Big Piney Trail Camp
Open year-round, first-come first-served. No fees or reservations required. No drinking water available on site.
Heat Advisory issued August 30 at 10:44PM CDT until September 4 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
* WHAT...Heat index values of 100 to 105. Minimal overnight relief with temperatures in the middle to upper 70s. * WHERE...Portions of southeast Kansas and central, east central, south central, southwest, and west central Missouri. * WHEN...From noon Monday to 8 PM CDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Forest Order 09-05-21-26-03 National Forest System Road 566 Closure
This is a temporary closure for FS Road 566 up to Coy Bald Trailhead to avoid risk of entrapment from flooding waters during the peak rain season. Access to the Coy Bald Trailhead requires crossing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land—and traversing the Cane Creek low‑water crossing, a…
Weather Conditions
Please check weather conditions prior to visiting. Forecasts can be found:National Weather Service - Springfield, MO Severe Weather Potential National Weather Service - Springfield, MO (Facebook) Safety Tips are available: Brave the Elements Ready.gov - Floods Severe Weather Tornadoes
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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