Our first (and hopefully our most strenuous) hike in the St. Francois Mountains was at Hughes Mountain Natural Area, on Route M, southwest of Irondale. The roundtrip hike was approximately two miles in length and the elevation gain was 380 feet. While neither stat seems terribly remarkable, there were a number of steep, uneven sections along the way and, after all, we are not youngsters.
On the other hand, we were rewarded with fabulous views from rock outcrops along the route and especially from the broad clearing atop the mountain (see photo). Precambrian rhyolite dominated those rock exposures.
The journey to Hughes Mountain was rewarding as well. Our route climbed through forested hill country, studded with attractive homesteads and ranches. Of course, the small town residents offered their own flavor of backcountry life.
