Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Missouri / Ozark Trail

Ozark Trail: Between the Rivers Section

Mark Twain National Forest, Eleven Point Ranger District (Carter, Ripley, and Oregon counties)

The Between the Rivers Section links the Current River and the Eleven Point River without touching either, as the Ozark Trail Association (OTA) puts it. Its 29 miles run from Highway 60 south of Van Buren to Forest Service Road 3152 above Hurricane Creek, across the ridge that divides the two watersheds.

It is the section where water takes the most planning. The OTA says so directly, and the Forest Service says there is no drinking water at the trailheads or along the trail.

The hike

From the Highway 60 trailhead, the OTA says the trail heads generally south for the first 13 miles, crossing small tributaries of the Current River: Wildhorse Hollow, Chilton Creek, Devil’s Run, and Big Barren Creek. The Forest Service singles out Bristol Cemetery and a lichen-covered boulder field at Devil’s Run as landmarks. A little over 3 miles from the trailhead, according to the Forest Service, a 2-mile spur leads to the Big Spring area.

From Big Barren Creek the trail turns west along the north prong of Cedar Bluff Creek, climbs gently out of that drainage, and crosses the main ridge between the Current and Eleven Point watersheds. The last 8.5 miles run generally southwest past Gold Mine Hollow, the ridge above Kelly Hollow, and Fox Hollow to Forest Road 3152, where the Katy trailhead marks the start of the Eleven Point Section. The Forest Service describes the forest as white oak, shortleaf pine, and scarlet oak.

The OTA calls the section “in good shape” but warns that controlled burns have made some areas hard to follow, that bottomlands can become overgrown quickly, and that you should expect deadfall and seasonal growth. It suggests the Current River and Eleven Point sections may be better choices for summer trips. The Forest Service adds biting insects, poison ivy, and heat in warmer months, and reminds visitors to be aware of hunting seasons.

Hiking Project lists 29.6 miles with about 3,600 feet of climbing; the OTA lists 3,100 feet west to east. The section is open to hikers and horses, and the OTA also lists bikes.

Terrain Magazine’s Michael Shepherd Jordan hiked this section in October 2024 as part of a south-to-north thru-hike, during a month he describes as unusually dry, but he gives no specifics for Between the Rivers.

To the north, the trail meets the Current River Section at Highway 60, though the southern part of that section is closed (see the notice above).

Tips

Camping

Dispersed camping is allowed along the trail, with no designated sites or amenities. The Forest Service asks campers to stay at least 100 feet from trails and water sources, bury human waste at least 6 inches deep, and pack out all garbage. Overnight camping is not allowed in trailhead day-use areas. No forest recreation permit is required.

Inside Intel: No camper accounts recommending a specific site on this section were found.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Frosty hollows between the rivers:

Cool-season trips dodge the heat and overgrown bottoms on Between the Rivers, but nights in the hollows can turn cold. See the sleeping bags reviewers recommend.

Read the full guide →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.