Glade Top Trail named Missouri’s top summer solstice spot for 2025
photo courtesy of Mark Twain National Forest Glade Top Trail is located in the Mark Twain National Forest near the Ozark - Douglas Counties line. The 23-mile, two-lane gravel road follows a narrow ridge top, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It has the distinction of being Missouri’s only national forest scenic byway.
Each June, the summer solstice marks the official beginning of summer - and gifts us the longest day of the year. It's a moment that invites stillness, reflection, and, for many people, an early-morning drive in search of the perfect sunrise. To celebrate the occasion, one survey asked the question: “Based on your own experience, where’s the most breathtaking place to drive to and watch the sunrise on the summer solstice?”
The top spot in Missouri to witness summer solstice, according to the survey, was Glade Top Trail National Scenic Byway in the Mark Twain National Forest, north of Gainesville near the Ozark-Douglas County line.
“Winding along the ridgetops of the Ozarks, the Glade Top Trail is one of Missouri’s most scenic and secluded drives. This gravel byway stretches through open glades, oak forests and dramatic overlooks with sweeping views across unspoiled hills. On the summer solstice, the rising sun paints the sky in warm hues while fog pools in the valleys below, creating a layered, almost dreamlike landscape. With few cars and no distractions, it’s just you, the road, and a view that stretches to forever - the kind of place where the sunrise feels like a reward for finding it,” a press release about the spot said.
“The summer solstice is the longest stretch of daylight we get all year - and there’s no better way to make the most of it than getting behind the wheel and chasing the sunrise,” says Joseph Gunther IV at Gunther Mazda, the company who completed the survey. “These drives aren’t just about the destination. They’re about the early-morning roads, the changing light, and the sense of freedom that only a great drive can give you.”