Castle Ruins Trail – Ha Ha Tonka Sp

Distance: 1.0 miles Elevation Gain: 300 ft Difficulty: Moderate Type: Loop Surface: Dirt/Rock Activity: Hiking Best Season: Year-round Typical Time: 1-2 hours Fee: $5-8/vehicle Dogs: Yes, on leash Permit: No

Ha Ha Tonka State Park's signature attraction is the ruins of a European-style stone castle built in 1905 by Kansas City businessman Robert Snyder on a 200-foot dolomite bluff above the Lake of the Ozarks. The partially completed castle burned in 1942 and the ruins now stand as dramatic architectural remnants in a natural landscape. The bluff below drops vertically to the lake cove, providing one of Missouri's most dramatic viewpoints. A natural bridge and collapsed cave system lie adjacent to the ruins.