Roby Lake

Area Status: Open

Perfectly located adjacent to the pristine Paddy Creek Wilderness, Roby Lake provides a variety of activities which include a picnic/day use area, two hiking trails, fishing the 5-acre lake for bass, sunfish or catfish, and a good parking area for equestrians.

Only nonmotorized boats are allowed on the lake. There is a gravel, carry down launch for accessing the lake.

This area serves as one of the 3 trailheads for the Big Piney Trail in the Paddy Creek Wilderness. The trail meanders some 18 miles and changes 500 feet in elevation, with the highest point near Roby Tower. Trails are unmarked; use of maps and compass is recommended.

At a Glance

Operational Hours:	Day use from 6 am to 10 pm
Reservations:	First come, first served.
Area Amenities:	Accessible, Boat ramp, Picnic tables, Toilets, Parking
Fees:	No fees
Open Season:	January - December
Usage:	Light
Restrictions:	No overnight camping in day use areas at any time of year. Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash in the day use area No trash containers; please pack out all your trash. Boats are allowed, no motors are permitted. No waterfowl hunting at this lake
Closest Towns:	Roby, Licking
Water:	None
Restroom:	None
Operated By:	USDA Forest Service
Information Center:	Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District Email \| Phone and Address

General Information

Directions:

From Roby, MO

take Hwy 17 one mile north.
Turn east/right on Forest Road 274 and travel one mile to the area.

From Licking, MO

Take 32W approximately 24 miles to Lake Lane.
Turn right onto Lake Lane and travel 1 mile to the trailhead parking lot.

Accessibility:

Picnic tables and grills are accessible. The voilet vault at Big Piney Trailhead, just up the road 1000 feet, is also accessible.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Lake and Pond Fishing

There are many pockets of logs, trees and other cover materials so use caution.

This lake is stocked every three years, by MDC, with Large Mouth Bass, Bluegill, Chanel Catfish, Crappie

Fish Species	catfish, bass, sunfish and longear, largemouth bass, bluegill, and crappie
Fishing Mode	canoe, kayak, wading, bank fishing
Fishing Platform	None
Fishing Method	Rod & Reel, flyfishing

Day Hiking

Big Piney Trail - 18-miles

There are 18 miles of designated trails within the wilderness. The elevation of the area changes 500 feet between a point near Roby Tower on the western edge of the area, and Paddy Creek as it meets the eastern boundary of the Wilderness. Signs and trail marking are minimal or non-existent and the use of maps and compass is recommended. Travel is by foot or on horseback

Backpacking

Big Piney Trail - 18-miles

There are 18 miles of designated trails within the wilderness. The elevation of the area changes 500 feet between a point near Roby Tower on the western edge of the area, and Paddy Creek as it meets the eastern boundary of the Wilderness. Signs and trail marking are minimal or non-existent and the use of maps and compass is recommended. Travel is by foot or on horseback

Horse Riding

Big Piney Trail - 18-miles

There are 18 miles of designated trails within the wilderness. The elevation of the area changes 500 feet between a point near Roby Tower on the western edge of the area, and Paddy Creek as it meets the eastern boundary of the Wilderness. Signs and trail marking are minimal or non-existent and the use of maps and compass is recommended. Travel is by foot or on horseback

Picnicking

There are picnic tables, each with a pedestal grill and vault toilet

No. of Sites

6 single sites

Boating - Non-Motorized

This 5-acre lake has a gravel, carry-down launch suitable for small boats only.

Size Restrictions	None
Type of Craft	canoe, kayak

Amenities

Picnic tables:	Yes
Parking:	Lake: 15 vehicles, trailhead: five trucks with trailers and five vehicles
Toilets:	Yes - at trailhead
Accessible:	Some amenities and features are accessible
Boat ramp:	Yes