Ozark Trail
The Ozark Trail is 230-miles between Onondaga Cave State Park and the western edge of the Mark Twain National Forest. The trail is multi-use for hiking/backpacking, biking and equestrians in 13 sections, all of which are on the Mark Twain National Forest.
Dispersed Camping is allowed along the trail:
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.
Water
Most trailheads do not have potable water. Plan accordingly.
Resupply and Services
The trail does not go through any towns.
Sections Connected for through Hiking
Courtois
- Section Length: 48 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Going South: Trace Creek Section
Trace Creek
- Section Length: 26 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Going North: Courtois Section
- Going South: A few miles after Council Bluff you'll come to a fork in the trail.
- If you head southeast you'll continue on the Trace Creek Section for several miles before entering the Taum Sauk Section.
- If you head southwest you will enter the Middle Fork Section.
Middle Fork
- Section Length: 24 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Going North: Trace Creek Section
- Going South: Karkaghne Section
Karkaghne
- Section Length: 29 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Going North: Middle River Section
- Going South: Blair Creek Section
Blair Creek
- Section Length: 27 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Going North: Karkaghne Section
- Going South: Current River Section
Current River
- Section Length: 30 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Going North: Blair Creek Section
- Going South: Between the Rivers Section
Between the Rivers
- Section Length: 29 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Going North: Current River Section
- Going South: Eleven Point Section
Eleven Point
- Section Length: 29 miles
- Difficulty: Varied
- Going North: Between the Rivers
- Nearest Section Going West: North Fork Section
Sections Not Connected to Other Sections for through Hiking
Marble Creek
- Section Length: 9 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Nearest Section Going North: Taum Sauk Section (not connected)
- Nearest Section Going South: Wappapello Section (not connected)
North Fork
- Section Length: 27 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Nearest Section Going North/East: Eleven Point Section (not connected)
Taum Sauk
- Section Length: 35 miles
- Difficulty: Varies
- Going North: Trace Creek Section
- Nearest Section Going South: Marble Creek Section (not connected)
Victory
- Section Length: 19 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Nearest Section Going East: Wappapello Section (not connected)
- Nearest Section Going West: Between the Rivers Section (not connected)
Wappapello
- Section Length: 35 miles
- Difficulty: Varies
- Nearest Section Going North: Marble Creek Section (not connected)
- Nearest Section Going South: Victory Section (not connected)
This section is the gateway to the Ozarks--starting at Onondaga Cave State Park and winding through the Huzzah State Forest/Conservation Area, opening into the lead distric
This trailhead is a one of six trailheads on the Courtois section of the Ozark Trail (OT).
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 routi
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
This trailhead is one of six trailheads that provides access to the Courtois section of the Ozark Trail and one of three trailheads for the Berryman Trail.
The Brazil Creek Trailhead serves as a trail camp for the 24-mile Berryman Trail and the 48 mile Courtois (koh-teh-wah) Section of the Ozark Trail
Hazel Creek is in a remote area without cell phone service. This primitive campground is popular with OHV/ATV riders, equestrians, and mountain bikers.
This section of the Ozark Trail is approximately 24 miles long and from Hazel Creek in the north, it runs south crossing hollows, ridgetops, small streams, and several high
This 12.4 mile trail circles Council Bluff Lake, the largest of the lakes in the Mark Twain National Forest, and connects to the Council Bluff Recreation Area
Enough Boat Launch is a single-lane gravel launch. Over by the Enough boat launch there is an abundance of lily pads.
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 Middle Fork Section crosses many brooks and streams in the upper basin of the Middle Fork of the Black River: Neals Creek, Strother Creek, Henderson Creek, Little Creek
This 25 mile trail section originates at MO Hwy J just east of Oates.
This trailhead allows hikers and equestrian users to access the Ozark Trail (OT Karkaghne Section from near the Sutton Bluff campground.
Roomy campsites surrounded by open lawn and natural shading, cool breezes, abundant songbirds, and scenic views all await visitors at the Sutton Bluff Recreation Area. 
This trailhead on the Salem Ranger District of Mark Twain National Forest provides access to the Karkaghne Section of the Ozark Trail (OT).
This trail section originates near the north edge of Shannon county at the junction of MO Hwy P and 72.
This trailhead is the western-most trailhead of the Victory Section of the OT.
The Current River Section of the Ozark Trail, a 30 mile section, passes through a myriad of publicly owned lands, best viewed from the trail atop Stegal Mountain, the highe
The Between the Rivers Section of the Ozark Trail provides the necessary connection between the Current and Eleven Point Rivers.
This trailhead provides access to the Between the Rivers Section of the Ozark Trail (OT). This is a small circular parking area that can fit a couple trucks and trail
The Sinking Trailhead provides access to the middle of the Between the Rivers Section of the Ozark Trail (OT). There is an old cabin and fire lookout tower near the t
The Eleven Point River Section of the Ozark Trail is located in Oregon County MO running east and west about 20 miles south of Winona, MO.
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.
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.
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.
This old Grist Mill is a window into the past. Visitors can park at the nearby Greer Springs trailhead parking area and walk a short trail that connect to the mi
McCormack Lake Recreation Area is surrounded by maple trees.
The day use area is an open area surrounded by shade trees with views of McCormack Lake.
Visit the land where a steep, narrow, ridge drops away, plunging into deep hollows. Welcome to Devils Backbone Wilderness Area.
This short, 10-mile section of the Ozark Trail runs from Marble Creek Campground to Crane Lake Picnic Area, with the Crane Lake Trail circling the lake.
Marble Creek, which travels through the National Forest for about 20 miles, is named for its colorful deposits of dolomite, which was mined and used as "Taum Sauk Marble" m
Crane Lake was originally created many years ago by impounding Crane Pond Creek.
Thirteen miles of maintained trails wind along ridgetops and hollows among mixed oak hardwoods and southern pine.
This trailhead on the Salem Ranger District of Mark Twain National Forest provides access to the Karkaghne Section of the Ozark Trail (OT).
Ridge Runner National Recreation Trail is a 33-mile long trail, with two six-mile loops at either end and a 21-mile section between them.
McGarr Ridge Trailhead is located on the south side of CC Highway about 4 miles east of Dora, MO. It provides access to the Devil's Backbone Wilderness Area. &nb
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 n
Visit the land where a steep, narrow, ridge drops away, plunging into deep hollows. Welcome to Devils Backbone Wilderness Area.
This is one of three trailheads that provide access into the Devil's Backbone Wilderness Area. Collins Ridge is located on the south end of the wilderness.
This section begins at the Highway A Trailhead and continues for several miles before the connector trail to the Bell Mountain Wilderness trail.
This trailhead accesses the Taum Sauk section of the Ozark Trail (OT) and the Bell Mountain Wilderness Trail.
Named after the one-room schoolhouse that formerly stood near the trailhead, this isolated section of the Ozark Trail is separated from the Wappapello Lake Section’s southe
This trailhead is the western-most trailhead of the Victory Section of the OT.
This trailhead provide access to the Victory Section of the Ozark Trail.
The Upalika trailhead serves as one of several access points to the Victory Section of the Ozark Trail.
The Wrangler Trailhead provides access to the Victory Section of the Ozark Trail.
Wappapello Lake was created in 1938 with the construction of a rolled earth fill dam to control flooding of the St. Francois River.
This trailhead provides access to the Between the Rivers Section of the Ozark Trail (OT). This is a small circular parking area that can fit a couple trucks and trail
The F Highway trailhead on the Poplar Bluff Ranger District provides access to the Wappapello Lake Section of the Ozark Trail. It is also the northernmost OT trai
The Highway 172 trailhead provides access to the middle of the Wappapello Lake section of the Ozark Trail (OT). The trailhead offers substantial parking for multiple