Tonka Quarry Trail Green Loop

Quarry Trail takes visitors through two quarry sites, where sandstone was mined to build the castle, carriage house and water tower. At the trailhead near the castle ruins, the trail passes next to the site where 10 greenhouses were constructed as part of the Robert Snyder estate. The greenhouses were removed and sold after Snyders death, but the foundations and interpretive panel are available for viewing at the site. The quarries hikers will pass can be deceptive as they are not the size or depth seen today. These were areas where the sandstone layer was close to or extended above ground level to make its removal easier. To further make the job of transporting these large stones from the larger quarry site north of the castle, they used a small gauge track and cart system pulled by mule to bring the stone to the castle site. The trail also features views of Lake of the Ozarks from a large dolomite glade on the west side of the trail at the half way point. Users can shorten or enhance their hikes by accessing White Connectors 5 and 6. To use either of the white connector trails, hikers should watch for the white blazes. Hikers can leave the trail at the carriage house site to make a shorter walk to the parking lot.