Potosi and Fredericktown Area
The 201,582 acres of Potosi Ranger District offer many developed and undeveloped sites for camping and picnicking. Because of the karst topography prevalent in this area, caves with springs that feed the rivers and streams can often be seen. They are currently closed to all visitors to protect bats from contamination by white-nosed-syndrome. Courtois and Huzzah Creeks are well-known "floating" streams, typical of the Ozarks, and much-loved by canoeists who flock there in summertime for the crystal clear water and safe passage. A portion of the Ozark Trail traverses Potosi District, and the segment encompassing the Berryman Trail is popular for mountain biking events. The 9,183 acre Bell Mountain Wilderness has beautiful views and challenging trails in a secluded and primitive setting.
Council Bluff Recreation Area is the largest lake in the Mark Twain National Forest. Providing a more developed experience, it features a sandy swimming beach, drinking water, restrooms, and many barrier-free facilities on a beautiful 440 acre lake, encircled by a 12 mile moderate hiking and mountain biking trail. Boar Ridge Campground along the spine of a forested Ozark ridge above the lake, offers a unique camping experience.
The 83,953 acre Fredericktown District features the rugged St. Francois Mountains and St. Francis River. In Spring, the "shut-ins" at Silver Mine are a magnet for kayak enthusiasts, who take advantage of the high water rapids. Marble Creek provides a quiet campground for family outings, and Crane Lake welcomes hikers to take the trail around it as part of their trek along the Ozark Trail. Rockpile Mountain Wilderness offers 4,240 acres of heavily-forested land, including some of the state`s last remaining virgin forest nestled in a narrow gorge.
General Information
Fees Are Charged At:
Day Use Fee - per vehicle per day
- Berryman Recreation Area - Picnic and Day Use Area
- Council Bluff Recreation Area - Picnic and Day Use Area (Concessionaire Fee)
Camping Fees
- Berryman Recreation Area
- Council Bluff Recreation Area
- Marble Creek Campground
- Red Bluff Campground
- Silver Mines Recreation Area
Reservations Needed At
- Silver Mines Recreation Area
- Red Bluff Recreation Area
- Council Bluff Recreation Area
Passes & Permits
Trails
- No permits are needed to access nonmotorized trails
Wilderness Areas
- No 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.
Complexes
This 9,143 acre wilderness is part of the St. Francois Mountains, one of the oldest landforms in North America.
Bell Mountain Wilderness Trail
- Rating: Moderate, terrain is sometimes steep, there is limited trail marking.
- Length: 11.9 miles
- Best Seasons: Spring, Fall
- Surface Type: unsurfaced, native material
Lindsey Mountain Wilderness Trail
- Rating: Difficult, the terrain is rocky and the trail is not marked.
- Length: 2.2 miles
- Best Seasons: Spring, Fall
- Surface Type: unsurfaced, native material
Ozark Trail - Taum Sauk Section
- Rating: Varies
- Length: 35 total, 2 miles in Bell Mountain Wilderness
- Best Seasons: Spring, Fall
- Surface Type: unsurfaced, native material
Camping
Dispersed camping is allowed along the trail and in the Bell Mountain Wilderness Area. There are no toilets, no structures, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates available.
This trailhead accesses the Taum Sauk section of the Ozark Trail (OT) and the Bell Mountain Wilderness Trail.
This trailhead provides access to the Bell Mountain Wilderness from the north side. It has a few parking spots, but no amenities. There is usually just enough r
Visitors frequently enter the area for daytrips or as a part of a broader journey on the Ozark Trail system which crosses through the South East corner of the wilderness.
This trailhead provides access to the 2.2 mile Lindsey Mountain Wilderness Trail.
This 2.2 mile trail takes visitors to the 1,663 foot tall Lindsey Mountain, located in the southeast portion of the Bell Mountain Wilderness.
The 24-mile loop Berryman Trail traverses scenic Ozark countryside.
Trail Sections
- Berryman Trail - 26.5 Miles
- Brazil Creek Spur - .1 Miles
- Harmon Spring Trail Camp Spur - .2 Miles
Trail Details
- Rating: Moderate. Terrain is sometimes steep and rocky, several elevation changes
- Elevation: High of 1,195 feet, low of 842 feet
- Length: 24-miles
- Best Seasons: Fall, winter, and spring
- Surface Type: Unsurfaced, native material, rocky in places
The 24-mile loop Berryman Trail traverses scenic Ozark countryside, winding through timbered stands of oak, pine and bottomland hardwood, climbing switchback fashion from l
This small, remote campground and picnic area located at the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp of 1937 provides a quiet setting for escaping from your normal routi
This trailhead is one of six trailheads that provides access to the Courtois section of the Ozark Trail and one of three trailheads for the Berryman Trail.
The Brazil Creek Trailhead serves as a trail camp for the 24-mile Berryman Trail and the 48 mile Courtois (koh-teh-wah) Section of the Ozark Trail
This is a 12-mile loop trail established as a memorial pilgrimage through the area which the great naturalist/artist visited on his wide-ranging bird collecting trips while living in Ste. Genevieve.
You will cross both Bidwell and Coldwater Creeks on the trail. Glades along the creek offer opportunities for camping or viewing wildflowers and wildlife.
Trail Details
- Length: 12 miles
- Trail Markers: white blazes
- Average Trail Grade: 10 - 12%
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Surface Type: unsurfaced, native material
Camping
Dispersed camping is allowed along the trail. There are no designated sites and no amenities.
This is a 12-mile loop trail established as a memorial pilgrimage through the area which the great naturalist/artist visited on his wide-ranging bird collecting trips while
This is one of three trailheads for the John J. Audubon Trail.
Trail Details
This is one of three trailheads for the John J. Audubon Trail.
Trail Details
This is one of three trailheads for the John J. Audubon Trail.
Trail Details
Recreation Sites
Bell Mountain Ottery Creek Trailhead
Bell Mountain Wilderness
Bell Mountain Wilderness Trail
Bell Mountain Wilderness Trailhead
Berryman Campground
Berryman Trail
Brazil Creek Trailhead
Council Bluff Lake Trailhead
Council Bluff Recreation Area
Crane Lake Recreation Area