Gone Hikin': Mark Twain National Forest, MO

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Mark Twain National Forest, MO - Bell Mountain Wilderness

ABOUT THE PARK:

Bell Mountain Wilderness - US Forest Service

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 37.62568, -90.91112

Highway A Parking Lot

TRAIL MAP:

Bell Mountain Wilderness Trails - US Forest Service

HIKE DISTANCE: 12.3 miles

THE HIKE:

The 390-mile Ozark Trail passes through the parking lot.

In a short distance the trail crosses Highway A ...

... and heads uphill.

After severe thunderstorms complete with tornado sirens overnight, part of the trail was a flowing creek.

Leaving the Ozark Trail on towards Bell Mountain to the left.

At the Bell Mountain Trail loop we went counter clockwise.

Just after these concrete blocks ...

... we worked our way around to the right past several campsites to some views.

This was the only view we were able to see since the main view was occupied by over a dozen tethered horses and their riders. Talk about hogging an overlook. Very poor trail etiquette.

Even worse was the mess all those horses made. Horses are allowed but over a dozen at one time and after 1-2 inches of rain overnight? The trail was a sloppy mess chunked up by horse hooves.

I was thrilled to see they had come up from a different trailhead as that is the direction the hoof damage went.

Nice smooth trail on the far side of the mountain that apparently not many visit.

There are many, many downed trees but those who had ventured this way had started paths around the blow downs so they were all passable.

The trail descended to creek crossings, mostly rock hoppable even after the rain.

This one crossing looked dicey - wasn't sure I wanted to try that mass of logs and leaves, so I broke out the water shoes and waded over.

Two times I had a hard time finding the trail after a water crossing and that was because of blow-downs but looking beyond those, I was able to regain the trail in both instances.