Welcome to Mark Twain National Forest
The Forest is waiting, come explore!
Encompassing 1.5 million acres of beautiful public land in 29 counties in Missouri, Mark Twain National Forest maintains a healthy, working forest and restores Missouri's natural communities.
Mark Twain National Forest has a wide range of popular recreation opportunities. The forest has over 750 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and motorized use. Sections of the Ozark Trail wind through the forest. More than 350 miles of perennial streams, suitable for floating canoeing and kayaking, meander through its canopied expanses. Our campgrounds offer visitors a variety of forest experiences, including semi-primitive and wilderness camping for solitude.
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OHV Riding
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Hiking
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Camping
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Plan Ahead for Your Trip
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2023 - a record-setting year
Forest Service personnel and partners worked together in 2023 to complete some major projects, overcome obstacles, and reach new goals.
Features
Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project
Leading the way in restoring natural communities through collaboration: From 2012-2022, the forest will collaborate with partners to restore more than 100,000 acres near Doniphan, Winona, Van Buren and Poplar Bluff, Missouri, in a Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project (CFLRP). In 2023, continued monitoring occurred within the boundary, using CHI, and findings demonstrate the effectiveness of work in the area.
Missouri Outdoor Connections
Creating opportunities to connect land stewards across the state.
Spotlights
Eleven Point Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive River Plan
View the newly updated Eleven Point Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive River Management Plan
Mingo Job Corp
Working closely with employees on the Mark Twain National Forest, Mingo students spend time working on a variety of conservation projects, while getting to spend time in the woods.
Proposed Recreation Fee Changes - Recreation Facility Strategy
Mark Twain National Forest needs to develop a sustainable recreation program through the Recreation Site Analysis. Review the proposed Recreation Facility Strategy and provide comments.
Firewise Fire Information
Is your home and property prepared for a wildfire? Visit Firewise.org’s Home and Landscape website to see what you need to do to make sure your home is as prepared as possible.