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.

Courtois Creek Section

The northernmost section on the forest is the 45-mile Courtois Creek Section. 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 district of Missouri and the Mark Twain National Forest. This section connects to the Trace Creek Section.

Trailheads:

• Onondaga Trailhead
• Narrows Trailhead
• Bass Resort Trailhead
• Harmon Springs Trailhead
• Highway 8 Trailhead
• Hazel Creek Trailhead

Trace Creek Section

This section of the Ozark Trail is approximately 24 miles long and is open to foot, mountain bike, and equestrian traffic. Just before Highway 32 the trail branches to form a loop. If you go left (heading south) you will go onto the Taum Sauk Section, if you go right (heading south) you will be on the Middle Fork Section.

Trailheads

• Hazel Creek Recreation Area
• Highway A

Taum Sauk Section

This 33-mile section of the Ozark Trail connects the Fredericktown District with the Potosi District traversing two state parks---Johnson Shut-ins and Taum Sauk Mountain---and the Devil's Tollgate and Bell Mountain Wilderness. This section connects to the Marble Creek Section.

Trailheads

• Highway A
• Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park
• Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
• Highway 21

Marble Creek/Crane Lake Section

This section of the Ozark Trail which eventually will total approximately 21 miles runs from Marble Creek Campground to Crane Lake Picnic Area, with the Crane Lake Trail circling the lake. This section connects to Wappapello Lake Section.

Trailheads

• Crane Lake Picnic Area
• Marble Creek Campground

Wappapello Lake Section

Almost half of the 35-mile long Wappapello Lake Section of the Ozark Trail is managed by the Mark Twain National Forest – the balance of it is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State Parks and the US Army Corps of Engineers. A gap separates this trail from the Victory Section of the Ozark Trail.

Trailheads

• Sam A. Baker State Park
• Highway 172

Victory Section

This 19.4-mile isolated section of the Ozark Trail with a six-mile loop on its eastern end called the Victory Horse Trail. It is separated from the Wappapello Lake Section’s southern terminus by the Black River and three miles of rugged terrain. There is no connection to the Between the Rivers Section from the end of the Victory Section.

Trailheads

• Wrangler to the east,
• Upalika Pond near the center,
• Brush Arbor also in the middle of the section, and
• Brushy Creek, on the northwest end

Middle Fork Section

This 25-mile long section connects to the Trace Creek Section on the north (but easiest access is the Highway DD trailhead) and runs southwest to Highway J and the Karkaghne Section.

Trailheads

• Highway DD Trailhead
• Highway J Trailhead
• Barton Fen (unofficial)

Karkaghne Section

This 25 mile trail section originates at MO Hwy J just east of Oates. It meanders south across the forested watershed for the West Fork of the Black river to the Sutton Bluff campground, and beyond to the Blair Creek section at MO Hwy 32 and P.

Trailheads

• Highway J
• Sutton Bluff Campground

Blair Creek Section

This trail section originates near the north edge of Shannon county at the junction of MO Hwy P and 72. It connects to Current River Section on it's southern end.

Trailheads

• Highway 72 and Highway P intersection

Current River Section

The Current River Section of the Ozark Trail, a 30 mile section, passes through a myriad of publicly owned lands. It connects to the Between the Rivers Section heading south. Eventually it will connect to the Victory Section if you head east. 

Trailheads

• Powder Mill,
• Shannon County Road 533,
• Peck Ranch Road, and
• Hwy 60

Between the Rivers Section

The 30-mile Between the Rivers Section of the Ozark Trail provides the necessary connection between the Current and Eleven Point Rivers. The next section is the Eleven Point River section.

Trailheads

• Highway 60
• Sinking Creek Lookout Tower
• Forest Service Road 3152

Eleven Point River Section

This 30-mile section gives stunning views of the Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River. It does not currently connect to the last section, the North Fork Section, there is a several mile gap between the two sections.

Trailhead

• Forest Road 3152
• Greer Crossing/Campground
• McCormack Lake/Campground
• Forest Road 4155

North Fork Section

This 13-mile section does not connect to any other sections, but if you head northeast you can get to the Eleven Point River section. This is the southern most section of the trail and the last section.

Trailheads

• Pomona Trailhead
• Blue Hole Trailhead