Explore this historical and captivating hidden gem located in south central Missouri as I present to you one of the greatest Missouri State Parks: Ha Ha Tonka.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a little bit off the beaten path just south of the well known Lake of the Ozarks in the small town of Camdenton.
This part of the Show Me State holds some gorgeous scenery including crystal blue springs, serene lakes, caves, natural bridges, and more!
Along with numerous hiking trails and water activities, Ha Ha Tonka boasts unique stone castle ruins which are part of the park’s intriguing history.
This is one State Park you won’t want to miss on your next Missouri road trip.
One of the things I love most about Missouri State Parks is that they are all free! So you can explore Ha Ha Tonka and all its glory for free at any time of year. Any season would be a good time to visit Ha Ha Tonka.
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Where Does the Name “Ha Ha Tonka” Come From?
The original inhabitants of this part of Missouri were the Native Americans of the Osage Tribe. The name “Ha Ha Tonka” is derived from the Osage language, meaning “laughing waters,” which is a reference to the numerous springs and streams in the area.
History Behind the State Park
In the early 1900s, Robert Snyder, a wealthy Kansas City businessman, purchased over 5,000 acres of land in the area. Snyder was captivated by the natural beauty of the region and decided to build a European-style stone castle on a bluff overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks.
Construction of the castle began in 1905 and tragically just a year later, Robert was killed in one of Missouri’s first automobile accidents. His sons attempted to complete the castle, but construction was halted in the 1920s due to financial difficulties and the onset of the Great Depression.
After that, the unfinished castle became a local curiosity and tourist attraction. Unfortunately in 1942, a fire gutted the castle, leaving only the outer stone work that remains today.
In 1978, the State of Missouri acquired the property, and Ha Ha Tonka State Park was established. Despite the fire, these ruins have been preserved and are a central feature of the park, offering a glimpse into the ambitious vision of the Snyder family.
Exploring the Castle Ruins
Without a doubt you won’t want to miss the castle ruins. You can access the castle via the Castle Trail which I will talk more about later.
Since it is one of the most popular places to go in the park, there is a parking lot conveniently located close to the castle which is just a few minutes walk away.
I want to point out that unfortunately visitors are not able to go inside the castle and explore it as the park wants to try to preserve these ruins for as long as possible.
There are railings built around the castle to prevent people from going in. You are, however, able to walk all the way around and see the majority of the inside.
Water Tower Ruins
Along with the stone castle ruins, you will find the remains of an old water tower that was used to pump water from the spring located about 300 feet below!
This is yet another impressive historical structure that calls Ha Ha Tonka State Park home.
You can access this water tower by either taking the Spring Trail to the Dell Rim Trail, or by hiking the Castle Trail. There is also a parking area located at the end of Castle Ruins Rd resulting in a short walk away from the tower.
There are wooden stairs required to get to the tower but it’s well worth it because you can actually go inside.
Ha Ha Tonka Spring
Another one of the most popular attractions in the park is the Ha Ha Tonka Spring. This freshwater spring is known to be Missouri’s 12th largest spring!
A spring is a natural outflow of water that emerges from the Earth, typically from limestone or dolomite rock. Freshwater springs are formed when water from precipitation seeps through the soil and rock, reaching a point where it flows out naturally due to pressure.
The Ha Ha Tonka Spring impressively pumps out 56 million gallons of water each day to the stream that leads into the Lake of the Ozarks.
Due to the high mineral content and its pure fresh water, most Missouri springs will give off a beautiful blue hue that you won’t find in many other places.
You definitely won’t want to miss the spring as it is one of the most scenic and beautiful spots in the park.
Best Hikes in Ha Ha Tonka
Ha Ha Tonka is one of the greatest State Parks for hiking in Missouri. There are a plethora of different trails that will lead you to beautiful geological wonders including caves, springs, sinkholes, bluffs, and even a natural bridge.
Spring Trail
- 1.5 miles round trip
- Flat and easy dirt pathway
- Wooden stairs towards the end
- Gorgeous views of the spring and bluffs
Castle Trail
- 0.8 miles round trip
- Flat, paved and easy terrain
- Wooden planks and a few stairs
- Amazing elevated views of the lake
- Perfect for families and people of all ages to explore the castle ruins
Devil’s Kitchen Trail
- 1.5 miles round trip
- Rugged and rocky terrain at times
- Leads you to a famous sinkhole and an amazing cave shelter that you can go into and explore
Ha Ha Tonka Island Trail
- 1 mile round trip
- Dirt, gravel, and rugged terrtain
- Not very well maintained
- Hidden “island cave” to explore
- Lots of stairs
- Scenic views of the river and castle
Colosseum Trail
- 0.6 miles round trip
- Dirt trail, well maintained
- Some wooden planks on trail and stairs required at times
- Amazing views of the natural bridge, you can go inside
- Impressive bluff views
I want to point out that almost all of these trails intertwine so it is possible to do all of them in the same day and all at once (which is what we did). We just started hiking on the Spring Trail, and kept hiking from trail to trail until we realized we’ve been around the entire park!
This is also important to know so you don’t wander onto a different trail and get lost. Make sure to have some kind of map of the park or AllTrails with you as you hike.
Below is a photo of all the trails I just mentioned for reference:
Water Activities
Since Ha Ha Tonka is located right in the famous Lake of the Ozarks, there are plenty of water activities available in the park.
Can You Swim at Ha Ha Tonka?
Yes, you can safely swim in the waters at Ha Ha Tonka.
However, swimming is not allowed in the spring. You can only swim in the lake.
There is no specific area where only swimmers are allowed so you can access the water wherever you please.
However, there is a picnic shelter called “Lake Shelter” located along the south side of the lake where one of the main parking areas is.
This shelter is known to be an easy spot to enter the water at. The water is low and there are steps leading down. You can find the Lake Shelter by typing in “Ha Ha Tonka Lake Shelter” into your Apple or Google Maps, or the coordinates of the shelter can be found here.
Do keep in mind that motor boats are allowed on the lake which will impact the currents of the water. There is also no lifeguard on duty so you swim at your own risk.
Kayaking & Paddleboarding
Ha Ha Tonka presents a wonderful spot for kayakers/ paddleboarders to explore the lake waters.
You can launch your kayak off the steps by the Lake Shelter. This will be the best place in the park to enter the water on your kayak.
If you bring your own kayak, this is completely free. However, if you need to rent one, you can do so at the Visitor Center. They offer one or two person kayaks at the following rates:
One-Person Kayaks:
- $20 for 2 hours
- $30 for 4 hours
- $40 for all day
Two-Person Kayaks:
- $25 for 2 hours
- $30 for 4 hours
- $50 for all day
You are welcome to bring your own paddleboard to the lake and explore but they are not available to rent on site at this time.
Boating
Boating is another very popular activity at Ha Ha Tonka. There are no fees required to take your boat out onto the lake.
Do keep in mind that the boat length limit for docking at the park is 24 feet.
There are 2 different public docks in the park where you can launch your boat from.
One dock is located on the south side of the lake next to the Lake Shelter. This would be the best place to launch your boat that you brought with you to the park because it is located right by one of the main parking lots.
The second dock is on the north side of the lake right across from the other dock and is best for people who are accessing the park by water. There is no parking lot here so you would not be able to drive your car to this dock to launch your boat from here. This dock connects to the Lake Trail and the Quarry Trail which will take you right to the castle ruins.
The photo above is a map of the park and I’ve circled the two different boating dots in black. As you can see, the south dock is located next to the parking area which makes for easy access for boaters who drive to the park.
Fishing
There is NO fishing permitted at the Ha Ha Tonka Spring. You can, however, fish on the lake at various points throughout the park.
The most popular and easily accessible fishing access point is at Lake Shelter.
Click here to view Missouri’s fishing regulations. These are the rules that apply to the lake waters of Ha Ha Tonka.
Can You Camp at Ha Ha Tonka?
Unlike other State Parks in Missouri, Ha Ha Tonka has some different rules and regulations on who can camp in their park.
Group Camping
There is a campground at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, but it is exclusively for group campers. So you can only camp here if you have a group of people to occupy the site. For example, if you have a large family or friend group planning a camping trip, this would be a great place to host the trip.
According to the parks website, nonprofit organizations and youth groups take first priority when booking a campsite. These are other examples of groups of campers that are allowed at the Ha Ha Tonka Campground.
There are 3 separate campground areas in the park and each of them have a fire ring, a covered table, and three or four picnic tables.
There is no potable water or electricity available, but there is a pit toilet centrally located within the 3 campgrounds.
Prices start at $2 per person per night. You can call 573-346-2986 to reserve your group camping trip at Ha Ha Tonka.
Backcountry Camping
Still interested in camping at Ha Ha Tonka? Luckily, there is another option. If you’re into backpacking this should suit you well!
The Turkey Pen Hollow Trail is a trail located in the south eastern portion of the park (opposite of the castle and main attractions) that you are allowed to backcountry camp on for free.
This is a 7 mile trail that has 3 designated campsites throughout the hike. You are only allowed to set up camp at these 3 sites.
Here’s some things you need to know about backcountry camping at Ha Ha Tonka:
- You must make reservations beforehand. You can do this by calling the Visitor Center at: 573-346-2986
- Backpackers must register at the park office before heading out on the trail
- You will be given a permit that you must place on the dashboard of your car overnight to let park rangers know that the person parked there is here camping
- Up to 7 people are allowed at each campsite
- No campfires
- You must be checked out of your site by 2 PM the day of your departure.
It’s recommended that if you’re interested in backcountry camping at Ha Ha Tonka, that you reserve your campsite at least a week ahead of time.
Do note that since this is backcountry camping, you will have to bring all your equipment with you including a tent, a stove to cook on, food, sleeping pads if needed, toilet paper, and anything else you need to camp with. The park does not provide any of these items.
Remember to pack in all that you pack out.
Other Camping Options Outside the Park
If you don’t have a group to camp with and don’t want to camp in the backcountry, you will have to find somewhere outside of the park to set up camp.
A great option that’s only 20 minutes from Ha Ha Tonka, is the Lake of the Ozarks State Park.
*Lake of the Ozarks is a wonderful and popular State Park that has a lot of the same activities and natural attractions as Ha Ha Tonka. They have four different sections to their campground and prices vary between $15- $27 per night based on which you choose.
Amenities also depend on which section of the campground you choose, but there are showers, bathrooms, potable water, and dump stations available at most sites.
You can check out their website here for more info on their campsites.
*Lead Mine Conservation Area is a wonderful free camping option that’s also just 20 minutes away from Ha Ha Tonka. This conservation area is home to 5 primitive (no amenities or facilities) camping areas.
There are 51 campsites total with 26 of them able to accommodate trailers. These campsites do not require a reservation but they are first come first serve. This doesn’t seem to be a hugely popular area, so I am sure you would have no trouble finding a spot.
You are able to tent camp or car camp here.
You are allowed to camp at the Lead Mine Conservation Area for 14 days within a 30 day period.
That will conclude my guide to Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton, Missouri!
I hope you enjoyed this article and are inspired to visit some State Parks that may be a little more off the beaten path, just like this one. Thank you for reading!
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