it with you
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Hand sanitizer or wipes
Comfortable shoes
Clothing appropriate for the weather
And, be sure to charge your phone for pictures.
Best times of the year to visit Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Missouri evening primrose blooms in the springtime at Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Missouri.
I recommend visiting in the spring or fall for cooler temps, colorful displays and smaller crowds.
Spring wildflowers include red columbine, Missouri evening primrose, coneflowers and Indian paintbrush. Plus, trees, such as redbud, dogwood and pawpaw, are in bloom.
In the fall, depending on conditions that year, you can enjoy the reds, yellows and oranges of the autumn leaves.
Visiting in the winter, especially with a light snow on the ground, could also be lovely.
In the summer, however, you’re likely to experience bigger crowds — both at the park and in the surrounding area. Lake of the Ozarks is a huge tourist destination. Not to mention the horrible heat and bugs, bugs, bugs.
How much time to spend at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
A sign calls attention to the strenuous part of Spring Trail at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. The water tower is visible in the background.
If you just want to see the castle ruins at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, you only need about an hour or so.
But, there’s so much more to see.
You could easily spend the better part of a day here.
During our visit, we arrived at 10 a.m., parking in the lower lot, and left at 4 p.m. About 6 hours total.
We explored with the dogs for about 2.5 hours, seeing the castle ruins, water tower and natural bridge. Then, we went back to Camper Van Beethoven for a rest and a snack.
J-Wo and I headed back out about 30 minutes later, leaving the dogs to nap and recover in the nice, cool van.
On this trek, we took the scenic way down to the spring and beyond.
The wooden boardwalk portion of Spring Trail takes you through the woods and alongside rocky bluffs.
We were on a wooden walkway much of the time, with some natural surface trails and some paved. This walk included the 316 wooden steps down (and back up) to the spring. There’s an elevation change of 200 feet.
We spent quite a bit of time near the spring, stopping to admire the scenery and the wildflowers, as well as an otter and the mallard ducks.
We arrived back at the van around 3 p.m., having logged more than 10,000 steps in all.
During the final hour we rested, fed the dogs and got ready to go eat a little something before hitting the road back home.
We could’ve easily covered all that ground in less time, especially if we drove to the different trailhead parking lots. But, we wanted to enjoy a slow day, leaving time to linger, explore and take photos.
Camping at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
There’s no standard tent and RV campground at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.
The park does, however, have a handful of backpacking campsites. They are free to use, so long as you have a reservation.
You can make same-day reservations at the park office April through October.
The rest of the year, you need to make a reservation at least one week in advance.
Dogs at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Bonnie and Clyde explored Ha Ha Tonka State Park, including the natural bridge, for about 2.5 hours.
Dogs are allowed at the park and on the trails, so long as they are on a leash.
Keep in mind that some trails are narrow wooden walkways with railings on either side. If your dog is reactive to people or other dogs, there’s no room to pull them aside.
We encountered several people with highly reactive dogs during our visit. Two of them didn’t have a good handle on their dogs, either.
It’s good practice to make sure people with dogs see you before you pass them with your own dogs.
I was careful to do this, especially after the first encounter with a reactive dog. Still, the dogs lunged, barked and pulled their owners toward us.
Do people really have that little awareness of how their dogs behave around other pups? Seriously, do better.
Leave dangerous dogs at home for the safety of everyone.
Where to stay near Ha Ha Tonka State Park
If you’re visiting Ha Ha Tonka State Park from St. Louis, Kansas City or even farther away, you’ll likely want to spend a night or two in the area. Driving there, hiking and driving back all in one day would be a bit exhausting.
The park is almost 3 hours from St. Louis and more than 2.5 hours from Kansas City.
Campgrounds near Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Note: The rating for each campground is current at the time of this blog posting and subject to change. Please check the the latest reviews.
Lake of the Ozarks / Linn Creek KOA Holiday — 8 miles away
4171 US-54
Linn Creek, Missouri 65052
4.1 out of 5 stars on Google Maps
Off a paved road
Tent and RV camping (full hook-ups available)
Cabins
Pets allowed
Riverbend Campground and RV Park — 10 miles away
86 Canning Drive
Macks Creek, Missouri 65786
4.8 out of 5 stars on Google Maps
Off a gravel road
Tent and RV camping (full hook-ups available)
River access
Pets allowed
Mother Nature’s Riverfront Retreat — 10 miles away
878 Gardens Road
Macks Creek, Missouri 65786
4.4 out of 5 stars on Google Maps
Off a gravel road
Tent and RV camping (full hook-ups available)
Cabins
River access and float trips
No pets
Top-rated vacation homes near Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Note: If you book a stay using one of our VRBO links, we’ll receive a very small referral commission. You won’t pay anything extra. The rating for each property is current at the time of this blog posting and subject to change. Please read the most current reviews.
Cozy and clean tiny home — 8 miles away
10 out of 10 rating on VRBO
2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Sleeps 5
Lakefront, fire pit, swimming dock
No pets
Updated 1930s stone cottage — 13 miles away
9.8 out of 10 rating on VRBO
2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Sleeps 6
Lakeview balcony, BBQ grill, walk to lake
No pets
Lovely home with large outdoor dining gazebo — 14 miles away
9.6 out of 10 rating on VRBO
2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Sleeps 4
Lakefront, outdoor fireplace, boat slip
Pets allowed
Stunning A-frame home — 14 miles away
10 out of 10 rating on VRBO
5 bedrooms, 2 baths
Sleeps 6
Lakefront, hot tub, paddle board
No pets
Woodsy cabin — 14 miles away
10 out of 10 rating on VRBO
2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Sleeps 6
Lakefront, hot tub, kayaks, outdoor shower
No pets
Cheery and bright tiny home — 20 miles away
9 out of 10 rating on VRBO
1 bedroom, 1 bath
Sleeps 2
Lake views, hot tub, boat slip
Pets allowed
Where to eat near Ha Ha Tonka State Park
The patio at Riverbird Winery is perched high above the Niangua River.
Note: The operating days and rating for each restaurant is current at the time of this blog posting and subject to change. Please check the current days and read the latest reviews.
Top-rated restaurants near Ha Ha Tonka State Park
The crab bisque comes with a gruyere grilled cheese at Riverbird Winery.
Riverbird Winery by Shawnee Bluff — 6.5 miles away
442 Riverbird Lane
Camdenton, Missouri 65020
4.9 out of 5 stars on Google Maps
Open for lunch and dinner Thursdays through Sundays
Flatbreads, burgers, seafood, pasta and more
River views, outdoor dining
Encounter Cove Lakeside Grill — 8.5 miles away
1650 Koehler Drive
Roach, Missouri 65787
4.8 out of 5 stars on Google Maps
Open for lunch and dinner Mondays through Saturdays
Burgers, fish, wings, sandwiches and more
Lake views, outdoor dining
Lake of the Ozarks Brewing Company — 11 miles away
6192 Osage Beach Parkway
Osage Beach, Missouri 65065
4.8 out of 5 stars on Google Maps
Open for lunch and dinner Wednesdays through Saturdays
Pizza
Outdoor seating
The Tavern at Trails End — 15 miles away
258 Trails End Road
Sunrise Beach, Missouri 65079
4.8 out of 5 stars on Google Maps
Open for dinner Thursdays through Mondays
Burgers, steak, chicken and more
Lake views, outdoor dining
Other useful links for exploring Ha Ha Tonka State Park
We hope this comprehensive guide to Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Missouri has you excited to get outdoors and explore. It’s truly a magnificent place for nature and history lovers.
Ha Ha Tonka will delight your eyes, pique your curiosity and, if you walk the 316 steps down to the spring and back up, leave a little quiver in your legs.
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