Poplar Bluff Area
The Poplar Bluff Ranger District has 150,000 acres located at the southeastern edge of the Ozarks, where the forest starts to give way to the Mississippi River lowlands.
Poplar Bluff District offers two developed recreation areas, hiking and riding trails, fishing from barrier-free piers, and boating. As well as many other hunting opportunities there are also two walk-in turkey hunting areas providing plenty of sport for the Spring season hunters seeking out that most elusive game bird.
Portions of the Black River run through the District, Markham Springs Recreation and Hendrickson Boat Launch both provide access to the river.
Markham Springs also provides access to two springs, and a small, 2-acre pond, and three short hiking trails. There are four camping loops, one with electric RV hookups.
Both the Victory and Wappapello Lake sections of the Ozark Trail run through the Poplar Bluff Ranger District.
Active Alerts
General Information
Fees Charged At:
Day Use Fee - per vehicle per day
- Markham Spring
- Pinewoods Lake
Camping Fees
- Markham Spring - Loops and Fuchs House
- Pinewoods Lake
Reservations Needed At
- Markham Springs - Loops and Fuchs House
- Pinewoods Lake - group picnic pavilion
Passes & Permits
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.
Complexes
Located adjacent to the Black River, the Markham Springs Recreation Area contains bubbly springs and a small 2-acre pond that dates back to the 1800s.
The Fuchs House, a five-bedroom concrete and native stone home, also sits on the property, along with a neighboring mill.
There are four camping loops, one with electric hook-ups for RVs, three loops with no RV hook-ups along the Black River.
River and stream fishing are popular activities near the campground. The Black River boasts bass, sunfish, walleye and catfish.
Picnic Areas in the Day Use
- Four individual picnic tables, two of those are sheltered by wood
- The pavilion is located up a set of stone stairs, at the top of a slight slope, near a pond next to Fuchs House.
- One pavilion that accommodates up to 30 people, electric is available
Boat Launch
There is a concrete boat ramp providing access to the Black River.
Trails
Markham Springs Trail System, within the Markham Springs Recreation Area, consists of Bubble Springs Trail, Canebrake Trail and Eagle Bluff Trail.
Located adjacent to the Black River, the Markham Springs Recreation Area
The picnic and day use area at Markham Springs has two individual picnic sites near the mill pond and two sites under a wooden shelter near the boat launch.
Markham Springs Trail System, within the Markham Springs Recreation Area, consists of Bubble Springs Trail, Canebrake Trail and Eagle Bluff 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 southern terminus by the Black River and three miles of rugged terrain.
Trail Details
- Section Length: 19 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Nearest Section Going East: Wappapello Section (not connected)
- Nearest Section Going West: Between the Rivers Section (not connected)
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.
A hike of any desired length is feasible o this section due to numerous trail access points, and connector trails. There are links to more than 100 miles of trail open to hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use, including the F Highway Spur and the Highway 172 loop on the Mark Twain National Forest. A connector trail permits access to Lake Wappapello State Park, where there are several trail loops offering a variety of routes to match your experience.
Trail Details
- Section Length: 35 miles
- Difficulty: Varies
- Nearest Section Going North: Marble Creek Section (not connected)
- Nearest Section Going South: Victory Section (not connected)
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
Next to the 31-acre Pinewoods Lake visitors can experience the quiet, calm of the Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area. Spend an afternoon exploring along the 1.3-mile walking trail around the lake, catching site of wood ducks and beavers.
Anglers can spend a quiet day on the lake looking for the perfect bass, sunfish or catfish. For those who prefer firm ground to boats, an accessible, floating fishing pier is available.
Next to the 31-acre Pinewoods Lake visitors can experience the quiet, calm of the Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area.
Pinewoods Lake is a small 31-acre lake with trails, fishing, and a large picnic pavilion.
The Pinewoods Lake Trail starts in the Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, and circles Pinewoods Lake. The trail starts by the boat launch.
The Pinewoods Lake Trail starts in the Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, and circles Pinewoods Lake. The trail starts by the boat launch.
Recreation Sites
Beaver Lake Recreation Area
Hendrickson Boat Launch
Markham Springs Hiking Trail
Markham Springs Recreation Area
Markham Springs Recreation Area - Day Use and Picnic Area
Mud Creek
Ozark Trail - Victory Section
Ozark Trail - Wappapello Section
Ozark Trail: Brush Arbor Trailhead
Ozark Trail: Brushy Creek Trailhead