Camping in Beautiful Mark Twain National Forest - Central Missouri

When I was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, I came to have a great appreciation for the surrounding Mark Twain National Forest. Much of the land is public, with several homesteads and small towns surrounding the Fort. If you enjoy outdoor activities there are many opportunites to take advantage of.

There are more than 750 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain bikers. There are also more than 350 miles of streams and rivers, with a rich abundance of animal and plant life. Many people enjoy floating and fishing in the rivers with canoe or kayak. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass, long ear sunfish, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish are commonly caught. Some of the spring fed creeks are stocked with rainbow trout and have a few wild browns. Roubidoux creek in Waynesville was my favorite trout stream. There are plenty of deer, turkey, squirrel, and rabbit for hunting as well. Many bowhunters take advantage of the long archery season starting in September ending in January. There is a short break for deer firearms season in mid-November.

Even if you are just wanting to take some great photos there are many opportunities as well. The trees, wildflowers and plants, and rich wildlife are hard to miss as you explore the area. You will be wanting to pull your camera out every time you come around a bend on one of the rivers or streams. Don't forget the memory card for your good camera like I did this last time. Fortunately I still had the cell phone to take a few shots on this trip. Speaking of cell phones, you will have hard time getting reception in the more remote areas, so keep this in mind.

I remember hearing people I worked with complaining about never having anything to do here, which was really a shame. We used to have so much fun kayaking, hiking, fishing, and hunting when I lived there. Have you ever explored the Mark Twain National Forest? If you're nearby its definitely worth checking out. Let me know about your adventures in the area!