Houston, Rolla, Cedar Creek Area
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.
General Information
Fees Are Charged At:
Day Use Fee - per vehicle per day
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
Camping Fees
- Dry Fork Recreation Area
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
- Paddy Creek Campground
- Pine Ridge Recreation Area
Reservations Needed At
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
Passes & Permits
Trails
- No forest recreation permits are needed to access nonmotorized trails
Wilderness Areas
- No forest recreation permits are needed to access Wilderness Areas
- Commercial use will not be permitted.
- Special uses will not be permitted, except for access to surrounded private property.
Hunting and Fishing
- Hunting and/or Fishing permits are available from Missouri Department of Conservation
Day Use Fees
Day use fees can be paid on-site using the provided fee tubes.
- At the site, fees must be paid using cash or check, no credit card machines are available at any sites.
- Annual and Lifetime passes can be purchased in advance to cover day use fees at USDA Forest Service operated sites.
Camping Discount
- There is a 50% discount for camping for anyone with an Interagency Access or Senior Pass.
- The discount applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additional fee or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass holder's party.
Rentals & Guides
There are no outfitters authorized to operate on the Big Piney River. Check with the Missouri Canoe and Floaters Association for information on rentals.
Complexes
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.
Access Sites:
- Slabtown Recreation Area
- Bookers Bend
- Crossroads Access
- East Gate Access
Camping
Slabtown Recreation Area - This is a small, quiet access and camping area along the Big Piney River. There are picnic tables and fire rings scattered around the opening of the trees and you can camp at those three sites.
This is a great, family-friendly river for those looking for a leisurely trip with beautiful scenery.
Bookers Bend Access is a small gravel boat/canoe access for the Big Piney River.
Crossroads Access is a carry-in access that provides parking and a foot-trail to the Big Piney River for canoeing and fishing.
Cedar Creek Trail is a 36-mile trail that goes throughout the western half of the Cedar Creek Area. The trail traverses between oak hickory forests and tall grass prairie lands. The trail winds on the county roads, users should beware of mixed use of vehicles and hikers.
The Cedar Creek Trail provides an excellent opportunity to view the restored lands of 16,500 acres in the Cedar Creek area.
The trail consists of four main sections:
Moon Loop
- Moon Loop (Barnes Chapel Road) Trailhead
- Rutherford Bridge Trailhead
- Moon Loop (Ginn Road) Trailhead
Smith Creek Loop
- Boydsville North Trailhead
- Smith Creek Trailhead
- Rutherford Bridge Trailhead
Southern Loop
- Paris Chapel Trailhead
Pine Ridge Section
Equestrian trailhead available at Dry Fork Campground. No equestrian use at Pine Ridge.
- Pine Ridge Recreation Area - Day Use and Picnic Area
- Dry Fork Recreation Area - Day Use and Picnic Area
Camping
Dispersed camping is allowed along the trail. There are no designated sites and no amenities.
Pine Ridge Recreation Area - This quiet campground in the pine forest has eight individual campsites, each with its own table, fire ring, lantern post and grill. There is a dumpster located in the campground.
Dry Fork Recreation Area - This out of the way campground has 8 single and 1 group site. Hitching posts are available at each site for equestrian use.
Cedar Creek Trail is a 36-mile trail that goes throughout the western half of the Cedar Creek Area.
Dry Fork Recreation Area, a campground and picnic area, is located at the equestrian trailhead of the 36-mile Cedar Creek Trail. This area, located in central Mi
The picnic area is located across the road from the campground.
This campground and day use area is located in a pine forest. The short-leaf pine surrounding the area was planted by the CCC in the 1930’s.
This campground and day use area is located in a pine forest. The short-leaf pine surrounding the area was planted by the CCC in the 1930’s.
The Moon Loop Trailhead (on Ginn Rd.) connect to the Moon Loop of the Cedar Creek Trail.
Moon Loop
The Moon Loop Trailhead (on Barnes Chapel Rd.) leads to the Moon Loop of the Cedar Creek Trail.
Moon Loop
The Paris Chapel Trailhead leads to the main Cedar Creek Trail to the south. Additionally, travelling north on the trail will lead to the Smith Loop.
This provides access to the Smith Creek loop of the Cedar Creek Trail system.
Smith Creek Loop
Kaintuck Hollow Trail is located just south of the Mill Creek Recreation Area. The trail offers a total of 16 miles of looping trails leading you through an oak forest, interspersed with hickory, cedar, dogwood, and pine plantations for great nature viewing.
There are multiple loops and sections of the trail where you can create longer or shorter hikes depending on your preference.
Dewitt Pond
- Grouse (North Blue) Trail
- Deer Track (White) Trail
Kaintuck Hollow Southeast Trailhead
- Cedar (West Orange) Trail
- Butterfly (South Red) Trail
- Redbird (Green) Trail
Kaintuck Hollow North Trailhead
- Cedar (West Orange) Trail
- Mushroom (North Red) Trail
Kaintuck Hollow Natural Bridge Trailhead
- Cedar (West Orange) Trail
- Oak Leaf (North Blue) Trail
- Squirrel (East Orange) Trail
- Mushroom (Red North) Trail
Mill Creek Recreation Area
- Cedar (West Orange) Trail
- Acorn (Yellow) Trail
Camping
Dispersed camping is allowed along the trail. There are no toilets, no structures, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates available.
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 is the northernmost entrance into the Kaintuck Hollow Trail system. From here you can access the:
This is one of the access points to the Kaintuck Hollow Trail System, south of the Mill Creek Recreation Area. This trailhead is the closest to the natural bridg
This trailhead provides access to the Kaintuck Hollow trail system. From here you can access the:
This day use area provides 3 picnic sites, some in groups of two and three for small groups.
Lane Spring Recreation Area is situated along Little Piney Creek in a beautiful hardwood area. The recreation area offers a picnic area and individual picnic sites, as well as camping, including several waterfront campsites.
Blossom Rock Trail
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 1.1 miles
- Best Seasons: Fall, winter, and spring
- Surface Type: Unsurfaced, native material
Cedar Bluff Trail
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 1.1 miles
- Best Seasons: Fall, winter, and spring
- Surface Type: Unsurfaced, native material
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
The trailhead is at the southern portion of the Lane Spring Campground. The trail is a loop to the point where you cross the bridge over the drainage to the rocks.
Cedar Bluff Trail is a 1.5-mile loop trail in the Lane Spring Recreation Area.
Paddy Creek Wilderness
This 7,035-acre wilderness is located in northwestern Texas County 35 miles southwest of Rolla, Missouri, and 16 miles west of Licking, Missouri.
Big Piney Trail
This trail is located within the Paddy Creek Wilderness Area
- Rating: Moderate, terrain is sometimes steep, there is limited trail marking.
- Length: 18 miles
- Best Seasons: Spring, Fall
- Surface Type: unsurfaced, native material
- Trailheads: Big Piney Equestrian Camp, Paddy Creek Trailhead, Roby Lake Trailhead
Paddy Creek Trail
This trail is located entirely within the Paddy Creek Recreation Area
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 1 miles
- Best Seasons: Spring, Fall
- Surface Type: unsurfaced, native material
- Trailheads: Paddy Creek Trailhead
Camping
Dispersed camping is allowed along the trail and in the Paddy Creek Wilderness Area. There are no toilets, no structures, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates available.
Paddy Creek Recreation Area - The 18-campsite 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.
Big Piney Equestrian Camp - This 5-campsite equestrian camp serves as one of the 3 trailheads for the Big Piney Trail.
Situated in an open pine forest, this area serves as one of 3 trailheads for the 18-mile Big Piney Trail, which travels through the Paddy Creek Wilderness.
Big Piney Trail covers a variety of Ozark terrain in Paddy Creek Wilderness. Hiking in a wilderness area brings its own special challenges along with special delights.
This 7,035-acre wilderness is located in northwestern Texas County 35 miles southwest of Rolla, Missouri, and 16 miles west of Licking, Missouri.
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
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.
Paddy Creek Trail is a 1-mile hiking trail beginning and ending at the Paddy Creek Recreation Area.
Paddy Creek Trail is a 1-mile hiking trail beginning and ending at the Paddy Creek Recreation Area.
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 area serves as one of the 3 trailheads for the Big Piney Trail in the Paddy Creek Wilderness.
Recreation Sites
Big Piney Equestrian Camp
Big Piney River
Big Piney Trail
Blossom Rock Trail
Blossom Rock Trailhead
Bookers Bend
Cedar Bluff Trail
Cedar Bluff Trailhead
Cedar Creek Trail System
Crossroads Access