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One of the things we strive to achieve at Backroad Weekly (apart from absurdity) is to sow local pride in the Southeast Missouri area.
As you all may well know, when you're from an area (or you live there long enough), it's easy to see it as normal and even "boring". We're here to give you a little shake...a lil' smack on the cheek and point out that if you had just flown here from the dry French Riviera, the cypress-tupelo swamp at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, with its mud snakes and bald eagles would blow your French freakin' mind.
"Oh-la-la, biscuits and gravy? I've never 'eard of zis."
You're living in a destination, baby.
The Schlosser Loop Trail at General Watkins Conservation Area
Despite the holiday madness and family time last weekend, I still managed to sneak away for a short nature walk on the Schlosser Loop Trail at General Watkins Conservation Area.
The Schlosser Loop Trail at General Watkins Conservation Area, April 2026
Located just outside of Benton, Missouri, this trail is about a 30-minute drive south of Cape Girardeau. If you put "Schlosser Loop Trail" into Google Maps, it'll take you straight to the trailhead. Buthere's the Google Maps link, just in case convenience is the ticket to your adoration.
It's flat, wide, easy, only 1.5 miles long, and pretty at golden hour.
Imagine I'm cupping your cheeks in my hands, making a face sandwich, and standing so close to your nose you can smell the Cheetos on my breath, "Go at golden hour".
You'll walk through Appalachian-like forests, skirt along the edge of farmland, and stroll past two ponds with well-maintained banks for fishing.
The Cemetery Ridge Trail
If you're thinking, "Caitlan, gas costs $258 a gallon. I'm not driving somewhere for 1.5 miles of trail": I have good news for you my bang-for-your-buck friend. When you finish the Schlosser Loop Trail, you're not far from the trailhead for the Cemetery Ridge Trail. This one is an out-and-back. Round trip, it will add at least another 3 miles to your day hike. And there's a historic cemetery at the end.
Take your (leashed) dog. Take your mountain bike. Take your tent (there's a primitive campsite). Area brochure here.
My Only "Warning"
Here's something I wish someone had told me: There is a fork in the Cemetery Ridge Trail that is not on the map. I've drawn it in blue. Don't want anyone to get lost. I can see the headlines now, "Day hikers spend night in Scott County wilderness and blame a local newsletter."
Something Happening Nearby
This isn’t typically what we cover here, but it felt worth mentioning: There’s an ongoing discussion in Franklin County about two proposed data centers near the Meramec River, one of the cleanest, free-flowing rivers in the Midwest.
Neighbors and scientific professionals have raised concerns about water use, contamination, rising water costs, and impacts to wildlife (including endangered species!) and the river system that hundreds of thousands of people rely on.
Nothing is finalized yet, and decisions are still being made. We’re not here to tell you what to think (or what we think), but this is one of those times when something happening nearby could shape a landscape many Missourians care about.
The Cape Farmers’ Market is back, which means...you made it! You survived another winter without going Jack Torrence on your family!
Opening day is TODAY, and if you’ve got a hankering for something that didn’t come from a fluorescent-lit aisle, here's your chance.
Talkin' 'bout that local honey, fresh produce, sourdough loaves, maple syrup, kettle corn, meats, mushrooms, plants...the whole kickin'-corporate-in-the-crotch kaboodle.
So, Bob Barker that betch and "come on down". Get outside. Support local farmers and makers. Take something home without "natural favors" listed as an ingredient.
Where: JC Penney parking lot When: Thursdays, 9am - 2pm
Go early for the best selection, or swing by late and see what’s left. There's no wrong way to farmers' market.
Not to be confused with the Cape Riverfront Market (also elite), which makes its triumphant return May 2 and runs Saturdays, 8am - 12pm, so keep that one on your market radar, too.
**Disclaimer - Even though VisitCape picks the topic for their section each week, they let me pick which ridiculous words I use to deliver the message. Just getting that out there, so I don't stain them with The Shining references. Big shout out to them for letting me be me ❤️
This Weekend’s Happenings
Fri, April 10
Spring Fling, East Prairie, MO - A two-night community event at Sandy Ridge Smokehouse with local vendors, yard games for kids, raffles, and lots o' food, including Cajun crawfish and fried catfish. 4pm-9pm.
Bluegrass Concert Series: Stringed Union, Farmington, MO - Live bluegrass at Long Memorial Hall featuring Stringed Union. Part of a 3-part concert series in the historic downtown. $5. 7-9pm.
Legally Blonde the Musical, Cape Girardeau, MO - A stage production at SEMO’s River Campus following Elle Woods' Harvard run. 7:30pm. $26 and up. Free for SEMO students. "This is Bruiser Woods. We're both Gemini vegetarians."
Yard Sale (Dinner Theatre Comedy), Cape Girardeau, MO - A one-hour comedy performance at Port Cape paired with a full dinner service. Dinner at 6:30pm, show at 7:30pm. $48.
Sat, April 11
Rodeo Rundown, Sikeston, MO - "This engaging program will give attendees an inside look at the traditions, history, and behind-the-scenes details of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, while also serving as “Rodeo 101” for anyone wanting to better understand the sport." 11am. They want RSVPs TODAY (April 9).
Wildflower Hike at Blue Spring Branch Conservation Area, Perry County, MO - A guided 1.5-mile hike to spot and learn about spring wildflowers. 1pm-3:30pm. Free (registration required, registration deadline TODAY, April 9).
Spring Tree Walk, Kennett, MO - A guided walk through Jones Memorial Park focused on identifying local tree species, including some you won’t find elsewhere in the state. 10am-12pm and again 1-3pm.
Keep Baker Beautiful Day, Patterson, MO - A volunteer day at Sam A. Baker State Park helping with projects like mulching, gardening, and cleanup ahead of the busy season. 8:30am-1pm. Free (registration required).
Spring Fling, East Prairie, MO - Food, vendors, and kids' games will be set up at Sandy Ridge Smokehouse. 4pm-9pm. If you haven't been, yet, this unique local restaurant is in a silo, has patio dining, and has an orchard. Great environment.
Madison Market, Fredericktown, MO - Another outdoor market (this one is monthly) with local produce, baked goods, and handmade items. 8am-12pm.
Spring Milice Encampment, Sainte Genevieve, MO - A living history event bringing early French colonial life to life with drills, interpreters, and hands-on glimpses of how the community lived and protected itself. 9:30am-4pm.
Pizza & Paddling, Lake Wappapello, MO - A veterans afternoon at Wappapello State Park with kayaking and pizza. Open to veterans and their families. 11am-3pm.
Legally Blonde the Musical, Cape Girardeau, MO - Today ofers two chances to catch this River Campus production. 2pm and 7:30pm. $26 and up. Free for SEMO students.
Yard Sale (Dinner Theatre Comedy), Cape Girardeau, MO - A second night to catch this 1-hour comedy at Port Cape with dinner before the show. Dinner at 6:30pm, show at 7:30pm. $48.
Funky Butt Brass Band, Cape Girardeau, MO - A high-energy brass band out of St. Louis blending jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop. Doors 7pm, show 8pm. $18 advance / $22 day of show.
Colonial Market Faire, Prairie du Rocher, IL - A living history event at Fort de Chartres with 18th-century reenactors, demonstrations, and vendors selling period-style goods. Everything from cooking demos to shooting competitions and a full day of activity inside the fort. 10am-8pm. Free.
Spring Wildflower Walk - Giant City State Park, Makanda, IL - A guided hike along the Trillium Trail, one of the best spots in Southern Illinois to catch spring wildflowers in bloom. 1pm-3pm. Free (registration required).
Ondessonk Trail Races, Ozark, IL - A trail race event at Camp Ondessonk. Registration closes April 10! Still time to sign up! Distance options range from a 1-mile fun run to a 5k, 10k, and half marathon through forested hills, canyons, and spring wildflowers. 8am-11:30am. $20-$75.
Gem, Mineral, Fossil, & Jewelry Show, Marion, IL - Vendors, fossils, gemstones, and displays, plus demos, a dinosaur exhibit, and glowing mineral displays. 10am-6pm. $2 (free for kids 18 and under).
Wild Turkey Trail Guided Hike, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (near Marion, IL) - A 4.6-mile guided hike through spring wildflowers on a moderate “lollipop” trail with stream crossings and scenic forest stretches. 10am. Free (parking pass required).
Sun, April 12
Legally Blonde the Musical, Cape Girardeau, MO - Last call for this weekend’s run at Bedell Performance Hall. 2pm. $26 and up. Free for SEMO students.
Tours at the Jackson Oliver House Museum, Jackson, MO - "Come tour the beautiful Jackson Oliver House Museum in historic Uptown Jackson. See how daily life was lived in the early 1800s in Jackson." $5 for adults, $3 for kids. 1-4pm
TEA Talk: Secrets of Main Street & the Mysteries of Red Star, Cape Girardeau, MO - A storytelling-style talk at the historic James Reynolds House exploring local legends, buried gold rumors, and strange happenings tied to Main Street. Free.
Yard Sale (Dessert Matinee), Cape Girardeau, MO - A Sunday afternoon comedy theatre with dessert instead of dinner. Dessert at 1pm, show at 2pm. $30.
Colonial Market Faire, Prairie du Rocher, IL - A second day to explore this colonial-era re-enactment event. 10am-3pm. Free.
Gem, Mineral, Fossil, & Jewelry Show, Marion, IL - A second day to browse rocks, fossils, and jewelry. 10am-5pm. $2 (free for kids 18 and under).
Dogwood Trail Bike Ride, Paducah, KY - A laid-back community bike ride through blooming neighborhoods. 2:30pm-4:45pm. Free.
Plan Ahead - The Fun You Gotta Sign Up in Advance to Have
Mid-week Trekkers: Mina Sauk Falls, Cape Girardeau, MO - A naturalist-led hike through Taum Sauk State Park featuring Missouri’s highest point and tallest waterfall. Transportation provided. 8:30am-5pm. Free (registration required). Wednesday, April 15.
Hand Carved Wooden Bowls, Puxico, MO - A hands-on workshop at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge where you’ll learn to carve your own wooden bowl using traditional tools and native wood. 1pm-4pm. Free (registration required). Thursday, April 16
Bashin’ Trash, Cape Girardeau, MO - A creek cleanup event along Cape LaCroix Creek helping restore the area between Walden Park and Shawnee Sports Complex. Meet at the Nature Center for supplies, then head out to your assigned spot. 9am-11am. Free (registration required). Saturday, April 18.
Kayak Chaos Cup, Dexter, MO - Dexter’s first-ever kayak races hit the city pond with divisions for singles, doubles, and kids 12 and under. Early entries get goodie bags. Saturday, Apr 18, 10am. $20.
Missouri OUTLAW Gravel Race, Ste. Genevieve, MO - A 45-mile gravel bike race through the countryside around Ste. Genevieve. The course is famously “flat and fast…until it’s not”. Proceeds support Trailnet and its work to improve biking access across the region. Sat, April 18.
SEMO MS Community Walk, Cape Girardeau, MO - A community walk around the Capaha Park pond to raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis research. Saturday, Apr 25, 9am at Capaha Park Shelter #1.
GlenVegas Gambler Mountain Bike Race, Glendale, IL - Off-road mountain bike race on the Lake Glendale trail system featuring fast descents, rocky terrain, and steep climbs. Proceeds support trail building and maintenance by the Shawnee Mountain Bike Association. Saturday, April 25. Races begin 10am.
Iron Spokes Enduro, Ironton, MO - Part of the Missouri Enduro Series, this mountain bike race takes on the steep, chunky trails of Shepherd Mountain Bike Park. Riders race timed downhill stages. Expect fast descents and technical terrain. Tues, April 26.
The Ozark’s Mountain Challenge, Sam A Baker State Park, MO - A 12-hour endurance hiking challenge that dares hikers to climb Mudlick Mountain eight times, totaling 7,980 feet of elevation gain - the same height as Mount Olympus. May 2.
The Bluffs Trail Run, Eminence, MO - A trail running event set in Echo Bluff State Park and neighboring Current River State Park. Distance options range from a half-marathon down to a 5K, plus a kids’ 1-mile fun run, making this a welcoming event for experienced trail runners and first-timers alike. Expect wooded trails, bluff views, and camping options. May 2.
Tour de Tunnel Bike Ride, Vienna, IL - A scenic, non-competitive bike ride on the Tunnel Hill State Trail featuring route options of 10, 20, or 40 miles, including a ride-through railroad tunnel on the longer routes. Hosted by Revive Vienna, with SAG stops along the way. Saturday, May 23. Ride starts at 9:30am. $35 registration.
For each event, you’ll find more info at the link. *Because these events are upcoming, they have not been vetted. That would require a time machine, and we don't have the funds. Party at your own discretion.
Birds of Missouri Field Guide by Stan Tekiela
Have you been fighting bird-curious urges?
The Birds of Missouri Field Guide is built for MO-based beginners. There is an advantage to focusing on one state: You’re not flipping through 900 birds you’ll never see. Welllllll, never say NEVER. Casual backyard bird watching is a gateway drug. Next thing you know, you're in a Floridian swamp dressed in a mosquito net with 1,500-dollar binoculars.
Back to the book: It’s organized by color for those of us in our avian diapers, so if you spot a yellow bird, you just…go to the yellow section. So satisfying.
Now, fair warning, we have seen birds in Southeast Missouri that aren’t in this guide, so it’s not exhaustive. But as a digestible way to get your feet wet? It does the job.
If you grab a copy through this link or button, Backroad Weekly may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).
WORD SCRAMBLE ANSWER: FISHING
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Catch you down the road.
Caitlan Hester Publisher, Backroad Weekly
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