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.
Passes & Permits
Pass information for day use fees can be found on the Passes page of the website.
Recreation Sites
Beaver Lake Recreation Area
Site Open
Beaver Lake is 15 acres in size. Primitive camping is allowed but no facilities are provided. There is a gravel ramp for boat access. The lake has been stocked with channel catfish, bluegill, redear…
Brush Arbor trailhead (OT)
Site Open
This trailhead provide access to the Victory Section of the Ozark Trail.  Named after the one-room schoolhouse that formerly stood near the Victory Trailhead, this isolated section of the Ozark…
Brushy Creek trailhead (OT)
Site Open
This trailhead is the western-most trailhead of the Victory Section of the OT.The Brushy Creek trailhead provides access to the Ozark Trail's Victory Section. The Victory Section of the Ozark Trail…
F Highway Trailhead (OT)
Site Open
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 trailhead on the Poplar Bluff Ranger…
Hendrickson Boat Launch
Site Open
This boat launch is located on the Black River near the town of Hendrickson. This is a popular location to launch for fishing. The site features an accessible loading platform, and also has a large…
Highway 172 trailhead (OT)
Site Open
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 vehicles, including trucks with…
Markham Springs Recreation Area
Site Open
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 area is covered by a dense forest of…
Mud Creek
Site Open
Mud creek is a designated natural area because it has all three examples of bottomland forest: Mesic (moist soils), wet-mesic (seasonally wet soils) and wet bottomland forest (permanently wet…
Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area
Site Open
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,…
Pinewoods Lake trailhead
Site Open
The Pinewoods Lake Trail starts in the Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, and circles Pinewoods Lake. The trail starts by the boat launch.1/2 of a mile of this easy 1.3-mile trail has a concrete…