5
NATURAL BRIDGES AND TUNNELS
THE St. James Natural Tunnel and Kaintuck Hollow Tunnel south of Newburg were formed by streams which, in the geologic past flowed over caves and eventually broke through cave roofs to take a temporary underground route. In both cases, the streams were diverted to the right and their former courses are now low saddles to the left of the tunnels. The tunnels thus represent near-mouth remnants of caves.
In the past, a trail led through St. James Tunnel and a road went over Kaintuck Hollow Tunnel. Many of the Ozark natural bridges and tunnels served as road bridges as exemplified by Hahatonka Natural Bridge southwest of Camdenton and two natural bridges west of Highway 89 between Belle and Linn which are still utilized by county roads. Highway 17 between Waynesville and Crocker is underlain by a natural tunnel about 1000 feet long which perforates the ridge followed by the highway a short distance northwest of the Gasconade River man-made bridge.
The most scenic navigable Ozarks tunnel is the Sinks on Sinkin Creek east of Highway 19 between Salem and Eminence. Commercial boat trips may be taken through this tunnel by those capable of ducking the low ceiling in the middle part. This tunnel was formed as Sihkin Creek, then took a shortcut through a rock ridge around which it formerly looped. The short cut was probably started by a ridge-penetrating crevice which the stream discovered and ultimately enlarged to produce the tunnel.
Nearly 100 natural arches, bridges, and tunnels are recorded in Missouri, the majority of which are in the Ozarks. A top contender in the Mizz Ozarks Natural Bridge Beauty Contest would probably be Clifty Hollow Natural Bridge in Maries County, 17 miles beeline northwest of Rolla, or across the Gasconade from Thox Rocks. This bridge has a 40-foot span and is formed in a ridge where a tributary was short-circuited through this ridge to join Clifty Creek upstream from its former juncture. The camera enthusiast will find this to be one of the best geologic subjects in the Ozarks, regardless of the season, and the hiker cannot help but relish the mile-walk along a pristine stream with vertical to overhanging cliffs. Even the etymologist can find joy in this site, for the term Clifty exemplifies a preservation of archaic English. Walker's 1823 dictionary lists clift as a synonym for cliff, but by 1864 Webster considers clift to be obsolete.
As an aside, when getting acquainted with natural bridges and tunnels, it is a little-known but interesting fact that Highway 63 goes over an artificial railroad tunnel which penetrates the ridge in downtown Freeburg north of Rolla. And Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis is named after such a feature (long destroyed) which the road crossed at 23rd and Palm in north St. Louis.
“Highway 63 goes over an artificial railroad tunnel… in downtown Freeburg”
In Freeburg north of Rolla.
“Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis is named aftersuch a feature long destroyed”
Corner of 23rd and Palm, St. Louis.