Established Birding Locations
The areas listed below are not only easy to get to, but most are known locations for good birding.
These sites were selected because they have:
- Easy to access parking
- Beginner-friendly trail conditions
- Species diversity
- Amenities such as restrooms, signage, etc.
- Some sites are ADA accessible
There are several areas on the forest that are not designated recreation areas, but also meet these criteria and have recently had restoration, prescribed fire, or other management activities that will increase your chances of seeing birds:
Chute Ridge Glade (Barry County)
eBird - 57 bird species sighted
- There is a pull off on Forest Service located at 36.563, -93.795, maybe two or three cars could safely park.
- Roaring River has a parking lot located at 36.573; -93.801, which access the State Park side of Chute Ridge.
Western Starr Flatwoods (Phelps County)
This is a 1,280-acre Missouri Natural Area with open woodland.
- From Interstate 44 exit 169 on to Highway J and proceed south for ¾ mile. Turn left (east) on to Highway P. Travel east on Highway P for about 2.5 miles. Look for the Forest Service Road 1571 to the right (south). Pull off and park here on the north side of the natural area.
- Latitude / Longitude - 37.865411, -91.963478
Grasshopper Hollow Natural Area (Reynolds County)
eBird - 83 bird species sighted; this 593-acre area is the largest fen complex in unglaciated North America.
- From the junction of Highway A and Highway 72 in Bunker, travel east on Highway 72 approximately 7.6 miles to Forest Service road 860. Forest Service road 860 is 1.0 mile past the intersection of Highway 72 and Highway TT. Turn left (north) on 860 and travel 0.6 miles to the parking lot and trailhead. Visitors can walk the trail that follows an old road to view the fens.
- To visit the northern end, you can hike the Karkaghne Section of the Ozark Trail, between Highway TT and Sutton Bluff Campground.
Blair Creek Raised Fen (Shannon County)
This is a small, 3-acre area along the Ozark Trail.
- Follow the Blair Creek Section of the Ozark Trail south for about one mile. The fen is on the east side of the trail.
- Latitude / Longitude 37.344492, -91.205147
Pump Hollow Natural Area (Carter County)
This is a large, 940-acre area with acidic seeps and shortleaf pine.
- From the junction of Highway 60 and Highway B in Carter County, go about ¾ of a mile and turn south onto Forest Road 3753. You can park along this Forest Road to access the natural area just to the west.
- You can ONLY access the area from the eastbound lane. There is no access from the westbound.
- Latitude / Longitude - 36.871556, -90.6707
Welcome to Glade Top Trail, a National Forest Scenic Byway in Missouri!
This beautiful recreation area was built in the late 1930s by men employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It is a popular picnic, boating, and fishing site
This is southernmost of the five trailheads for the Ridge Runner National Recreation Trail.
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, fishin
This campground is near the Paddy Creek Wilderness Area. It is just a short drive or walk from the Paddy Creek Recreation Area's picnic and day use site. At the
Lane Spring Recreation Area is situated along Little Piney Creek in a beautiful hardwood area. Its location and beautiful surroundings make it a popular dest
Kaintuck Hollow Trail is located just south of the Mill Creek Recreation Area.
Dewitt Pond is one of the access points to the Kaintuck Hollow Trail System; however, it is still about a third of a mile hike from this "trailhead" to where the road is ga
This day use area provides 3 picnic sites, some in groups of two and three for small groups.
Cedar Creek Trail is a 36-mile trail that goes throughout the western half of the Cedar Creek 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 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 24-mile loop Berryman Trail traverses scenic Ozark countryside, winding through timbered stands of oak, pine and bottomland hardwood, climbing switchback fashion from l
Silver Mines offers a variety of recreational opportunities and is abundant with historic and geological wonders.
This 25 mile trail section originates at MO Hwy J just east of Oates.
This trail section originates near the north edge of Shannon county at the junction of MO Hwy P and 72.
Next to the 31-acre Pinewoods Lake visitors can experience the quiet, calm of the Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area.
When you pull into this parking lot it’s easy to find the trailhead which starts you on the downhill, .9 mile hike to the Greer Spring.
As you exit the highway, the campground is located to the left with campsites located off of a loop road that circles through the campground.
McCormack Lake Recreation Area is surrounded by maple trees.
Turner Mill North is located on the left side of the Eleven Point National Scenic River. This access is 4.9 miles downriver of Greer Crossing.