Big Piney Trail Camp

Open — Open year-round, 24 hours a day to campers. No reservations required.

About

Big Piney Trail Camp is a primitive equestrian campground located in an open pine forest within Mark Twain National Forest's Paddy Creek Wilderness area. Designed specifically for horse camping, the facility features 5 campsites arranged on an outer loop, each equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and highline post. The center loop can accommodate up to 6 vehicles with trailers for horse camping. Hitching rails are conveniently located near the accessible vault toilet, and a mounting block area is situated at the trail register station. The campground serves as one of three trailheads for the 18-mile Big Piney Trail, which travels through the scenic Paddy Creek Wilderness. The trail features limestone glades, rugged Ozark terrain, and elevation changes of up to 500 feet. Signs and trail marking are minimal, so knowledge of map and compass navigation is strongly recommended. The trail is open to hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking on the eastern section outside the wilderness boundary. This is a no-fee campground with no advance reservations required. Campers must bring their own drinking water as no potable water is available on site. The facility is open year-round, 24 hours a day, with quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Visitors should be prepared for primitive conditions and practice Leave No Trace principles, including scattering manure outside the campground and packing out all trash.

Directions

From Licking, take Highway 32 west 4 miles to Highway N; turn right on Highway N and go 2 miles to Highway AF; turn left onto Highway AF and travel 5 miles to Slabtown Road; continue straight past the asphalt for Slabtown Road and continue for 1.5 miles. Big Piney Trail Camp will be on the left.

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