Work is not the only thing you can do on the Ozark Trail, not by a long shot! Besides taking advantage of this great recreational resource on your own, you can join the OTA on some organized fun events.

Each year volunteers organize hiking trips including trips to enjoy fall colors, a St. Patrick's Day hike and a trek organized each year on Earth Day. Many of our hikes are led by Certified Missouri Master Naturalist, Danny McMurphy.

National Trails Day happens each year in June and the OTA usually plans an outing with awards for volunteers, a BBQ meal and optional trail maintenance or a hike on the OT.

In 2010, we hosted the inaugural OTA Boots, Bikes, Bridles and Bluegrass Family Weekend. This is two days of fun on the Ozark Trail including organized hikes, bicycle and horseback rides and outdoor games along with some special events for kids including a Nature Hike, pony cart and carriage rides, and after dark: a "Spider Sniff" with flashlights. And of course, as the name suggests, three great bands played music through the day on Saturday and we finished with movies and a bonfire in the evening.

To learn about upcoming events and to register, visit our events page. For other informally organized events by our hiking, bicycling and horse riding enthusiasts, check out the OTA forum.