| Wilson's Creek Trail Wilson's Creek National Battlefield |
| Copyright 2006-Present by Missouri Trailblazing.com. All Rights Reserved |
Location:
Green County
Trail Manager:
National Park Service
Wilson ’s Creek National Battlefield
6424 W. Farm Road 182
Republic, Missouri 65738
Phone:
417-732-2662 ext. 227
Website:
http://www.nps.gov/wicr/
Green County
Trail Manager:
National Park Service
Wilson ’s Creek National Battlefield
6424 W. Farm Road 182
Republic, Missouri 65738
Phone:
417-732-2662 ext. 227
Website:
http://www.nps.gov/wicr/
Directions:
From Springfield , take Hwy 44 west to exit 69, James River Freeway/Highway 360 east.
Take the Hwy 60 west exit and turn right (west). Follow to Hwy M (stoplight) and turn
south (left). Follow M to Hwy ZZ (stoplight) and turn right (south). Follow Hwy ZZ to West
Farm Road 182, turn left. The entrance is at the corner on the right side. Follow drive to the
Visitor's Center. A current valid state ID is required for all persons entering the park . Pay
your fee at the visitor's center to get a token to open the gate. Drive through the gate and
follow the road to just past tour stop 2, the Ray House. Turn left on the small gravel road
and follow it about ¼ of a mile to the horse trailer parking on the right. There is additional
horse trailer parking along side the tour road just south of the east overlook area, but there is
nowhere to tie your horse. There is a drop-off on the left and the tour road on the right
GPS Co-ordinates:
Preferred Equestrian Trailhead: N37.10540 W-93.39708
Non-preferred Trailhead: N37.09345, W93.40355
Trailer Parking:
Moderate
Trail Maps:
Yes, by calling the above phone number. Ask for the horse and hiking trails map.
National Park's Map - www.nps.gov/wicr/planyourvisit/upload/BrochureMap.pdf
(Note this map does not distinguish between hiking only and hiking/horse trails).
Miles of Trails:
7 miles.
Season:
Year-round.
No hunting allowed here.
Fees:
$5 per person, $10 per vehicle
and is good for 7 days.
An annual pass is also available for $20
Equestrian Camping:
Not allowed.
Trail Notes:
The trail corridor is well traveled and easy to follow. The terrain is gently rolling, with only
a few hazards. One stretch of the trail runs alongside a barbed wire fence for a short
distance. There are also two creek crossings. One of the crossings is only about knee-deep
on the average height horse, but the other is slightly deeper than stomach-deep on an average
height horse. There official trail at this point crosses over a large bridge, but the bridge has
bizarre-looking cable supports on the sides that your horse could get tangled up in if he
spooked. There is no marking at that creek crossing to indicate it’s not acceptable for horses
to cross there, and the remainder of the trail is very well-marked if horses are not to go onto
a side path. Parts of the trail goes through woods, but large stretches of it are along the edge
of large fields so would be very hot in the summer. Work is being done to add erosion
control berms and to add gravel to the trail surface. A few spots in the park have places to
stop and read the history on the Civil War battle fought there, but several of them can only be
accessed by hiking. It's a really fascinating place with a lot of history. Riding off the trail
into the historic areas is not permitted (hitching rails are provided at the historic spots that
are located next to the trail). Riding across pastures or fields is also not permitted, and
horses are to be kept to a slow walk at all times.
Cart/Wagon Driving:
Not feasible.
Water Available:
Drinking Water: None once inside the park.
Water for horses: Wilson's Creek along the trail.
Other Facilities:
Hitching rails at spots along the trail where you can read some of the history. Visitor’s Center
(open 7 days a week, 8 am – 7 pm or 5 pm depending on season except some holidays):
Restrooms, water, exhibits, souvenir shop, civil war library (different open hours than Visitor
Center) Admission to Wilson ’s Creek NB also includes admission to the Civil War Museum
(closed December through March) located north of the battlefield on Highway ZZ, but there
isn’t anywhere to park a horse trailer.
Other Activities:
Walking, jogging, biking, photography, and museum at visitor’s center.
Other Services:
Car Care, groceries & restaurants: Right there in Springfield
Feed: MFA Feed
Springfield
1-417-866-7717
Tack: PFI Western Store
Springfield
1-800-222-4734
Emergency Information:
Cell Phone Signal: Good
Greene County Sheriff: 1-417-868-4040
Hospital: St. John's Regional Medical
Springfield
1-417-885-2000
Veterinarian: Equine Clinic
Springfield
1-417-881-1251
From Springfield , take Hwy 44 west to exit 69, James River Freeway/Highway 360 east.
Take the Hwy 60 west exit and turn right (west). Follow to Hwy M (stoplight) and turn
south (left). Follow M to Hwy ZZ (stoplight) and turn right (south). Follow Hwy ZZ to West
Farm Road 182, turn left. The entrance is at the corner on the right side. Follow drive to the
Visitor's Center. A current valid state ID is required for all persons entering the park . Pay
your fee at the visitor's center to get a token to open the gate. Drive through the gate and
follow the road to just past tour stop 2, the Ray House. Turn left on the small gravel road
and follow it about ¼ of a mile to the horse trailer parking on the right. There is additional
horse trailer parking along side the tour road just south of the east overlook area, but there is
nowhere to tie your horse. There is a drop-off on the left and the tour road on the right
GPS Co-ordinates:
Preferred Equestrian Trailhead: N37.10540 W-93.39708
Non-preferred Trailhead: N37.09345, W93.40355
Trailer Parking:
Moderate
Trail Maps:
Yes, by calling the above phone number. Ask for the horse and hiking trails map.
National Park's Map - www.nps.gov/wicr/planyourvisit/upload/BrochureMap.pdf
(Note this map does not distinguish between hiking only and hiking/horse trails).
Miles of Trails:
7 miles.
Season:
Year-round.
No hunting allowed here.
Fees:
$5 per person, $10 per vehicle
and is good for 7 days.
An annual pass is also available for $20
Equestrian Camping:
Not allowed.
Trail Notes:
The trail corridor is well traveled and easy to follow. The terrain is gently rolling, with only
a few hazards. One stretch of the trail runs alongside a barbed wire fence for a short
distance. There are also two creek crossings. One of the crossings is only about knee-deep
on the average height horse, but the other is slightly deeper than stomach-deep on an average
height horse. There official trail at this point crosses over a large bridge, but the bridge has
bizarre-looking cable supports on the sides that your horse could get tangled up in if he
spooked. There is no marking at that creek crossing to indicate it’s not acceptable for horses
to cross there, and the remainder of the trail is very well-marked if horses are not to go onto
a side path. Parts of the trail goes through woods, but large stretches of it are along the edge
of large fields so would be very hot in the summer. Work is being done to add erosion
control berms and to add gravel to the trail surface. A few spots in the park have places to
stop and read the history on the Civil War battle fought there, but several of them can only be
accessed by hiking. It's a really fascinating place with a lot of history. Riding off the trail
into the historic areas is not permitted (hitching rails are provided at the historic spots that
are located next to the trail). Riding across pastures or fields is also not permitted, and
horses are to be kept to a slow walk at all times.
Cart/Wagon Driving:
Not feasible.
Water Available:
Drinking Water: None once inside the park.
Water for horses: Wilson's Creek along the trail.
Other Facilities:
Hitching rails at spots along the trail where you can read some of the history. Visitor’s Center
(open 7 days a week, 8 am – 7 pm or 5 pm depending on season except some holidays):
Restrooms, water, exhibits, souvenir shop, civil war library (different open hours than Visitor
Center) Admission to Wilson ’s Creek NB also includes admission to the Civil War Museum
(closed December through March) located north of the battlefield on Highway ZZ, but there
isn’t anywhere to park a horse trailer.
Other Activities:
Walking, jogging, biking, photography, and museum at visitor’s center.
Other Services:
Car Care, groceries & restaurants: Right there in Springfield
Feed: MFA Feed
Springfield
1-417-866-7717
Tack: PFI Western Store
Springfield
1-800-222-4734
Emergency Information:
Cell Phone Signal: Good
Greene County Sheriff: 1-417-868-4040
Hospital: St. John's Regional Medical
Springfield
1-417-885-2000
Veterinarian: Equine Clinic
Springfield
1-417-881-1251
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