Welcome to the Ozark Trail!

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Rain drops kept falling on our heads

...all day and night, but that didn't stop 38 volunteers from completing 1000 feet OR the equivalent of 3 1/4 football fields length of BEAUTIFUL new trail on May 15 at the Mini Mega event. It felt like we were in swamp-east Missouri, but where the Current River connector begins is located in beautiful, old growth forest of stately pines with a few hardwoods dispersed throughout, plus some awesome natural features that include moss and lichen covered boulders, signs of sinkholes, an abundance of ferns, wildflowers and water features.

Not only did the adults do a fantastic job of building trail in some really rocky areas, but we also had a SUPER group of kids, from 9 to 14 years old who built some trail that could be considered some of the best built that day! Extra emphasis was placed on construction of the trail as Wilmer Scott (Scotty) from the Forest Service, informed us that AmeriCorps and a group of high school students would be continuing the construction, and they would use what we built as an example for their work.

We capped off a great day with Chef Jeff’s delicious grilled chicken along with cobbler for dessert. The always successful raffle was a highlight of the evening raising over $300 and then we capped off the night by sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows popping popcorn until we all slowly made our way to our tents for a much earned night of rest.

The Courtois Gap Is Closed!

Thanks to the efforts of over 160 volunteers this weekend, the "gap" in the Courtois section of the OT has been replaced with beautiful trail. Previously, users of the OT had to use a gravel road to travel between the Huzzah Conservation Area and Harmon Springs. Now trail between the Narrows south of the Huzzah Conservation Area to a point just west of Harmon Spring is complete.

Challenged to complete the last 3/4 mile of the Courtois Gap, did our volunteers deliver! Starting around 9 AM Saturday morning, crew leaders and crews set out, completing their job well before the 3:30 PM cut-off time. Thanks go out to all who attended along with a special "helmets-off" to our intrepid early crew led by Rick Schuh, Robert Smith and Todd Horn. This group of 25 started their trail-building day at 8 AM, finished their own work, and then hiked back out to help other crews polish off their sections, insuring that the gap would be filled.

After working all day, volunteers enjoyed a barbeque dinner, raffle and silent auction, plus great music around the bonfire by the Michael Jonas Band. Also at this event, 11 OTA volunteers were honored with Red Jacket awards for completing twenty trail construction outings.

Thanks to our sponsor Alpine Shop for donating great prizes, arranging for the Red Jackets, and for the SmartWool socks provided to all our volunteers. This event raised approximately $3,100 for the OTA: more than $1,300 from raffle tickets alone. Thanks also to our hosts at Bass River Resort for again providing free camping for OTA volunteers.

Oscar Award Worthy Maintenance Weekend at Winona

A whole bunch of golden statues would have been passed out at the Winona Maintenance Weekend by work leader Kathie Brennan for "Best Supporting OTA Volunteers" in the trail maintenance category. At the end of the day on Sunday, maintenance on almost 38 miles of trail was complete: including lopping, sawing, swamping, signing, building new trail, repairing tread damage, blowing the trail clear of leaves, and building a "V" gate.

While out on the trail, the work done did not go unnoticed by many of the individuals we encountered all weekend long on the trail. One group of backpackers were just in awe of the trail being blown clear of leaves, which they said made their hiking much more enjoyable. Chef Jeff's outstanding Saturday evening meal was so fit for a King that we didn't even have room for cobbler! Yes, for some it was a long drive but Winona Maintenance is truly one of the best times on the OT. New faces made for new friends this weekend and our southern volunteers can lay claim to having a little bit of heaven down their way, along with that wonderful southern hospitality flair.

Wind Storm Damage Update - 3/10/2010

Steady progress continues on clearing the wind storm damage from last May. Blair Creek damage in Pioneer Forest has been cleared. Thanks to all the OTA volunteers that helped clear from Holmes Hollow to Little Blair Creek.

The following sections of the Ozark Trail are still effectively CLOSED:
The Taum Sauk Section from south of Hwy A at the State Park Boundary through Goggins, Johnson's Shut-Ins, and over to Taum Sauk Creek is CLOSED. This section suffered severe damage with the hundreds of trees down per mile. Currently the Department of Natural Resources, with help from the OTA, is working to get the section from Johnson's Shut-ins to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park open by late spring.

While this is in progress, if you have your mind set on the Taum Sauk Section, please visit one of the following:
- Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park
- The Scour Loop Trail and Scour Overlook off Hwy N
- Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
- The eastern portion of the Taum Sauk, from Hwy 21 over to Mina Sauk Falls Loop, Devil's Tollgate, and along Taum Sauk Creek.

As we receive more information, we are posting updates HERE and under Trail Conditions.

OTA volunteers, agency staff and contractors are doing their best to get the trail reopened. You can help by volunteering at a future OTA event. You can also send donations to cover our fuel, oil, repair and administrative costs by sending a tax-deductible check to the Ozark Trail Association at 406 W. High St. Potosi MO 63664 or by calling the office at (573) 436-0540 to find out about other funding options.

Sawing on the Taum Sauk

Snow, snow and more snow didn't keep a hearty group of sawyers and swampers from tackling some of the damage from last May's storm to the Taum Sauk section of the OT. On February 13th, volunteers met at the Boy Scout camping area on top of Taum Sauk Mtn. along with staff from JSI and Brian Merkel from the NFS/Potosi. After receiving instructions, the crew headed down the trail into the valley towards Devil's Tollgate, hiking past dozens of trees already cleared by OTA volunteer crews earlier this year. Most began the task of lopping and clearing the trail: some areas we tackled had been neglected for 4 years because of the reservoir breach. Luckily the hike out was made easier by the use of ATVs driven by folks from, DNR and an OTA volunteer, who helped shuttle sawing equipment and tools. Weary after a good day of work and pushing stuck vehicles out of the Taum Sauk parking area, volunteers enjoyed conversation over a hot meal in Pilot Knob before heading home.

Four sawyers were also re-certified on February 13th. Even though progress was slow, the sawyers tackled several technical trees and learned some new tricks of the trade concerning wedges.

OTA Trivia Night

Weather warnings didn't keep over 250 trivia addicts and novice players from attending the OTA’s first-ever Trivia Night. Questions from every category, including National Parks, were posed to the 32 tables as they enjoyed a great evening of food, fun, friendship and a chance for getting some great prizes. OTA volunteers Jyll Bellis and April Scott presented the idea to the OTA last fall and were given a green light to make it happen. Through their efforts and those of several other OTA volunteers, including Kathie Brennan and Bruce Hadley, the evening raised $4,300 to be used toward constructing and maintaining the Ozark Trail, one of America's newest National Recreation Trails. Many thanks to everyone who supported us by coming out, and to those who donated merchandise, time or money.

Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation
Partners with OTA on Derecho Clean-up

On May 8, 2009, a severe storm called a "derecho" devastated trees along more than 40 miles of the Ozark Trail in Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest and Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area. The trailhead itself was damaged as well from fallen trees. With both straight-line winds and several tornadoes, the windstorm delivered the worst damage from one weather event in the 30-year history of the Ozark Trail, a multi-use hiking, cycling and equestrian trail.

Acting quickly to assess the work needed to clear and re-open the trail, John Roth, founder of the Ozark Trail Association (OTA), soon learned that support for the clean-up would be scarce. More

October Mega

A good time was had by all at the last Mega event of 2009. The weather was great, 118 people showed up, 3/4 mile of trail was built, everyone filled up on burgers and brats, and the bon fire was a great back drop to the bluegrass band. We are working on our winter / spring schedule now, so check back in a month or so for more trail construction and maintenance outings. [pictures]

Huzzah CA Maintenance

You know fall is really here when the construction and maintenance plans include "grubbing on the trail". This past Saturday morning was cool but promised to be a beautiful day as twelve volunteers, including a couple of grandkids, made a wet crossing to the bluffs along the Courtois Creek to do tread work and lopping in the Huzzah Conservation area.

As we worked the trail along the bluffs, several canoeist and kayakers passed by exchanging greetings of what a great day it was. We were also fortunate to have David Stonner, a well known MO Department of Conservation photographer, hike though the area and the remark was made that the trail looked much better than when they began earlier that morning. After some small talk, an invitation to join us trail building sometime in the future was extended. By mid-day, Robert declared the section done and then all enjoyed a great meal topped off with some great conversation and camaraderie.
[pictures]

Credit Card / Paypal Your Membership!

The Ozark Trail Association is membership-supported. Your membership fees equip volunteers with tools, chainsaw supplies, signage, hammers, nails... a whole host of things to keep the trail open and to build new trail. There's also a newsletter! And free online maps! Your membership is important to the ongoing success of the trail.

And now: you can pay for your membership or make a donation using your credit card or PayPal account! Visit our main membership page today for an easy way to renew your membership, start a new membership or to make a contribution!

Adopt-A-Trail

225 miles of through-trail opened for use in 2006, part of the 360 total miles of Ozark Trail in Missouri.  That's a lot of trail to keep clear of trees and brush.  You can help out by maintaining a short section of trail through our Adopt-A-Trail program.  Adopters work on two- or three-mile sections a few times a year, lopping back limbs, putting up new signs and reporting on trail conditions.  It's a good way to give back a little to the OT.  And it's a great excuse to get away for a day on the trail!

Interested?  Learn more by visiting our Adopt-A-Trail page or contacting our
Adopt-A-Trail coordinator.