Big Piney Trail Camp
Open year-round, first-come first-served. No fees or reservations required. No drinking water available on site.
Forest Closure - Bridge Replacement at Paddy Creek
Paddy Creek Recreation Area, National Forest System Road 211, Big Piney Trailhead Spur Trail (03-016-D), Paddy Creek Trail Loop (Trail 03-016-C), and a section of the Big Piney Trail (03-016-A) will be closed from December 1, 2026 until December 31, 2027 while a bank on the creek is restabilized…
Delays on Forest Road 557
Visitors to the Cobb Ridge Campground area may encounter short delays if traveling on Forest Road 557 this weekend. Heavy equipment will be doing “blading” operations, smoothing out the gravel road. Please drive cautiously in the area for your and workers’ safety.
Forest Order - Trail 119 Closure Extended (Chadwick Motorized Trail System)
The closure of Trail 119 of the Chadwick Motorized Trail System has been extended due to delays with the culvert replacement. This order supersedes the previous order. The closure of Trail 119 begins on Trail 101 about halfway between KC Pavilion Trailhead and Cobb Ridge Campground and extends…
About
Big Piney Trail Camp is a primitive equestrian campground situated in an open pine forest within Mark Twain National Forest in Texas County, Missouri. The camp is specifically designed for horse camping, with 5 single sites on the outer loop capable of accommodating horse trailers, plus a center loop that can hold 6 additional vehicles with trailers. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and high line posts for securing horses. The camp serves as one of three trailheads for the 18-mile Big Piney Trail, which travels through the Paddy Creek Wilderness. Hitching rails are available near the bathroom, and a mounting block area is located at the trail register station. The trail covers varied Ozark terrain with moderate to difficult sections and a vertical rise of approximately 500 feet. Facilities are basic: a vault toilet is provided but drinking water is not available, so campers must bring their own water supply. There are no fees, hookups, or reservations required. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a 6-foot leash in developed areas. The campground is open year-round with quiet hours from 10 PM to 6 AM.
Directions
From Licking, take Hwy 32 west 4 miles to Hwy N; turn right on Hwy N and go 2 miles to Hwy AF; turn left onto Hwy AF and travel 5 miles to Slabtown Road; continue straight past the asphalt onto Slabtown Road and continue for 1.5 miles. Big Piney Trail Camp will be on the left.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| sm.fs.marktwainnf@usda.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (417) 967-4194 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
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