Mark Twain National Forest · Missouri

Ozark Trail Wappapello Section

14 mi of trail, end to end · Highway 172 trailhead (OT): 10 mi loop in the Service's write-up · native material surface · trail No. 046144 · trail class 3 · typical grade 10-12% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads F Highway Trailhead (OT) Drive there · Highway 172 trailhead (OT) Drive there

F Highway Trailhead (OT) the Forest Service's write-up

The F Highway trailhead on the Poplar Bluff Ranger District provides access to the Wappapello Lake Section of the Ozark Trail. It is also the northernmost OT trailhead on the Poplar Bluff Ranger District of Mark Twain National Forest.

This trailhead has a large parking area and can fit multiple vehicles, including trucks with trailers.

More than half of the 35-mile long Wappapello Lake Section of the Ozark Trail is managed by the Mark Twain National Forest – the rest is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State Parks, and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Wappapello Lake was created in 1938 with the construction of a rolled earth fill dam to control flooding of the St. Francois River. The trail’s proximity to water lends itself to an abundance of waterfowl. A hike of any desired length is feasible on this section due to numerous trail access points, and connector trails.

Directions from Poplar Bluff, Mo.: Head out of town north on Highway 67 for about 23 miles then turn right onto F Highway (in Wayne County). Continue on F Highway for about 3 miles and the trailhead will be on the right side of the road.

Directions from Greenville, Mo: Head south from town on Highway 67 for about seven miles then turn left on F Highway. Continue on F Highway for about 3 miles and the trailhead will be on the right side of the road.

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Highway 172 trailhead (OT) 10 mi loop · the Forest Service's write-up

reservation required · season January to December

The Highway 172 trailhead provides access to the middle of the Wappapello Lake section of the Ozark Trail (OT). The trailhead offers substantial parking for multiple vehicles, including trucks with trailers.

More than half of the 35-mile long Wappapello Lake Section of the Ozark Trail is managed by the Mark Twain National Forest – the balance of it is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State Parks and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Wappapello Lake was created in 1938 with the construction of a rolled earth fill dam to control flooding of the St. Francois River. The trail’s proximity to water lends itself to an abundance of waterfowl. A hike of any desired length is feasible on this section due to numerous trail access points, and connector trails.

There is also a 10 mile loop trail (the 172 Loop Trail) from this trailhead. From the 172 Loop Trail, hikers can connect to the Wappapello State Park (managed by Missouri Department of Natural Resources).

Directions from Poplar Bluff: Leave town on Highway 67 going north for approximately 15 miles then turn right onto Highway 172. Continue on 172 for about 2 miles and the trailhead will be on the left.

Restrictions Pack out what you pack in. Camping is not permitted on US Army Corps of Engineers property except north of Highway 67.

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Mark Twain National Forest

Other trails from the same trailheads

All 294 trails in Mark Twain National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.