Your national forests and grasslands are 193 million acres of vast, scenic beauty waiting for you to discover. Visitors who choose to recreate on these public lands find more than 150,000 miles of trails, 10,000 developed recreation sites, 57,000 miles of streams, 122 alpine ski areas, 338,000 heritage sites, and specially designated sites that include 9,100 miles of byways, 22 recreation areas, 11 scenic areas, 439 wilderness areas, 122 wild and scenic rivers, nine monuments, and one preserve. And remember, “It’s All Yours.”
Displaying 8276 - 8300 of 21008OT - North Fork Section
Thirteen miles of maintained trails wind along ridgetops and hollows among mixed oak hardwoods and southern pine. There are two trailheads that access the trail. There is parking available at both trailheads. From Blue Hole Trailhead to the northern loop of the North Fork loop, the Ridge Runner and Ozark Trails run concurrently.
Blue Buck Knob National Forest Scenic Byway
The Blue Buck Knob National Scenic Byway dissects 24-miles of the Mark Twain National Forest. The byway travels through farmland, open pastures, and densely wooded hillsides. Several overlooks treat adventurers to resplendent panoramas.
The Scenic Byway is a delightful drive, boasting alluring scenes and pleasant recreational opportunities. Its short length, entertainment potential, and scenic qualities make this…
Sugar Camp National Forest Scenic Byway
Travel on this 28-mile drive, which combines 20 miles of paved highway and a nice 8-mile section of national forest scenic byway on maintained gravel-road.
Most of the route is along wooded hills and valleys, which are covered with mixed hardwoods, intermingled with eastern red cedar and pine stands. Vistas provide the opportunity to view distant landscapes. Two areas provide spots to rest and…
Glade Top National Forest Scenic Byway
Welcome to Glade Top Trail, a National Forest Scenic Byway in Missouri!
This 23-mile Scenic Byway is named for the beautiful glades that surround the ridge tops where the Scenic Byway traverses.
Along the trail are seven overlook “pull-outs” that provide panoramic views that reach to the Springfield Plateau twenty miles to the northwest and forty miles south to the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. Visit the detail stop…
Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District
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…
Big Piney equestrian camp
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.
Designed as an equestrian camp, the area has a trail register station and 5 campsites accommodating horse trailers,…
Dry Fork Recreation Area
Dry Fork Recreation Area, a campground and picnic area located at the equestrian trailhead of the 36-mile Cedar Creek Trail. This area, located in central Missouri near Fulton serves recreationists with or without horses. This campground is situated in a quiet mostly oak/cedar forest.
It is comprised…
Lane Spring Recreation Area
Lane Spring Recreation Area is situated along Little Piney Creek in a beautiful hardwood area. Its location and beautiful surroundings make it a popular destination for weddings, family reunions, fishing, camping, nature observation and hiking. While you have the peace, quiet and tranquility of a creekside campground, the audible noise of Highway 63 can sometimes be heard in the distance.
An…
Paddy Creek Recreation Area
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.
Fort Leonard Wood is just north of the recreation area, occasionally you may hear the guns fired at the military training base. Otherwise, the area is very beautiful and tranquil along the creek.
The recreation area is located adjacent to the east boundary of the Paddy Creek…
Pine Ridge Recreation Area
This campground and day use area is located in a pine forest. The short-leaf pine surrounding the area was planted by the CCC in the 1930’s.
This is popular spot for visitors using the 36-mile Cedar Creek Trail to stop for the night.
A large field in the day use area is perfect for tossing around a frisbee.
Big Piney River
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.
The stretches between accesses are longer in this section for visitors looking for a nice, long trip down the river.
The Big Piney River…
Mill Creek Recreation Area
This day use area provides 3 picnic sites, some in groups of two and three for small groups. This area provides access to Mill Creek, which is populated by wild, stream-bred rainbow trout. The Kaintuck Hollow Trail is also located nearby.
Roby Lake
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, fishing the 5-acre lake for bass, sunfish or catfish, and a good parking area for equestrians.
Only nonmotorized boats are allowed on the lake. There is a gravel, carry down launch…
Blossom Rock trailhead
Blossom Rock Trail is a 1.1-mile trail in the Lane Spring Recreation Area. It leads up to the Blossom Rock, which is a sandstone formation that appears to "blossom" forth from the surrounding limestone. The views of the rock outcrop is very pretty and the back half of the trail provides views of the Little Piney River.
The trailhead is at the…
Cedar Bluff trailhead
Cedar Bluff Trail is a 1.5-mile loop trail in the Lane Spring Recreation Area. It climbs the hillside a rocky cedar glad and view of Little Piney Creek are possible.
If you've never seen an Ozarks "glade", you'll enjoy visiting the rocky meadow at the top, surrounded by cedar trees for which the trail is named.
This trail starts at the northern…
Cedar Creek Trl System
Cedar Creek Trail is a 36-mile trail that goes throughout the western half of the Cedar Creek Area. The trail traverses between oak hickory forests and tall grass prairie lands. The trail consists of four main sections. The trail winds on the county roads, users should beware of mixed use of vehicles and hikers.
The Southern Loop is 22-miles marked with gray diamonds. 2/3s of this trail are pasture or county roads.…
Cole Creek
The Cole Creek Trail traverses oak/hickory and pine forests with scenic views of the Gasconade River. It is a multi-use trail open to horseback riders, mountain bikers and hikers, but has been primarily maintained with assistance of the Back Country Horsemen of Missouri. The main trailhead is a large open field with shade, that provides ample parking for trailers. Two picnic tables, information…
Kaintuck Hollow
Kaintuck Hollow Trail is located just south of the Mill Creek Recreation Area. The trail offers a total of 16 miles of looping trails leading you through an oak forest, interspersed with hickory, cedar, dogwood, and pine plantations for great nature viewing. Kaintuck Hollow Trail offers multiple segmented routes ranging…
Slabtown Recreation Area
This is a small, quiet access and camping area along the Big Piney River.
Slabtown is downriver from Mason Bridge, about 8 miles. This stretch is more open and deeper.
Traveling downriver from Slabtown you can paddle or boat to Ross Bridge, a 10 mile trip. This section is faster and shallower. Between Ross Bridge and…
East Gate
East Gate Access is a small gravel boat/canoe access for the Big Piney River.
Starting from East Gate and floating down the river you can do a nice short paddle of 3 miles to Crossroads River Access, or a longer trip of 11 miles to…
Dry Branch
Dry Branch Access provides a gravel boat/canoe access for the Gasconade River. This is a secluded, gravel ramp into the river with a few parking spots on the side of the graveled road.
Crossroads Access
Crossroads Access is a carry-in access that provides parking and a foot-trail to the Big Piney River for canoeing and fishing.
You will need to carry your canoes and kayaks down the 100 foot-trail.
Starting from East Gate and floating down the river you can do a nice short…
Mayfield Spring
Mayfield Spring is a very small canoe launch area from a gravel bar, providing boat/canoe access for the Gasconade River. You can drive up close to the river to put in a kayak or canoe. There is one small place to park on the opposite side of the road.
Poplar Bluff Ranger District
The Poplar Bluff Ranger District has 150,000 acres located at the southeastern edge of the Ozarks, where the forest starts to give way to the Mississippi River lowlands. Poplar Bluff District offers two developed recreation areas, hiking and riding trails, fishing from barrier-free piers, and boating. As well as many other hunting opportunities there are also two walk-in turkey hunting areas providing plenty of…