Hughes Mountain Natural Area

This is a fun place to hike, and you get to experience a great view… some say it’s the best in Missouri. Okay, that Tom J. guy said it was. I think I agree with him.
It’s a gentle slope up a mountain, sometimes through a piney forest, sometimes meandering near a piney glade. No, I swear… there is a feature here called Piney Glade. I have that shit in my bathroom, too. But seriously, there is a piney glade up there. I saw it firsthand. In fact, I discovered a few glades before getting to the top of the mountain. But the Piney Glade beats all glades, hands down.
Once you exit the woody area, you are welcome to climb these ancient rocks and soak in some seriously beautiful views of southern Missouri. As Tom mentioned, these are strange and crumbly rhyolite which resembles a honeycomb, at least partially. And since they must be evil, they call it Devil’s Honeycomb. It’s a good name… I dig it.
I walked around until I found the highest point, and then sat down and ate a boiled egg, supped some freshly brewed coffee that I prepared in the parking lot, and inhaled and exhaled and marveled at the views from Hughes Mountain. And can you friggin’ believe it? I could NOT find the trail to take me back. There is a stick with a white piece of cloth near the trailhead, but my eyes were bloodshot and my legs were shaky and I couldn’t find it. So I just went with it and discovered a few more areas that I missed previously. And then I found that goddamn stick with the white cloth on it and trundled on down to my vehicle.
It’s just a nice stroll up a mountain of rock that is hard to find anywhere in this lovely country of ours. Enjoy and behave yourself… and visit Hughes Mountain if you are in the neighborhood.

Easily one the best hikes in Missouri. Hughes Mountain is one of the highest points in Missouri. Unlike Taum Sauk, the top of this mountain is not covered with trees. Instead, it’s covered with some of the oldest exposed rock in the U.S. It’s a rhyolite formation, which kind of looks like a bunch of bricks or pavers were dumped onto the top of the mountain. It’s often referred to as the «Devils Honeycomb.» This type of rock formation only appears in a couple of places in the United States.
Because it’s one of the highest points and there aren’t trees on top, this is probably the best view in the state. Between the rocks and the view, It’s just an amazing place and a must see for hikers.
The only facility at Hughes Mountain is a parking lot, no picnic areas or bathrooms. I’ve been twice, both times on beautiful days. Also both times I (we) climbed to the top and back with no one else ever showing up. It’s an easy hike for kids and they’ll love limbing on the rocks, but it’s kind of a long hike if they’re under 5 or so.
The parking lot is off Hwy M, which hits Hwy 21 south of Potosi and north of Caledonia.