Cave Spring Loop Trail Guide

Cave Spring Loop Trail is a beautiful, scenic trail near Eminence, Missouri.

The trail is a 5+ mile loop with plenty of scenic sights along the entire hike, but it is moderately rugged.

In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about hiking the Cave Spring Loop Trail near Devil’s Well and Eminence, Missouri.

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Cave Spring Loop Trail Snapshot

Important trail information that you should know:

• Location: Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Salem, Missouri
• Trail Length: 5.7 miles
• Elevation Gain: 805 feet
• Type: Loop
• Average Time: 3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Pets Allowed: Yes (leash required)
• Restrooms: Yes, Pit Toilet
• Parking: Yes
• Road Conditions: Paved and gravel
• Best Seasons: Late Fall, Winter, and Early Spring

PRO TIP: Many portions of this trail are not maintained in the summer. In areas where sunlight is let in (due to a lack of trees), the trail is severely overgrown and practically invisible. It is best to hike this loop during late fall, winter, and early spring.

Why the Cave Spring Loop Trail is Worth Hiking

The Cave Spring Loop Trail is worth hiking in the late fall, winter, and early spring.

This moderate hiking trail is a 5.7-mile loop plus the Cave Spring spur. There are some rolling hills, giving this hike an 805-foot elevation gain when hiking it counterclockwise. There is a lot to see along the way include multiple scenic overlooks, bluffs, natural cave shelters, and views of the Current River.

The Cave Spring Loop Trail would be ideal to visit during the fall color season and during leaf off, when you can see everything for miles.

Trail Map + Directions

You can find this trail on multiple hiking apps including the official National Park Service app, AllTrails, and others.

To reach the trailhead for this hike (parking) from Eminence, Missouri:

• Take MO-19 (North) for 24 miles from Eminence.
• Turn left onto State Highway KK and drive for 2 miles.
• Turn left onto Devil’s Well Road and drive for 1.6 miles to reach the trailhead.

NOTE: When you get on Devil’s Well Road, stay on the main wider (narrow in some spots) road to avoid driving onto private property around the area.

You can also use this Google Maps Link to enter your address for the parking lot.

All of the roads to Devil’s Well Road are paved. Devil’s Well Road is gravel with some rough potholes in some spots and hills. Most vehicles should be able to make it, but you may have to drive slowly.

The parking area can fit about a dozen vehicles in it. There is a pet toilet present. There is also a picnic area. Devil’s Well (very short hike) can be found at this location, as well.

During wintry conditions, this parking lot and some roads leading to it may be impassable to vehicles that are not equipped to drive in snow and ice. This area may be subject to flash flooding if enough rain has fallen.

Cell phone signal is often unavailable in this part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. If you use an app, make sure it has offline capabilities.

Hiking the Trail and What You’ll See

To hike the Cave Spring Loop Trail from the trailhead:

• Take the trail from the start of Devil’s Well stairs and hike it counterclockwise. I do recommend visiting Devil’s Well first. You’ll effectively be hiking to the bottom of the creek that Devil’s Well sits on top of. Make sure to read the interpretive signage at the start for more information.
• As you begin your hike along the Cave Spring Trail. It’s mainly a nice stroll through the forest with gentle rolling hills. You’ll notice some cool smaller boulders and a few pretty scenic overlooks.
• You’ll eventually get to an area where trees have been removed for glade management purposes. In the summer, this will be extremely overgrown and hard to hike. If trails are not maintained properly within managed glades, they quickly become overgrown. I do not recommend hiking this loop in the summer.
• Once you get to the spur, you can take the trail down to the Current River and the little cave that Devil’s Well sits on top of. It is worth seeing. You’ll also see the Current River up close. However, in the summer, a lot of stinging nettle grows over the trail. It’s easy to beat down, but if you get it on your skin, it burns for a while, and some people can have worse reactions. Again, avoid it in the summer.
• As you hike the rest of the loop, you’ll encounter more managed glade areas with pretty overlooks of the Current River. You’ll hike on some old roads on the way and pass some pretty creeks.

Do keep in mind that the Current River and the cave area get pretty popular with people during the warmer months. Most people access this area by floating along the Current River.

How Difficult is the Cave Spring Loop Hike?

Moderate.

This trail has some rolling hills, creek crossings, and a few rocky sections.

The trail is difficult to hike in the summer. There are overgrown areas where trees have been removed to manage glades. The area near the creek gets a lot of stinging nettle, which can overtake the trail.

This is not a beginner trail by any means, but it’s not the most rugged trail out there, either.

Best Time to Hike the Cave Spring Loop Trail

I recommend hiking this trail in late fall, winter, and early spring.

The summer will bring overgrown sections, stinging nettle, spiderwebs, ticks, and a lot of people around the cave and Current River area.

Late fall would be best for seeing the tree colors change.

During the winter, you can see everything, and it should be a very easy hike.

In the early spring, the forest starts to wake up, and you can see wild flowers starting to bloom.

What to Bring on This Trail

This is a moderately rugged hike. If day hiking, I recommend at least bringing:

• Comfortable clothing that breathes (no cotton)
• Durable hiking boots or shoes (hiking socks, too)
• Plenty of water and a snack (often no creek water to filter)
• First aid kit and emergency supplies
• Rain gear just in case
• Flashlight and headlamp, just in case
• Bug spray and sun block

It’s always recommended to at least carry the 10 essentials of hiking when enjoying this trail.

Safety Notes and Warnings

Please use caution around the tops of cliffs and bluffs. Falling would likely result in death.

Use caution around the Current River. If you fell in, the current could overtake you, and you might drown in the process.

It’s best to use a GPS or app that doesn’t require a cell phone signal on this hike. There will be little to no cell phone signal present.  You should also carry a charging device to help keep your devices charged.

Pay attention to the local weather forecast before and on the day of your hike. I advise you against visiting during unsafe weather conditions.

This is rattlesnake country. Please watch your step, do not attempt to harm the snake, and safely move around it to avoid any hazards.

Water is not always available in the creeks. Don’t depend on it for filtering when you visit. The trail is moderately rugged, and you’ll need to drink more, especially when it’s hot, so bring plenty of water with you.

Ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting bugs are present in this area. Use DEET and permethrin to ward off most of these pests. Make sure you check yourself thoroughly for ticks after you’re done hiking for the day.

Photography Tips

The overlooks along the Cave Spring Loop Trail are ideal for photography, as well as the Current River and Cave under the Devil’s Well. The Devil’s Well itself is harder to photograph because of all the protective gating around it.

Golden hour, sunset, and sunrise are your best times to visit for photography.

Each season offers a different beautiful photo. Spring and summer offer a greener shot, fall gives you beautiful colors, and winter lets you see everything. This place is best for photography year-round, in all honesty.

In National Parks, drones are prohibited. Do not use a drone on this trail.

Nearby Trails to Hike

There are many great hiking trails to enjoy in this area.

I recommend visiting Echo Bluff State Park and Current River State Park to hike other trails and access the rivers.

Welch Spring and Hospital are nearby and also worth visiting.

There are many hiking trails and activities throughout the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Who is the Cave Spring Loop Trail Best For?

This trail is moderately difficult.

I would recommend this route only to hikers who are used to moderately difficult trails. If you’re not used to rugged terrain, this trail will be significantly challenging for you to complete.

Rattlesnakes might be present.

Please always make sure you hike with a friend and tell someone where you are going before you go.

What To Do Near the Cave Spring Loop Trail

For dining, lodging, and shopping, I recommend visiting Eminence, Missouri. We enjoyed eating at On the Rock Bar and Grill (awesome smash burgers) and Brite Bites (great breakfast buffet). The Dairy Shack has really good ice cream. Dos Rios is the best Mexican place we’ve ever eaten at in our lives.

We often stay at Round Spring Campground when we visit this area. It seems more family-friendly and less catering to those who drink and party all night. I highly recommend staying there.

Hiking with Shawn’s Final Thoughts About the Cave Spring Loop Trail

The Cave Spring Loop Trail is a great trail to hike when visiting the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri. It is hard to hike in the summer, but all the rest of the season would be perfect for this trail. I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re able to.

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And until next time, I’ll see you on the trail!

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Below is a recent video that we filmed while enjoying this area.

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Enjoy these photos taken around this area!