Road trip: Spend the day on Wappapello Lake and the Pine Ridge Trail

Southeast Missouri offers a variety of scenic locations within a short drive of Poplar Bluff. If you’re looking for a short day trip with broad vistas, the Pine Ridge Trail at Wappapello Lake has a 3/4-mile long loop and a 1/2-mile short loop. This trail has its own parking area and can be reached by taking the left fork when turning into the entrance for the Wappapello Lake Corps of Engineers office. The rustic wilderness hike takes visitors through the nearby woods, offering benches along the way and views of the lake from certain sections. The Wildflower Trail and Greenhouse are part of a pollinator project at the Wappapello Lake. This is part of a project to stop or slow down species decline. It includes acres of native vegetation vital to pollinators. The trail offers a chance to see the start of spring blooms. Other trails go along the Spillway Recreation Area and the dam area.