Ozark Trail Backpacking
Ozark Highlands, Southeastern Missouri
October 3-6, 2019
Co-Trip Leaders: Leslie Green and Dan Harrell
Type of Trip: Backpacking
Trip Cost/Deposit: $230/$115
Cancellation Date and full payment: July 30, 2019
Wilderness Level: 4 Very high risk with EMS more than 1/2 day away
Trip Difficulty: Rugged – 11 miles maximum daily mileage with moderate elevation gains
Group Size: 9/7 Maximum/Minimum
Adults Only
The Missouri Ozarks in southeastern Missouri are part of the Ozark Highlands, an area covering nearly 47,000 square miles in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. It is by far the most extensive mountainous region between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains. The Ozark Trail and the trail networks in Missouri provide a hiker’s paradise.
We got a taste of the Ozark Trail in Missouri in 2018 We are going back to conquer another 22.7 mile section in the fall of 2019, when it will hopefully be a little cooler than our first trip. We will also explore one of the favorite state parks in the Ozarks while we are there.
Leaving on Thursday afternoon, we’ll travel to Missouri and stay overnight in the Fort Davidson Hotel near the trail. We’ll start our two day hike of the Middle Fork Trail on Friday morning. This hike features plentiful water with rock-bottomed creeks, small waterfalls and a mix of hardwoods and pines. The contoured trail winds up and down the ridges and hollows of the headwaters of the Black Fork of the Middle River. This is fast becoming a favorite destination in the area. We will camp in the back country near one of the waterfalls.
After finishing our hike on Saturday, we will head over to Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park where we will stay in the campground overnight (with showers available). Sunday morning we’ll take in one of several popular hikes in the Park, followed by a post hike meal at the Fort Davidson Café (FDC) before heading home.
The trip cost includes transportation in the club van, Thursday night hotel costs (double occupancy), two trail breakfasts, two trail dinners, and camping fees. Meals on the road, trail lunches and trail snacks are at your expense.
All trip participants must fill out and submit a CIWC Medical Form and Long Waiver Form.
