The final, easternmost segment of the trail is known as Lake Norfolk, for the body of water it runs along. This section is still under construction, so it’s split into two parts: The 13-mile Lake Norfolk Trail and 17-mile David’s Trail. The Lake Norfolk Trail starts from the dam at the western end of the lake, then heads into the Sycamore Highlands before dipping down to George’s Cove. From there it heads to Tracey Park before ending at the CR 1028 road. The David’s Trail section starts from Robinson Point, then rounds Panther Bay. From the bay it climbs to Bidwell Point Recreation Area before finishing at the Red Bank Recreation Area. As this is the least-constructed section of trail, maps are in the works but not yet available. Ozark Highlands Trail Stewards Photo: “Misty Mountain Hop” by FreeWine is licensed under CC BY 2.0 SAFETY NOTE:River fords are signed---and riders are to cross only at these designated fords. For the safety of both rider and mount---always release tie-downs before crossing a river ford. Never attempt to cross any stream or river during periods of high water. Water sources like rivers and streams may only be available seasonally. OT maps are a great resource to help identify places where you can access water.

How on earth they manage to make a profit with it is beyond us for now. We suspect a good amount of overseas outsourcing is behind it. But hey, we’re certainly not complaining! Most of the models also come with an expandable top, which means you get plenty of storage space, being able to gain an extra three inches off the top. Want to help finish what could be America’s most spectacular long trail? The entire OHT is built and maintained by the nonprofit Ozark Highlands Trail Association, an all-volunteer group that builds new sections of trail, repairs older ones, and runs several outings per year to enjoy the route. The trips are open to the public (work parties require membership for insurance reasons). They also run educational programs on low-impact camping and hiking. What You Should Know About Hiking the Ozark Highlands Trail

These hard-sided coolers actually look pretty cool. They have attractive features and sharp edges which all but catch the eye. There are orange accents on the latches and handles which definitely give them a premium look. In terms of color options, however, you only get silver and white. To be entirely honest, while Ozark tries, the ice retention isn’t quite on the same level as what you get with a Yeti. Neither is the toughness. The features are on par, however, and that is a plus. Here it’s really a battle of reputations, though, because, for the price, Ozark is a solid choice. Verdict

Pulltite Nature Trail: 1.5 mile loop trail.This trail presents a moderate challenge. The trailhead is located near the terminus of the campground road near the Group Camping Area at Pulltite. It is a 'self-guided' nature walk with interpretive panels along the trail. The trail ascends the ridge through oak/pine upland forest---passing close to a dolomite cave. On decent from the ridgetop the trail parallels the Current River through riparian habitat.The Ozark Mountains are home to over 390 miles of trails, including the 14 (mostly) continuous sections of the Ozark Trail. But most thru-hikers come to the Missouri Ozarks for the main event: The 230-mile Ozark Trail thru-hike between Onondaga Cave State Park southeast of St. Louis and the western edge of the Mark Twain State Forest.

Stone Ridge Trail:1.2 miles long.This moderate to mildly strenuous hike ascends the limestone bluff to the ridgeline above the Big Spring, then descends through swales and hollows down to link up with the Slough Trail. Segments of this trail consist of stone steps constructed by the "CCC boys" during the Depression era when Big Spring was an early State Park. The trail travels through dry upland oak woods with numerous dolomite outcroppings and several opportunities for scenic views. How long do you want your trip to be? Are you prepared to be out for multiple days at a time, or maybe just an overnight trip? Now, the general assumption here is that this cooler brand is actually owned by Walmart since they’re mostly sold at their stores. However, we cannot definitely say whether Ozark Trail is a Walmart company or not but it looks as a private label brand of Walmart. Pulltite Cabin Trail: 0.2 miles round trip. Located across the Current River from the Pulltite campground, this very short trail is accessible by boat (or wading if the river is low enough). From the river bank the trail circles around a fern and moss covered dolomite bluff to Pulltite Spring and a log cabin that was constructed as a "retreat" by city folk who traveled to the Ozarks to "float the river" in the early 20 th century. Park staff have recently refurbished the log framework. The setting, seemingly remote, with access limited to the river---gives today's visitor a glimpse of the rustic natural character that has captivated Ozark "tourists" and settlers alike. While much of the trail is under shaded tree canopy, you’ll still want to use sunscreen to prevent any burns.Cave Spring River Trail: 0.8 miles round trip. This easy trail begins at the day-use picnic area near Cave Spring on the Lower Current located west of the small community of Hunter (take Hwy 21 south and Hwy E west out of Hunter). Cave Spring River Trail passes through dense riparian habitat along the banks of the spring branch fed by waters issuing from the large vaulted entrance of the cave. This trail follows the spring branch east to the Current River. The hard coolers from this brand are built to be on par with the most premium brands. The soft coolers are a little more down to earth. There are both premium and low-cost models. It might seem a little disappointing that there are only 3 sizes to go on, but at least they went for the most common sizes used by people. Basically, you have a small cooler, you have a medium cooler, and you also have a fairly large cooler. At mile 15 in the Trace Creek section, you will find scenic Council Bluff Lake, which has a 12-mile loop to explore the beautiful landscape of southeast Missouri.

There are 3 main sizes offered in this category. We have the 26-quart cooler, the 52-quart cooler, and the 73-quart cooler. When it comes to the handles, they have followed the same kind of pattern you see in other types of coolers. In the smaller cooler, the 26-quart one, the handle is overhead. Instead, they decided to go for the kind of features you see in brands like Engel, RTIC, and the king of them all: Yeti. They also tried to do that while charging you a fraction of the prices these cooler brands charge you. Blue Spring Trail: 1 mile round trip. This easy to moderate hike may be accessed at Powder Mill or from the picnic area at the Blue Spring Trailhead & Picnic Area. The trail skirts the bottomland riparian forest along the Current River between Powder Mill and the Blue Spring State Natural Area---where the trail parallels the spring branch out to Blue Spring . As the name of this spring indicates---Blue Spring is deemed the "bluest" spring in Missouri and at a depth of around 300 feet---it is Missouri's deepest. It’s threaded too, which means you can screw it on tight and it’s also attached to a chain, which means you don’t have to worry about losing it. Now we’re starting to go deeper into the features that actually make this cooler convenient to use. The drain is oversized, which means you don’t have to wait extra-long to drain out that melted ice.If getting a great cooler at a great price means making some sacrifices, like not having it made locally, we know there are people who are willing to pay that price. The way the Ozark Trail hard coolers are designed, they are supposed to compete with the very best cooler brands in the market at the moment. That pretty much means they have a lot of hype to live up to. The million dollar question is: can they? Unfortunately, these two groups of brands seem to be mutually exclusive at the moment. You’re either looking for a premium cooler or you’re looking for an affordable cooler. Isn’t that just a little sad? Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!