Picnicking

Picnicking Areas

• Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District

  Visitors to Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs District will find different landscapes from oak-hickory forests , shortleaf pine forests, and glades. Glades are open areas of native tall prairie grasses characterized by dry, shallow soils and limestone outcroppings.

  The unique blending of eastern forest and western desert habitats makes a home for such varied wildlife as the bald eagle and the roadrunner, armadillos and wild turkey, white-tailed deer and black bears.

  The sunlit balds and deep hollows, narrow ridgetops and steep slopes, secluded pastures and clear streams characteristic of the Ozarks are the trademark of the District. This is the landscape so eloquently described in Harold Bell Wright's famous book, The Shepherd of the Hills.

  Nearby vacation destinations -- Branson, Silver Dollar City, Bass Pro, and Table Rock Lake -- make the District one of Missouri's favorite playgrounds.

  If you drive through this area, you will be delighted at every turn by scenic views. Hike your way through the Forest and you will find solitude and tranquility.

  The beautiful North Fork River is the pride of Willow Springs Area. A total of nine major springs flow into the river; two of the largest, Big Springs and Blue Spring, contribute some 18 million gallons of cold, clear water every day. The river is popular with canoeists as well as anglers.

  The District contains three of seven Congressionally-designated Wilderness Areas; Devils Backbone, Hercules Glades, and Piney Creek Wildernesses.

  The District has the Forest’s only National Forest Scenic Byways; Blue Buck Knob, Glade Top Trail; and Sugar Camp.

• Bar-K Wrangler Camp
• Big Bay Recreation Area
• Blue Buck Knob National Forest Scenic Byway
• Chadwick Motorcycle and ATV Use Area

  Nearly 80 miles of multi-use trails for ATV, UTV, motorcycle, and mountain bikes wind in and out of deep forested hollows and down long ridge tops. It’s possible to plan a wide variety of full-loop riding without backtracking. All riders will encounter advanced riding challenges.

  Situated about four miles southwest of Chadwick, Missouri, from which it got its name, the Chadwick Area contains a 12 square mile chunk of rough national forest land in Ozark country. Camping facilities are close at hand for riders or other visitors.

  Off-trail travel is allowed only at two locations in the Chadwick Area. One is the 3-acre Family Play Area just to the west of Cobb Ridge Campground. The other is the 5-acre Trials Bike Area, located between Trails 110 and 135, near the head of Cobb Ridge. These areas are shown on the map. 

  Chadwick Area is mostly forested with oak, hickory, and pine woods on rocky ridge tops, with a few small open forest glades. Steep ridges break into narrow hollows with scattered surface rock and occasional rock ledges, and patches of eastern red cedar.

  Brochures and Maps

  • Chadwick Motorcycle and ATV Area (Brochure | Map)
• Camp Ridge Trailhead
• KC Pavilion Trailhead
• 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 links below for more about each of the views.

  The Glade Top Trail is little changed from the original road constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930’s. For twenty-three miles, the two-lane, all weather gravel road follows narrow ridge tops rising approximately 500 feet above the surrounding rolling countryside, and overlooks and passes through many limestone/dolomite glades interspersed with open and closed woodlands.

  Fun Fact: 

  People have been using the word glade since the 1500s. The term was often used, not just to indicate a clearing in the woods, but one filled with sunlight.

  According to Merriam-Webster dictionary the word Glade is defined as “an open space surrounded by woods”. It is thought to come from the adjective glad, which also meant “shining”.

  Hence, glades in Missouri are sunshine filled openings in a vast forested area.

  !AGENTS OF DISCOVERY MISSION SITE!

  

  The Glade Top Trail has a secret mission for kids (or adults) to play when visiting!  Download the Agents of Discovery app to your mobile device, search for the Caney Picnic Area Glade Top Trail in the available missions and have some extra fun when visiting this day use area.

  More on how to how to use the app

  Glade Top Trail Interpretive Tour 

  (Traveling North to South) Downloadable Map.

  Stops Along the Byway

  • Haden Park
  • Smoke Tree Scene
  • Arkansas View
  • Watershed Divide
  • Caney Picnic Area
  • Willie Lee/Wolf Junction
  • Big Creek Basin
  • Panorama
  • McClurg Glade
• Stop 1: Haden Park
• Stop 3: Arkansas View
• Stop 5: Caney Day Use Area
• Wolf Junction (GTT Stop 7)
• Hercules Glades Wilderness

  Hercules Glades Wilderness Area is 12,413 acres of the most scenic and unique country in the Midwest. The Wilderness is located 10 miles northeast of Branson, MO.

  Its combination of open grassland, forested knobs, steep rocky hillsides, and narrow drainages offers unusual beauty and a measure of solitude within easy reach of wilderness lovers.

  Wilderness Area History

  This Wilderness was designated in 1976, making it the oldest Wilderness in Missouri. The name comes from the limestone glades throughout the Wilderness and the nearby town of Hercules.

  The Hercules Trailhead is also home to the 100 foot tall Hercules Fire Tower, built in 1936 and still in use today. The tower itself is closed to the public.

  Terrain and Topography

  The area is characterized by shallow droughty soils and limestone rock outcroppings.

  The high points of Coy Bald and Pilot Knob stand more than 600 feet above Long Creek, one of only two (along with Cane Creek) year-round sources of water. There are numerous waterfalls in the Wilderness, and Long Creek has several smaller waterfalls and cascades along its path.

  Long Creek bisects the wilderness east to west. Over history the creek has carved deep channels into the rock.

  Trails

  From the trailheads there is 32 miles of maintained trails which follows along open glades, forested ridgetops and Long Creek, the primary drainage of the area.

  Wilderness Environment

  The wilderness holds an array of environments, from open grasslands, forests, scenic creeks and rocky outcroppings. Eastern red cedar and oak trees are interspersed with open glades supporting native tall prairie grasses. Redbud and dogwood provide beautiful spring flowers, while smoke tree and maple put on vivid fall colors.

  Brochures and Map

  • A printable brochure (3.2m pdf format) is available for download.
  • Trail System Map (printable) and Trail System Map available on the Avenza app.
• Coy Bald Trailhead
• Hercules Tower Trailhead
• Noblett Lake Recreation Area
• North Fork Recreation Area

  North Fork Recreation Area provides camping, picnicking, boating, canoeing, hiking and fishing access to the beautiful North Fork of the White River, which has a total of nine major springs flowing into it.

  As you drive into the site, the first right takes you to the boat access area. If you go straight you’ll hit a t-intersection, if you go left you enter the campground, if you go right you enter the day use.

  The site is surrounded by an oak/hickory forest, there are a lot of tulip poplar and sycamore in that area.

  From the day use area, and sometimes the campground, you have amazing views looking across the river of the mixed hardwood and pine forest and the rock bluffs that envelope the river. On the other side of the river is the beginning of the Devils Backbone Wilderness Area. Some sites have views of the river before trees and bushes leaf out.

  North Fork Recreation Area serves as trailhead for the 35-mile long Ridge Runner National Recreation Trail and the Blue Spring Trail.

  There are multiple springs that contribute to the river, one of the largest is Blue Spring, which contributes around 7 million gallons  of cold, clear water every day to the river. Near North Fork, from the river you can paddle up into Blue Spring or hike the Blue Spring Trail. The spring is about 30 feet in diameter. One three sides, the stone wall is made of cherty Gasconade dolomite that surrounds the spring and represents the karst topography of Ozarks.

• Ridge Runner NRT

  The Ridge Runner Trail, a National Recreation Trail, consists of a 6-mile loop at Noblett Lake, a 6-mile loop near the North Fork Recreation Area, and a 21-mile long segment in between that extends from Noblett Lake in the north to the North Fork Recreation Area in the south.

  From the north you’ll start at Noblett Lake. There is a six-mile loop, comprised of two 3-mile loops. One loop goes around Noblett Lake. There is a cut over trail at the southern part of the lake so you can choose to do either the full 6-miles or just the 3-mile loop around the lake. You will cross a creek when using the cut-over.

  On the southeast portion of the 6-mile loop there’s a juncture to do the 21-mile long trail. After Horton Trailhead you continue to head south. At 4.5 miles you meet up with the North Fork section of the Ozark Trail and the Blue Hole Trailhead.

  Continuing south you’ll head toward Devils Backbone Wilderness and North Fork Recreation Area.

  There are two southern trails that form the second 6-mile loop. One trail goes into North Fork, the other goes into CC Wrangler Camp and Devils Backbone Wilderness.

  From Hay Hollow south into Devils Backbone the trail is both Ridge Runner and Ozark Trail.

  Open to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians, the Ridge Runner trail leads you through a part of the Missouri Ozarks known for its beauty and limestone karst topography. The landscape varies from gently rolling to very steep terrain with rock outcrops and bluffs. There are a few creek crossings along the trail, no crossings have bridges so you may get your feet wet.

  Vegetation along the trail is diverse and includes oak-hickory, short leaf pine, and bottomland forests. Remnant prairie plants can be seen, a reminder of a time when repeated wildfire burned the Ozarks, allowing fingers of prairie to extend into the woods.

  Maps and Brochures

  A printable brochure (pdf) is available

  Maps:

  • Kiosk Map (pdf)
  • Detailed Trail Map - PDF | Avenza Map

  RIDGE RUNNER TRAIL - Miles from Trailhead to Trailhead

  From	To	Miles
  Noblett Lake	Horton	3.3
  Horton	Blue Hole	5
  Blue Hole	State Highway 14	1.5
  State Highway 14	Hay Hollow	2.5
  Hay Hollow	Steam Mill	6
  Steam Mill	North Fork	3
  		21.3 miles

• Shell Knob
• Sugar Camp National Forest Scenic Byway
• Eleven Point/Doniphan Ranger District

  The Eleven Point Ranger District takes its name from the Eleven Point River, designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1968.

  Some unique features of the Eleven Point Ranger District include Greer Spring which is the largest spring on National Forest land and the Scenic Eleven Point River. Floating offers spectacular close-up views of rocky bluffs, springs, vegetation, birds and animals.

  Camping is permitted on gravel bars as well as in one of seven (7) primitive campgrounds accessible only by boat.

  Other recreation opportunities include: hunting, hiking, wildlife watching, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing and camping.

  The district has four (4) developed campgrounds, seven (7) primitive float camps, over (10) ten undeveloped camping areas located throughout the district, and many other special attractions like rivers and springs.

  If your interest is tubing, tubing is popular at Deer Leap, Float Camp, and Watercress Campgrounds.

  If your interest is in hiking, there is over 122 miles of trail available ranging from ½ mile easy loop trails to several days journey on the Ozark Trail or 18 miles located in the Irish wilderness. 

• Current River

  The Current River is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Our site provides information on the USDA Forest Service operated sites along the river. For information on the National Park Service operated sites please visit the NPS website for Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

  The Current River provides a wonderful opportunity for the public to experience a more social recreation opportunity in the southern ozarks. On weekends you will experience numerous recreationists enjoying a variety of water-based activities.

  The swift, clear and cool Current River with numerous gravel bars provides motorized boating, non-motorized boating, tubing, camping, picnicking and wading opportunities in a more pristine recreation setting.

  A favorite past time on the river, whether boating or tubing, includes taking breaks on the numerous gravel bars.

  The recreation areas on the Current River are easily accessible by vehicle and are located near small communities which provide a variety of services.

  From Watercress, and down the river you’ll see a mix of Park Service, Forest Service, and private lands. Occasionally you’ll pass by a hayfield.

  The channel of the river meanders yearly, and a gravel bar you visited last year may no longer exist this year. The river does have trees down along the way so boaters will need to be aware of submerged objects as they travel.

• Float Camp Recreation Area

  The Float Camp Recreation Area provides opportunities for camping and day use.

  Float Camp Picnic Area is located only 150 feet from the cool waters of the crystal clear Current River and nestled under a mature forest of hardwoods which offers plentiful shade. Visitors enjoy fishing and hiking. A campground is only a half-mile away for those who want to stay longer than a day.  Visitors enjoy hiking and other nearby recreational opportunities at Deer Leap Recreation Area.  The day-use picnic area offers an accessible group shelter that can accommodate up to 75 people. The picnic pavilion is equipped with electricity, tables and grills. Individual picnic sites are available on a first come, first served basis. Accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.

  The Float Camp Campground is adjacent to the day use area. This is a large, open campground with little privacy screening between campsites. While there's not much solitude, but you'll enjoy level, roomy campsites and have a good opportunity to socialize with adjacent campers. Trash cans or dumpsters and vault toilets are centrally located. No sewage disposal is available. 

  Hiking: Woodchuck Trail is a half mile long trail connecting Float Camp Picnic Area with the campground. White Oak Trail is a 1.5-mile loop trail originating at the Float Camp Picnic Area's parking lot.

  Fishing: Wade, bank and boat fishing permitted.

• Watercress Recreation Area

  Watercress Recreation Area is an ideal place to relax and enjoy a few hours, or a few days. Located within the town of Van Buren, the campground and day use area are adjacent to the Current River, which flows past scenic bluffs, springs, caves as it meanders through the Mark Twain National Forest toward Doniphan, MO.

  Watercress Campground lies on the banks one of the forest’s greatest treasures; the Current River. Floats on the river provide views of southeastern Missouri that otherwise can't be seen. The area is home to a variety of birds and wildlife and recreation opportunities are plentiful in the surrounding area.

  Boating and canoeing on the Current River, as well as on other nearby rivers, are popular activities. A boat ramp for both motorized and non-motorized boats is available on the east bank of the Current River. Anglers enjoy fishing for bass, sunfish and the occasional catfish. 
  
  Big Spring, Missouri's largest spring, is just seven miles from the campground. Hikers at Watercress area enjoy the Songbird Trail, a 1/2 mile loop that leads to Watercress Spring, passing remnants of Civil War-era earthwork that overlook the Current River.

  The campground offers 17 campsites for tent or RV camping and the sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

  The campground is adjacent to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, which is a series of protected rivers in the area managed by the National Park Service.

• Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River

  The Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River was established in 1968 as a 44-mile scenic river, free of impoundments with a largely undeveloped shoreline and watershed. This portion of the river between Thomasville, Missouri and the Highway 142 bridge is near Gatewood, Missouri. It became one of the 8 initial units of the National Wild and Scenic River system in 1968.

  The Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River meanders through the picturesque Ozark hills of southern Missouri. Its course is cut in the shadows of steep bluffs, through sloping forested valleys, and low-lying riparian ecosystems. Barely more than a small stream at its upper reaches near Thomasville, it gains considerable width and depth as its proceeds south-eastward.

  Springs pouring from dolomite bluffs or rushing up from a vast network of underground flow systems provide a continuous source of water and beauty. Alternating stretches of rapids and deep clear pools wind around moss covered boulders and shading bottomland hardwood trees.

  Greer Spring is the world's 10th biggest spring and doubles the size of the river while turning it into a cold water fishery.

  Access to the River: There are currently eleven designated access points to the river by vehicle. Of these access points, 7 sites have amenities. The remaining 4 access sites have no amenities. In addition, there are 7 float camps designated on the river to provide overnight camping for river users, most of these are only accessible by boat.

  Boating on the River: The river has been designated for both motorized and non-motorized use. The motorized users must adhere to a 25 horsepower limit.

  Fishing: There are opportunities aplenty for small mouth bass and pan fish. Special regulations apply. Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website for more information. Trout fishing starts at the confluence of the Greer spring branch and the river. This is the beginning of the blue ribbon trout section which extends about 6 miles to Turner Mill spring. More detailed information is available below under Fishing.

  For Steam Flow and Flooding forecast.

  A printable Brochure is available.

   

  

• Boze Mill Float Camp
• Greer Crossing Recreation Area
• Riverton West River Access
• Turner Mill North River Access
• Turner Mill South River Access
• Falling Springs Picnic Ground
• Fourche Lake Recreation Area
• McCormack Lake Day Use Area
• McCormack Lake Recreation Area
• Ripley Lake
• 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 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.

• 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 offers 21 miles of water to enjoy floating, fishing and swimming. There are several river accesses on National Forest lands and others on the Missouri Department of Conservation.

  The first Forest Service access on the river is 39 miles from where you can start floating the river, there are multiple accesses between the start and Slabtown.

  As you travel downriver from Slabtown the river is narrow and shallower, with multiple riffles. After Ross Bridge the river begins to get wider and deeper.

• Slabtown Recreation Area
• Dry Fork Recreation Area
• 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 accessible stone patio, shaded by trees, overlooks tranquil Lane Spring, a bubbling spring with watercress and native plant species. It is bordered by a variety of trees, including sycamore, cypress, oak and many others.

  Little Piney Creek parallels the entire recreation area and is a Blue-Ribbon Wild Trout stream offering opportunities to reel in Rainbow Trout as well as Bass and Sunfish.

  The 1.25-mile Blossom Rock Trail and the 1.5-mile Cedar Bluff Trail traverse through lush bottomland vegetation with abundant wildflowers, before climbing to views of the river and rock outcroppings. Birding and wildlife viewing is popular along the trails.

  The recreation area offers a picnic area and individual picnic sites, as well as camping, including several waterfront campsites.

  During the off season limited parking is available for day use by the gate. 

   

  A printable Guide with a map is available (pdf).

• Mill Creek Recreation Area
• 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 Wilderness and serves as one of the 3 trailheads for the Big Piney Trail. This site also has a day use area and camping. Visitors during the summer will find the area a bit more busteling, but spring and fall are just as beautiful times to visit, albeit quieter. 

  Paddy Creek flows year-round and is a crystal clear wading creek.

• Pine Ridge Recreation Area
• Roby Lake
• 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 sport for the Spring season hunters seeking out that most elusive game bird.

• Markham Springs Recreation Area

  Located adjacent to the Black River, the Markham Springs Recreation Area contains bubbly springs and a small 2-acre pond that dates back to the 1800s. The area is covered by a dense forest of colorful trees, including ash, elm, maple and poplar. Six springs pour almost 5 million gallons of water a day into the pond, from there the water eventually makes it's way to the Black River. The bubble spring, a smaller outlet of Markham Spring outside of the pond area, has air with it, rises in soft sand forming the unique “air bubbles”.

  This area gets its name from former owner, M. J. Markham, who acquired the property in 1901 and operated a lumber mill at the site until the 1930s. 

  The Fuchs House, a five-bedroom concrete and native stone home, also sits on the property, along with a neighboring mill. The historic Fuchs house was restored by a group of craftsmen under permit from the National Forest.

  In the late 1930’s, Rudolph Fuchs built a 5-bedroom concrete and native stone house for his family, and also built the present wheel house to produce electricity for his needs. Power was obtained by building a dam in a semi-circle below a large spring forming a small pond. The water was to pour through a chute on the wheel to produce electricity; however electricity arrived to the site before the wheel ever needed to do its job. The area had an undershot wheel providing power to a grist mill in the late 19th century.

  River and stream fishing are popular activities near the campground. The Black River boasts bass, sunfish, walleye and catfish. Many anglers fish from boats, but others fish from the riverbanks. Canoeing and kayaking is also possible on the river. 

  Markham Springs Recreation Area provides opportunities for camping, hiking, and day use. 
  
  Various day hikes within the Markham Springs Trail System are accessible from the campground. Eagle Bluff Trail is a 1.5-mile loop along the river, where birding and wildlife viewing are favorite pastimes.

  Markham Springs Campground is set on the Black River in a scenic and historic recreation area in the southwestern corner of Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest. The campground offers single and double sites for tent and RV camping. Some rather primitive sites are located in a wooded setting near the river. Electric hookups are provided, as well as tables and campfire rings with grills. Lantern posts are also available. Accessible vault toilets, drinking water, showers and trash collection are provided.

  Primitive camping is also available in a wooded setting near the Black River.

  The day use area has a 2-acre, 20 foot deep mill pond that dates back to the 1800s, several picnic sites, open fields; river access for boating, fishing and float tubes and canoes; and short hiking trails that provide views of the river, the pond, the springs and the uplands. 

   

   

• Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area

  Next to the 31-acre Pinewoods Lake visitors can experience the quiet, calm of the Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area. Spend an afternoon exploring along the 1.3-mile walking trail around the lake, catching site of woodducks and beavers.

  Anglers can spend a quiet day on the lake looking for the perfect bass, sunfish or catfish. For those who prefer firm ground to boats, an accessible, floating fishing pier is available.

  The dense woods that surround the lake and recreation area offer visitors a sense of seclusion and privacy amidst the oak, hickory and pine trees.

• Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District

  The 201,582 acres of Potosi Ranger District offer many developed and undeveloped sites for camping and picnicking. Because of the karst topography prevalent in this area, caves with springs that feed the rivers and streams can often be seen. They are currently closed to all visitors to protect bats from contamination by white-nosed-syndrome. Courtois and Huzzah Creeks are well-known "floating" streams, typical of the Ozarks, and much-loved by canoeists who flock there in summertime for the crystal clear water and safe passage. A portion of the Ozark Trail traverses Potosi District, and the segment encompassing the Berryman Trail is popular for mountain biking events. The 9,183 acre Bell Mountain Wilderness has beautiful views and challenging trails in a secluded and primitive setting.

  Council Bluff Recreation Area is the largest lake in the Mark Twain National Forest. Providing a more developed experience, it features a sandy swimming beach, drinking water, restrooms, and many barrier-free facilities on a beautiful 440 acre lake, encircled by a 12 mile moderate hiking and mountain biking trail. Boar Ridge Campground along the spine of a forested Ozark ridge above the lake, offers a unique camping experience.

  The 83,953 acre Fredericktown District features the rugged St. Francois Mountains and St. Francis River. In Spring, the "shut-ins" at Silver Mine are a magnet for kayak enthusiasts, who take advantage of the high water rapids. Marble Creek provides a quiet campground for family outings, and Crane Lake welcomes hikers to take the trail around it as part of their trek along the Ozark Trail. Rockpile Mountain Wilderness offers 4,240 acres of heavily-forested land, including some of the state`s last remaining virgin forest nestled in a narrow gorge.

• Berryman Campground

  This small, remote campground and picnic area located at the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp of 1937 provides a quiet setting for escaping from your normal routine. With just 8 individual campsites and a picnic shelter, it is enjoyed by campers, picnickers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and hikers.  

  The Berryman Trail leaves from this recreation area, and traverses 24 miles of scenic Ozark countryside and winding through timbered stands and fields. The hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding offer one a pleasant measure of solitude and quiet.

  The western section of the trail also serves as part of the Courtois Section of the Ozark Trail. 

   

  Brochure and Maps

  Printable brochure of the recreation area. GeoPDF map available through the Avenza app.

   

  History of the Berryman CCC Camp

  The Berryman CCC Camp, also known as Lost Creek, was home to the 3733rd Company and was designated Camp Number F-MO-13.

  The camp’s initial construction began on May 29, 1935, under the command of Lieutenant Charles C. Isely. Twelve men were selected from Company 732 at Boss, Missouri to be the first enrollees of the 3733rd Company and were to be in charge of the cooking, road work, and other work that required special training. 

  The early camp conditions were described by Robert Fechner, author of What the CCC Is and Does: Company 3733, Berryman, MO, as follows: “The men lived in one of the uncompleted buildings for two weeks, cooking and eating in the open, and in all enduring hardships that in the light of the present conditions, seem unreal.” The initial camp enrollees were tasked with “lifting the camp out of the mud and brush” (Direct Advertising Company 1937:146). Presumably this colorful language meant that the camp location was cleared of brush, trees, and other vegetation and the landforms leveled so that construction of buildings could begin.

  By July 5, 1935, George E. Maness, Relief Director for Washington County, directed that a total of 41 men and seven alternates between the ages of 18 and 28 on the county relief rolls were to be sent to the Berryman CCC Camp. A total of 176 recruits arrived on July 5, 1935, to begin the construction of the camp. Frank D. Crawford was assigned by the Forest Service to be Project Superintendent and he arrived at the camp on July 9, 1935. The forestry office was temporarily housed in the Camp Headquarters Building until the completion of the Forestry Building in November 1935. The initial camp projects completed were the construction of the camp road and the establishment of a telephone line into the camp.

  Between 1935 and 1937, the Berryman (Lost Creek) CCC Camp had “built over 50 miles of forest road, erected five steel fire lookout towers, built more than 40 miles of telephone line, planted approximately 320,000 pine trees, 280,000 black walnut trees and cleaned up several hundred acres of standing timber” (Direct Advertising Company 1937:147).

  In June of 1938, an open house for the general public was held at the Berryman (Lost Creek) CCC Camp, at which over 5,000 people attended.

  By 1942 and the participation of the United States in World War II, all activities of the CCC were discontinued. It is likely that most of the buildings, supplies, and materials from the Berryman (Lost Creek) CCC Camp were removed and put to other uses. A series of foundation remnants remain in the site area, which currently serves as a trailhead and campground.

• Council Bluff Recreation Area

  The Council Bluff Recreation Area, located next to the largest lake on the Mark Twain National Forest, is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors. The area provides ample opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, swimming and more.

  The site is large and spread out, the campground and beach are about a 1 mile hike apart, the hike/bike is downhill from the campground to the beach, but uphill coming back.

  Located in southern Missouri, the Council Bluff Lake was created by a dam built across Big River. It is 440 acres in size and 87 feet deep in some places.

  The Wild Boar Campground and sheltered picnic area are available for individual families or large groups.

  The Chapel Hill Beach is at the eastern end of the campground and provides 1.25 acres of sandy beach. The beach is accessible via a short walkway from the parking area.

  Boating and paddling is a popular pastime on the lake, but all boats on the lake must operate at a no-wake speed. Visitors can access the water via the two boat ramps located at the lake.

  Fishing is also available. Anglers can expect a catch of a variety of freshwater fish, including bass, bluegills, catfish and crappies.

  The 12-mile Council Bluff Trail encircles the lake, with spurs to the campground. Hikers can enjoy scenic views of the lake and a look at the Mark Twain wilderness. The Ozark Trail connects to the Council Bluff Trail at Trace Creek mile 15.

  Waterfowl hunting is allowed on Council Bluff Lake and the nearby Enough Fields provide upland game opportunities. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the heavily wooded area.

   

  A Printable Brochure and map is available.

• Wild Boar Boat Launch and Trailhead
• Marble Creek Recreation Area
• Red Bluff Recreation Area

  Red Bluff Campground is named for towering red bluffs along Huzzah Creek, carved by the elements over the past 10,000 years. The area used to be home to timber mills, but now provides a serene spot for camping and enjoying nature.

  Early settlement of the area surrounded the Boyer Mill constructed around 1830. Railroads created a thriving timber industry till the supply was depleted. The land was purchased by the U.S. Forest Service in 1940 and has been used as a recreation area.

  Large, red bluffs on the opposite side of Huzzah Creek, gravel bars along the creek, a mixture of pools and riffles and natural vegetation provide a backdrop for a very relaxing camping experience at the campground. Red Bluff is located in the Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest. Most sites are within 100 yards of Huzzah Creek, where tubing and swimming are enjoyed by visitors. The water can be swift-moving at times and rocks and drop-offs are not marked. Fishing is also popular in the area and anglers can expect to find bass, perch and catfish. 
  
  The Red Bluff Trail lies within the boundaries of the campground. It is a 1.2-mile loop that winds through a pine plantation and big oak timber, into an adjoining hollow before returning to the campground. The short trail provides an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a variety of ecological communities, while reaping the benefits of a half-hour of hiking.

• Silver Mines Recreation Area

  Silver Mines offers a variety of recreational opportunities and is abundant with historic and geological wonders. This beautiful area is located along the St. Francis River, the only river in Missouri classified as "white water," and is used for kayaking during the spring high waters. People enjoy hiking and fishing along the river throughout the year.

  Silver Mines is located at a historic mining operation and is known for its Precambrian granite and felsite rocks. Silver Mines Recreation Area is named for the abandoned “Einstein Mine”, which was mined for Silver, Tungsten and Lead. The Einstein Silver Mining Company began mining in 1877, and mining ceased completely in 1946.

  Nearby visitors can visit other natural attractions in the area, including Elephant Rocks State Park and Johnsons Shut-ins State Park.

  Millstream Gardens Conservation Area, located up-river from Silver Mines, is the put-in for those looking to experience the white water on the St. Francis river.

  This is a large recreation area, and particularly busy during the spring. However, visitors who come during the fall months will be treated to spectacular fall color along the St. Francis River.

   

  Site Map

  A printable Recreation Area Map.

• Salem Ranger District

  The Salem district encompasses approximately 175,000 acres within the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Highlands. The district includes lands located within Crawford, Iron, Dent, Reynolds, and Shannon counties in the south-east central part of the state of Missouri. The Ozarks are characterized by deeply dissected hills, karst topography, horizontal bedrock, caves, sink holes, and natural springs. The ecosystem is rich in biological diversity and includes species that are found only in the Ozark Plateau. The main vegetation is upland oak-hickory and oak-pine forest, with bottomland hardwood forest in the floodplains of large rivers.

• Loggers Lake Recreation Area

  Located deep in the interior forests of Shannon county, this campground is situated along the south-east shore of the 22-acre Logger's Lake.

  The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Camp 1730 located in Bunker, constructed Loggers Lake in the late 1930’s. Several springs feed water into the lake basin, helping maintain a cooler temperature. The lake is a destination for anglers looking for non-motorized boating and quiet bank fishing.

  There is a memorial to the CCC located in the campground.

  The campground area is located on the southeast lakeshore and all sites have a view of the lake, with only light vegetation in between.

  Fishing: Logger’s Lake offers good fishing for large-mouth bass, sunfish and channel catfish.

  The Day Use area is on the southeast lakeshore and is to the right of the campground. The day use area has bathrooms, 3 parking spaces, two picnic tables, and is a grassy area shaded by a few trees. It has a small swim beach, boat ramp, picnic tables, and grills.

• Sutton Bluff Recreation Area