Bar-k Horse Camp

Open — Open year-round first-come, first-served. No advance reservations. No drinking water available; visitors must bring their own. Pack out all trash.

About

Bar-K Wrangler Camp is a quiet, primitive horse camp located on the west bank of Swan Creek in Mark Twain National Forest's Ava-Cassville-Willow Springs District. The campground is designed primarily for equestrians and features three designated campsites with picnic tables and fire rings on the right side of the road near the creek. Across the road, an open field provides space for groups to dispersed camp with horse trailers, with parking for up to 30 vehicles with trailers. The campground serves as the trailhead for approximately 23 miles of non-motorized trails in the 8,488-acre Swan Creek Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Area. These moderately used trails wind through old oaks, shortleaf pines, and open areas where Ozark forest meets prairie remnants. The Tin Top Trail, the main 6.78-mile connector, leads east through the Swan Creek area, offering access to scenic glades and panoramic views. During summer months, visitors can cool off with a wade in the shallow, rock-bottomed Swan Creek, which also offers fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass, and goggle-eye. Minimal facilities include vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. No drinking water is available, and there are no trash containers, so visitors must pack out all waste. Hitching posts are provided to protect trees from damage. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations.

Directions

From Garrison: Take Hwy 125 north 2 miles to Forest Road 533, turn right and continue to the bottom of the hill. From Chadwick: Take Hwy 125 south for about 7 miles to Forest Road 533, turn left and continue to the bottom of the hill.

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