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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 from one to fifteen miles stretches passing such features as a natural bridge, unusual rock formations, and Dewitt Pond. The 175 foot long a natural tunnel is closed to public entry to protect bats from possible contamination with fungal spores of White Nosed Syndrome. The Kaintuck Trail is available for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrian use. Visitors can enjoy Wilkins Spring, which provides an average daily flow of 3 million gallons of water feeding a small rise pool and two acre lake and taste water from an artesian well at Mill Creek Recreation Area. A printable brochure is available.
At a Glance
| Fees: | None |
|---|---|
| Best Season: | Spring and fall; Suitable for year round use. |
| Restrictions: | No motorized use. No entry into the natural bridge tunnel. |
| Closest Towns: | Rolla |
| Water: | None |
| Restroom: | None |
| Operated By: | Forest Service |
| Information Center: | Volunteer Opportunities on the Mark Twain National Forest |
General Information
Directions:From Rolla, take Interstate 44 West to exit 179; go south on Hwy T for 2 miles and turn west on Hwy P. Take Hwy P for 2.8 miles, turn left onto Forest Road 7550, and 2.3 miles through the Mill Creek Recreation Area to the trailhead.
Activities
Mountain Biking
Recreation areas with activity Mountain Biking:The Kaintuck Hollow Trail is open year round to mountain bikers and includes multiple sections with a total of 16 miles of trail. Acorn Section is approximately 4 miles in length and follows an old logging road. Butterfly Section traverses through cedar forest and then passes over a dry stream bed covered with large, mossy rocks. The Mushroom Section is a short connection trail between Acorn and Pine Tree sections. Mushroom Section passes a small pond and old homestead. Cedar Section is offers approximately 3 miles of trail and parallels a gravel road connecting Mill Creek Recreation area with Hwy T. Squirrel Section connects to Oak Leaf Section, not far from the Natural Bridge and tunnel, which is currently not open to public due to health risk to bat population. Deer Track Section passes a small lily pond and then loops southwest to Wilkins Spring. Redbird Section begins by following a ridge top and then descends into Kaintuck Hollow. The trail is of moderate difficulty. There are no designated campsites along the trail, however dispersed camping is allowed.
Dispersed Camping
Recreation areas with activity Dispersed Camping:There are no designated campsites along the trail, however dispersed camping is allowed.
Dispersed camping is the term used for free camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means there are no toilets, no structures, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates. There are extra responsibilities required for this type of camp. It's a must to educate yourself before you try it, but we hope the adventure of dispersed camping in the Mark Twain National Forest calls to you!
- Pick a Campsite and follow the Leave No Trace Principles
- Camp 100 feet away from trails and water sources.
- Treat any water found in the area before consuming it.
- Human waste (Feces) must be buried at least 6 inches deep and covered.
- Pack out all of your garbage.
Day Hiking
Recreation areas with activity Day Hiking:The Kaintuck Hollow Trail is open year round to hikers and includes multiple sections with a total of 16 miles of trail. Various wildlife habitats throughout the trail offer opportunities to view ducks, deer, birds, and many other species. Acorn Section is approximately 4 miles in length and follows an old logging road. Butterfly Section traverses through cedar forest and then passes over a dry stream bed covered with large, mossy rocks. The Mushroom Section is a short connection trail between Acorn and Pine Tree sections. Mushroom Section passes a small pond and old homestead. Cedar Section is offers approximately 3 miles of trail and parallels a gravel road connecting Mill Creek Recreation area with Hwy T. Squirrel Section connects to Oak Leaf Section, not far from the Natural Bridge and tunnel, which is currently not open to public due to health risk to bat population. Deer Track Section passes a small lily pond and then loops southwest to Wilkins Spring. Redbird Section begins by following a ridge top and then descends into Kaintuck Hollow. The trail is of moderate difficulty. There are no designated campsites along the trail, however dispersed camping is allowed.
Backpacking
Recreation areas with activity Backpacking:The Kaintuck Hollow Trail is open year round to hikers and includes multiple sections with a total of 16 miles of trail. Various wildlife habitats throughout the trail offer opportunities to view ducks, deer, birds, and many other species. Acorn Section is approximately 4 miles in length and follows an old logging road. Butterfly Section traverses through cedar forest and then passes over a dry stream bed covered with large, mossy rocks. The Mushroom Section is a short connection trail between Acorn and Pine Tree sections. Mushroom Section passes a small pond and old homestead. Cedar Section is offers approximately 3 miles of trail and parallels a gravel road connecting Mill Creek Recreation area with Hwy T. Squirrel Section connects to Oak Leaf Section, not far from the Natural Bridge and tunnel, which is currently not open to public due to health risk to bat population. Deer Track Section passes a small lily pond and then loops southwest to Wilkins Spring. Redbird Section begins by following a ridge top and then descends into Kaintuck Hollow. The trail is of moderate difficulty. There are no designated campsites along the trail, however dispersed camping is allowed.
Horse Riding
Recreation areas with activity Horse Riding:The Kaintuck Hollow Trail is open year round to horseback riders and includes multiple sections with a total of 16 miles of trail. Acorn Section is approximately 4 miles in length and follows an old logging road. Butterfly Section traverses through cedar forest and then passes over a dry stream bed covered with large, mossy rocks. The Mushroom Section is a short connection trail between Acorn and Pine Tree sections. Mushroom Section passes a small pond and old homestead. Cedar Section is offers approximately 3 miles of trail and parallels a gravel road connecting Mill Creek Recreation area with Hwy T. Squirrel Section connects to Oak Leaf Section, not far from the Natural Bridge and tunnel, which is currently not open to public due to health risk to bat population. Deer Track Section passes a small lily pond and then loops southwest to Wilkins Spring. Redbird Section begins by following a ridge top and then descends into Kaintuck Hollow. The trail is of moderate difficulty. There are no designated campsites along the trail, however dispersed camping is allowed.
Location
