Stone castle ruins, caves, sinkholes, natural bridges, and spring-fed trails provide a mix of historic landmarks and scenic outdoor recreation.
General Information
November through March: 8 a.m. to sunset daily
Visitor center open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during on-season
How to Get There
From Camdenton (5 mi): Take US-54 to State Road D and follow signs south into the park entrance near the castle ruins and trail areas.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a public recreation area encompassing over 3,700 acres (1,500 ha) on the Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks, about five miles south of Camdenton, Missouri. The state park's most notable feature is the ruins of Ha Ha Tonka, an early 20th-century stone mansion that was modeled after European castles of the 16th century.
The park also features caves, sinkholes, and bluffs overlooking the lake. It is a prominent example of karst topography, which is geological formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock. A 70-acre (28 ha) portion of the park was designated as the Ha Ha Tonka Karst Natural Area in 1981.
Things to Do
Explore the Castle Ruins
The park's most iconic attraction is the ruins of a turn-of-the-century stone castle perched atop a bluff overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks and Ha Ha Tonka Spring. The castle offers impressive views and a unique glimpse into the area's history.
See the Natural Wonders
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is known for its remarkable geologic features, including a large natural bridge, caves, sinkholes, towering bluffs, and Missouri's 12th-largest spring. Boardwalks and trails provide easy access to many of these scenic landmarks.
Hike the Scenic Trail System
A network of trails and boardwalks allows visitors to explore the park's woodlands, rocky glades, historic sites, overlooks, and geologic formations. The trail system provides some of the best hiking opportunities in the Lake of the Ozarks region.
Top Trails
Castle Trail
Length: Approximately 0.4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
This short, popular trail leads directly to the famous castle ruins and scenic overlooks above the lake and spring valley, making it one of the park's most visited routes.
Spring Trail
Length: Approximately 1.0 mile one way
Elevation Gain: Approximately 250 feet descent and ascent
Difficulty: Moderate
The Spring Trail descends from the blufftop castle area to Ha Ha Tonka Spring, providing views of the spring, boardwalks, forests, and unique karst features along the way.
Sources: Missouri State Parks official Ha Ha Tonka State Park information, including park highlights, geologic features, castle ruins, spring, trails, and visitor amenities. [1](https://mostateparks.com/park/ha-ha-tonka-state-park) Additional trail and visitor information verified through Ha Ha Tonka hiking guides and visitor resources. [2](https://www.thetravelbuglife.com/ha-ha-tonka-state-park-recommended-hiking-trail-combinations-general-park-visitor-information/) [3](https://intotheozarks.com/ha-ha-tonka-state-park-visitors-guide/)
Construction of the Ha Ha Tonka castle was started in 1905 by Robert McClure Snyder, Sr., a Kansas City businessman who purchased the large property after first visiting there in 1903.
Following Snyder's death in an auto accident in 1906, the castle was completed by his sons Robert, Jr., LeRoy, and Kenneth Snyder in the early 1920s before the Stock Market Crash. The building was used as a summer and weekend home by the Snyder family, who lived in Kansas City. In the late 1930s, it was used as a hotel; however, it was destroyed by fire in 1942.
The state purchased the castle and grounds in 1978, adapting them for use as a state park and opening them to the public.
The park has 15 miles of hiking trails leading to caves, sinkholes, natural bridges, and the castle. The park also features boating, fishing, and swimming.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ha Ha Tonka State Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
