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.

The Forest is waiting, come explore!

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.

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).

The 2017 Mark Twain National Forest Annual Report is available for review.

Features

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 in case a wildfire occurs near you.  After the recent fire activity in Tennessee, we are all reminded that wildfire can strike anywhere, anytime.  Make sure you are FireWise!

Spotlights

From the Salem, MO. Ranger’s Desk December 2018

Next month I will be retiring from the USDA Forest Service after 35 years of service.  With 16 of those years being stationed here on the Salem Ranger District.

From Potosi, MO. From the Ranger’s Outdoor News

Seeing someone work hard and progress in his or her career is one of the best rewards in life.