| Big Piney Trail Paddy Creek Wilderness Mark Twain National Forest |
| Copyright 2006-2007 Missouri Trailblazing.com. All Rights Reserved |
Location:
Texas County
Trail Manager:
Mark Twain National Forest
104 Hwy 63 South
Houston, MO 65483
Phone:
417-967-4194
Website:
www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain/recreation/hiking
Texas County
Trail Manager:
Mark Twain National Forest
104 Hwy 63 South
Houston, MO 65483
Phone:
417-967-4194
Website:
www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain/recreation/hiking
Directions:
From Rolla, take Hwy 63 south about 35 miles to Hwy 32 and turn west. Drive 3.7 miles
to Hwy N, which branches to the right. Drive 2.1 miles to Hwy AF, turn left. Hwy AF
turns into Slabtown Road and passes close to a farmhouse, almost making the road look
like a driveway. Continue driving for 7.5 miles until you see the sign for Big Piney Trail
Camp, turn left.
GPS Co-ordinates:
Big Piney Horse Camp: 37.56587, -92.04349
Trailer Parking:
Ample
Trail Maps:
Yes, write to the above address, or they are usually available at the trailhead.
Miles of Trails:
17 mile double loop.
Season:
Year-round.
*Caution: Open to hunters during hunting seasons.
Fees:
No Camping or day use fees, but donations are accepted.
Equestrian Camping:
Yes, the Big Piney Trail Camp is designated for equestrians, and primitive dispersed
camping along the trail.
Trail Notes:
This is my second favorite trail of all the ones I've ridden so far. It has something for
everyone who enjoys adventure. There are just enough hazards to negotiate that a total
novice might be a bit afraid here, so I would not ride this trail if you are a beginning rider.
Also, because of the length of the trail and the slightly rugged terrain, your horse should be in
good condition and shod before riding this trail. There is a sign up sheet at the trailhead.
Please use it, both for safety reasons and so they can see that we are using the trail.
There are a few water crossings, steep and rocky hills to negotiate, and a high bluff
to ride along. The bluff has a scenic overlook that is so high that you look down at
the birds flying below you. The trail does not run right at the edge, so it's not too
dangerous. You might want to dismount and walk over closer to the edge to enjoy
the view. There is a lot more to see at this trail also: a small waterfall, rock out-
croppings, strangely shaped trees, and a lot of wild life. Don't cross Little or Big Paddy
Creeks during high water. Watch out for ticks, venomous snakes, and yellow jackets
in the summer. There is a connector trail toward the middle of the loop if you want to
shorten your ride. The trail corridor is pretty easy to follow because it is well defined
and marked with white diamonds, but it is suffering from lack of recent maintenance so,
there is a lot of debris that people have rerouted the trail around.
This would be an excellent trail for someone to adopt.
Cart/Wagon Driving:
Not allowed. This is a wilderness area so mechanized equipment is not allowed on the trail.
Water Available:
Creeks, streams and ponds for the horses, no drinking water.
Other Facilities:
No other facilities. This camp is one of the camps that the Forest Service has stopped
maintaining so they took everything out.
Other Activities:
Hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing.
Other Services:
Car Care, groceries, & a restaurant: Licking, 15 miles east.
Feed and Tack: The Family Center
Rolla
1-573-364-9300
Emergency Information:
Cell Phone Signal: Moderate
Texas County Sheriff: 417-967-4165
Hospital: Texas County Memorial Hospital
Houston
417-967-3311
Veterinarian: Texas County Vet Clinic
Houston
417-967-3857
From Rolla, take Hwy 63 south about 35 miles to Hwy 32 and turn west. Drive 3.7 miles
to Hwy N, which branches to the right. Drive 2.1 miles to Hwy AF, turn left. Hwy AF
turns into Slabtown Road and passes close to a farmhouse, almost making the road look
like a driveway. Continue driving for 7.5 miles until you see the sign for Big Piney Trail
Camp, turn left.
GPS Co-ordinates:
Big Piney Horse Camp: 37.56587, -92.04349
Trailer Parking:
Ample
Trail Maps:
Yes, write to the above address, or they are usually available at the trailhead.
Miles of Trails:
17 mile double loop.
Season:
Year-round.
*Caution: Open to hunters during hunting seasons.
Fees:
No Camping or day use fees, but donations are accepted.
Equestrian Camping:
Yes, the Big Piney Trail Camp is designated for equestrians, and primitive dispersed
camping along the trail.
Trail Notes:
This is my second favorite trail of all the ones I've ridden so far. It has something for
everyone who enjoys adventure. There are just enough hazards to negotiate that a total
novice might be a bit afraid here, so I would not ride this trail if you are a beginning rider.
Also, because of the length of the trail and the slightly rugged terrain, your horse should be in
good condition and shod before riding this trail. There is a sign up sheet at the trailhead.
Please use it, both for safety reasons and so they can see that we are using the trail.
There are a few water crossings, steep and rocky hills to negotiate, and a high bluff
to ride along. The bluff has a scenic overlook that is so high that you look down at
the birds flying below you. The trail does not run right at the edge, so it's not too
dangerous. You might want to dismount and walk over closer to the edge to enjoy
the view. There is a lot more to see at this trail also: a small waterfall, rock out-
croppings, strangely shaped trees, and a lot of wild life. Don't cross Little or Big Paddy
Creeks during high water. Watch out for ticks, venomous snakes, and yellow jackets
in the summer. There is a connector trail toward the middle of the loop if you want to
shorten your ride. The trail corridor is pretty easy to follow because it is well defined
and marked with white diamonds, but it is suffering from lack of recent maintenance so,
there is a lot of debris that people have rerouted the trail around.
This would be an excellent trail for someone to adopt.
Cart/Wagon Driving:
Not allowed. This is a wilderness area so mechanized equipment is not allowed on the trail.
Water Available:
Creeks, streams and ponds for the horses, no drinking water.
Other Facilities:
No other facilities. This camp is one of the camps that the Forest Service has stopped
maintaining so they took everything out.
Other Activities:
Hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing.
Other Services:
Car Care, groceries, & a restaurant: Licking, 15 miles east.
Feed and Tack: The Family Center
Rolla
1-573-364-9300
Emergency Information:
Cell Phone Signal: Moderate
Texas County Sheriff: 417-967-4165
Hospital: Texas County Memorial Hospital
Houston
417-967-3311
Veterinarian: Texas County Vet Clinic
Houston
417-967-3857
| Here is a picture of the rock outcropping that I often talk about, that looks like an Indian Chief with a war bonnet headdress, in profile. It's hard to tell the size of it in the picture, but I could stand under the ledge at the bottom, with room to spare. You can only see this if you follow the trail southwest from the Big Piney Trail Camp. If you look at it from the other direction, it does not look the same |
| More pictures to be added later. |
| Click on any picture to enlarge it |
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| *Trail Alert: Open during Spring Turkey Hunting, 4/12 & 13 and 4/21 thru 5/11. |
