Houston, Rolla, Cedar Creek Area
The Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek District covers about 207,000 acres in seven counties in south/central Missouri. The oak/hickory and pine forests intermixed with tallgrass prairie lands in the north provide opportunities for hunting, wildlife watching, wildflower viewing, hiking, dispersed camping and other uses.
The district is rich with rivers and streams: the beautiful bluffs of the Big Piney River, the Gasconade River and the Little Piney River in the south and central portions of the district and the Cedar Creek at the north end.
Fishing and canoeing opportunities abound, including several river access points on the Big Piney and Gasconade Rivers. Smaller creeks such as Mill Creek and Spring Creek, supplied by springs, provide other fishing or water-based recreational opportunities, including trout fishing.
Paddy Creek Wilderness with the 18-mile Big Piney Trail provides solitude for horseback riders and hikers.
A total of over 80 miles of trails, including the Kaintuck, Cole Creek and Cedar Creek trails, provide multi-use trails open to mountain bikes, horses, overnight backpacking, and hikers and allow scenic views of rock outcrops and stream drainages. Other shorter trails provide hikes at the campgrounds.
Four developed campgrounds provide picnic and camping sites, some with electric hook-ups. Other trailheads provide dispersed camping with ample parking for horse trailers and other users.
General Information
Fees Are Charged At:
Day Use Fee - per vehicle per day
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
Camping Fees
- Dry Fork Recreation Area
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
- Paddy Creek Campground
- Pine Ridge Recreation Area
Reservations Needed At
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
Passes & Permits
Trails
- No forest recreation permits are needed to access nonmotorized trails
Wilderness Areas
- No forest recreation permits are needed to access Wilderness Areas
- Commercial use will not be permitted.
- Special uses will not be permitted, except for access to surrounded private property.
Hunting and Fishing
- Hunting and/or Fishing permits are available from Missouri Department of Conservation
Day Use Fees
Day use fees can be paid on-site using the provided fee tubes.
- At the site, fees must be paid using cash or check, no credit card machines are available at any sites.
- Annual and Lifetime passes can be purchased in advance to cover day use fees at USDA Forest Service operated sites.
Camping Discount
- There is a 50% discount for camping for anyone with an Interagency Access or Senior Pass.
- The discount applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additional fee or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass holder's party.
Rentals & Guides
There are no outfitters authorized to operate on the Big Piney River. Check with the Missouri Canoe and Floaters Association for information on rentals.
Complexes
Paddy Creek Wilderness
This 7,035-acre wilderness is located in northwestern Texas County 35 miles southwest of Rolla, Missouri, and 16 miles west of Licking, Missouri.
Big Piney Trail
This trail is located within the Paddy Creek Wilderness Area
- Rating: Moderate, terrain is sometimes steep, there is limited trail marking.
- Length: 18 miles
- Best Seasons: Spring, Fall
- Surface Type: unsurfaced, native material
- Trailheads: Big Piney Equestrian Camp, Paddy Creek Trailhead, Roby Lake Trailhead
Paddy Creek Trail
This trail is located entirely within the Paddy Creek Recreation Area
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 1 miles
- Best Seasons: Spring, Fall
- Surface Type: unsurfaced, native material
- Trailheads: Paddy Creek Trailhead
Camping
Dispersed camping is allowed along the trail and in the Paddy Creek Wilderness Area. There are no toilets, no structures, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates available.
Paddy Creek Recreation Area - The 18-campsite recreation area is located adjacent to the east boundary of the Paddy Creek Wilderness and serves as one of the 3 trailheads for the Big Piney Trail.
Big Piney Equestrian Camp - This 5-campsite equestrian camp serves as one of the 3 trailheads for the Big Piney Trail.
Situated in an open pine forest, this area serves as one of 3 trailheads for the 18-mile Big Piney Trail, which travels through the Paddy Creek Wilderness.
Big Piney Trail covers a variety of Ozark terrain in Paddy Creek Wilderness. Hiking in a wilderness area brings its own special challenges along with special delights.
This 7,035-acre wilderness is located in northwestern Texas County 35 miles southwest of Rolla, Missouri, and 16 miles west of Licking, Missouri.
This campground is near the Paddy Creek Wilderness Area. It is just a short drive or walk from the Paddy Creek Recreation Area's picnic and day use site. At the
The Paddy Creek Recreation Area is nestled in a hollow along Paddy Creek, a major tributary to the Big Piney River, 1/2 mile away.
Paddy Creek Trail is a 1-mile hiking trail beginning and ending at the Paddy Creek Recreation Area.
Paddy Creek Trail is a 1-mile hiking trail beginning and ending at the Paddy Creek Recreation Area.
Perfectly located adjacent to the pristine Paddy Creek Wilderness, Roby Lake provides a variety of activities which include a picnic/day use area, two hiking trails, fishin
This area serves as one of the 3 trailheads for the Big Piney Trail in the Paddy Creek Wilderness.
This is a great, family-friendly river for those looking for a leisurely trip with beautiful scenery. The river is fed by numerous springs and is usually floatable year-round, unless it’s been particularly dry. You will be able to view limestone bluffs topped with pine trees.
Access Sites:
- Slabtown Recreation Area
- Bookers Bend
- Crossroads Access
- East Gate Access
Camping
Slabtown Recreation Area - This is a small, quiet access and camping area along the Big Piney River. There are picnic tables and fire rings scattered around the opening of the trees and you can camp at those three sites.
This is a great, family-friendly river for those looking for a leisurely trip with beautiful scenery.
Bookers Bend Access is a small gravel boat/canoe access for the Big Piney River.
Crossroads Access is a carry-in access that provides parking and a foot-trail to the Big Piney River for canoeing and fishing.
Recreation Sites
Big Piney Equestrian Camp
Big Piney River
Big Piney Trail
Blossom Rock Trailhead
Bookers Bend
Boydsville North Trailhead
Cedar Bluff Trailhead
Crossroads Access
Dewitt Pond Trailhead
Dry Branch Access - Gasconade River