Outdoor Science and Learning

The Mark Twain National Forest is in the mostly rural part of Missouri commonly referred to as “the Ozarks.” Parts of the national forest are within an hour’s drive of the urban centers of St. Louis, Springfield, and Columbia and the tourist town of Branson. Small towns dot the primarily hilly and forested landscape.

Among it's many wonders are the numerous sunshine filled glades and sparkling blue springs. Thriving with wildlife, wildflowers, and wild places there are ample opportunities for visitors to experience the raw beauty of nature.

Viewing Wildlife

The Mark Twain National Forest offers outstanding opportunities for wildlife watching and nature study. You can watch wildlife as you camp, fish, hike, canoe, or drive through the Forest. Or you can make a special trip to see that elusive animal you have always wanted to see.

You can also find opportunities for wildlife watching across the state on the Missouri Department of Conservation website.

Wildlife watching opportunities are available on all the National Forests across the country. Visit these websites to see all the places to go and things to see on Your National Forests:

National Park Service - Smart Wildlife Watching
Celebrating Wildflowers
USDA Forest Service Find A Photo site
US Fish and Wildlife Service Digital Library
Interested in wildlife photography? Check out our Wildlife Photography tips.

Birding

Because of the varied habitats and clear, flowing streams, the Mark Twain National Forest is a great place to see songbirds.

Here is a Checklist for Birdwatchers or visit the MDC Birding Field Guide for a list of Missouri bird species.

Where to Bird Watch

rocky glades,
fens;
oak-hickory and shortleaf pine forests
grasslands; and
along clear, flowing streams

When to Birdwatch

All times of the year offer excellent birding opportunities in Missouri. Spring is usually the best time, when migrant birds are traveling and local birds are breeding and raising young.

Bald Eagles

Bald eagles are fairly common on the large rivers of southern Missouri throughout the winter months.

Places to See Eagles

Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River,
Current River,
North Fork River,
Gasconade River
Big Piney River,
Table Rock Lake or
Lake Wappapello.

You may get lucky enough to see a bald eagle nest along the river bank as you are canoeing or boating. Please watch these magnificent birds through binoculars. Do not approach the nest, as this can disturb the parents and disrupt their feeding of the young.

Butterflies and Moths

These beautiful, but often overlooked, animals play a vital role in pollinating plants. Once you start watching these fascinating creatures, you may get hooked!

Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation Butterflies and Moths Field Guide for a list of all the butterflies and moths you may see in Missouri.

To learn more about pollinators of all species, please visit:

to learn more about all types of pollinators.

Viewing Plants

Although the Mark Twain National Forest is known for its extensive stands of shortleaf pine, oaks and hickories, this landscape is also home to a wide variety of other ecosystems ranging from the balds near Ava and Cassville, to the hills of the Current River country, the bottomland hardwood forests near Poplar Bluff and the igneous domes of the St. Francois Mountains.

Within this wide and varied landscape there exists a diverse array of plants. Of the roughly 2800 species of plant in Missouri, about two-thirds can be found on the Forest.

While most can be found commonly throughout the Forest, less common species can be found in specific natural communities such as calcareous fens, acid seeps, and glades (limestone, dolomite and igneous).

Spring wildflowers are especially showy in the Missouri Ozarks, and a hike in riparian forests in March and April will lead the visitor to many beautiful displays of wildflowers. One of the best areas to see spring wildflowers is along the Greer Spring Trail near Alton, on the Eleven Point Ranger District.

The glades near Ava and Cassville are a good place for wildflower viewing, and a drive along the Glade Top Trail on the Ava Unit in June and July will lead the visitor to many fine views of not only wildflowers, but also the hills and balds that are famous in this region.

Viewing Scenery

Whether you are hiking the Ozark Trail, paddling one of the many wild and scenic rivers on the forest, stopping along the Glade Top National Scenic Byway, or just enjoying one of our many recreation sites there is no end to the beauty of Missouri.