Mark Twain National Forest Riding Info?

[Slideways84]

I'm looking to plan a ride a off-road ride somewhere in the Mark Twain National Forest and looking for some info. We're from the KC area and would like to trailer out somewhere to a location and ride all day with tents and gear on our bikes and camp and then ride back to the truck the following day. The issues we're having is not finding a lot of information to do a ride like this as far as where to start or even good routes or anything really but I know guys are doing it. Plus a couple of guys bikes are just dirt bikes and aren't tagged also wondering if that is going to be an issue? I'd appreciate any help in planning this. This will be us dipping our toes in the adventure/dual sport world I guess.

[troy]

Welcome to the forum.

Your last sentence was:

This will be us dipping our toes in the adventure/dual sport world I guess.

Are you guys new or relatively new to off-road motorcycle riding?

I ask, because I (and others) can probably string together a route for you that you can do virtually 100% off-road with unplated dirt bikes, but the trail will be NASTY & GNARLY. Not what I classify as "dualsporting".

Otherwise, the forest roads down there make for great dualsporting--especially relative to the KC metro, eh?!

Primitive camping is allowed almost anywhere in the St. Francis forest, and occasionally you'll come across good camping spots where others have made fire rings, etc.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/osfnf/rec ... rdb5252171

Unplated vehicles in general are allowed on the USFS roads. The local enforcement has traditionally allowed dirtbikes and even quads on the local highways. I'm told if a State Trooper were to happen to roll by, you might not be so lucky.

All that said, a lot can change in a short time.

[Slideways84]

Thanks for the reply! 3 of us have been riding since we were kids and 2 of us have been riding for about 3 to 5 years. So looking for something not too gnarly but not too beginner I guess if that makes sense. DRZ400, KLX450r, Husky Te510, yz250f and a cr125.

[Slideways84]

Looking at the St. Francis National Forest that's a little further then we're wanting to drive at the moment that's why we were thinking about the Mark Twain area but really all the info I find on Mark Twain is about Chadwick and another OHV park just isn't interesting us right now. Once again I appreciate any info and assistance.

[troy]

Yeah, you did say "Mark Twain" didn't you. The Mark Twain is dispersed all over in many land sections. The sections closer to KC I'm actually not aware of dirt bike trails to do the kind of thing you are talking about. I'm sure something exists in there, I just don't know about it.

Now, if you go all the way over to the Mark Twain around Bunker, MO, I got tracks galore for that area....but it's mostly single-track and gets gnarly. That area has a TON of old logging roads that make for some great dualsport riding.

However, that area is more than 5 hours from the KC metro.

[ajayhawkfan]

The Mark Twain National Forest is huge and spread all over the state. I would recommend either the area around Cassville or Rolla. Drive to one of the areas, set up camp and then explore for a couple days. One very cool place in the Cassville area is Roaring River. Lots of good road in the area and plenty of camping at Roaring River. Near the town of Licking, MO is Montauk State Park, cool spring, lots of campsite and great roads in all direction.

If looking for someplace remote to camp, travel on any forest road through the forest you'll come across numerous campsites. All open. I would recommend looking were the road crosses a creek or river. Normally there are sites there to camp and cool off in the water.

[troy]

Their group will include unplated dirt bikes. So I'm not sure those roads will be safe enough. What do you think?

[Slideways84]

I guess the St. Francis National Forest that I first looked up was the wrong one it said it was 8 hours and 15 mins away now the Ozark St Francis National Park is about 5 hours and 20 mins. My buddy wasn't wanting to drive more than 3 hours but we might have to change that to accommodate our needs.

[Slideways84]

Yeah it kind of sucks having a couple guys unplated but we don't want to leave them out so we're trying to plan a trip for everyone and it's not as simple as it seemed lol.

[ajayhawkfan]

Their group will include unplated dirt bikes. So I'm not sure those roads will be safe enough. What do you think?

Unplated at the campsites I mentioned could be a problem especially if they are uncorked. If they looked around and found one of the many gravel roads that leave the park and camped close by I don't think they would have any more of a problem then anywhere else.

It is going to be at risk no matter where they are if they are riding on county roads.

Consider going here with the bikes: https://mostateparks.com/map/st-joe-state-park Great camping and good trails for all bikes.

[troy]

...could be a problem especially if they are uncorked.

But, Eddie, LOUD pipes save lives!

Here's where your loud dirt bike will land you!
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/cal ... kdown.html


Btw, Arkansas is NOT New York.

[ozmoexc]

Good camping and riding @Chadwick.Or primitive camping across H hiway. off Garrison ridge to Deveraux ridge road.all nat for.
Trail report from Chadwick is many trees down,this summer and overgrown as usual.
Will be testing new revalve on my project 200EXC, on Sunday .Could be good calling for 58!
Young or old any brand it's does not matter !!Come down and ride it all.Let me know !