Ozark Trail: Middle Fork (John Roth Memorial) Section

Mark Twain National Forest, Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District (Iron and Reynolds counties)

The Middle Fork Section, also called the John Roth Memorial Section, runs about 24 miles through the upper basin of the Middle Fork of the Black River. The Ozark Trail Association (OTA) says it was completed in November 2005, and the Forest Service says it was the first section built by the OTA.

It is known for water. The OTA lists creek after creek along the route and promises, “you won’t run out of water here!”

The hike

The section links the Trace Creek Section, just northeast of Highway 32, to the Karkaghne Section at Highway J. The OTA recommends starting at the Highway DD trailhead, where a 200-foot gravel path reaches the main trail; from there the Middle Fork continues about 1.5 miles north to the Trace Creek junction. For a Middle Fork-only trip, the OTA suggests hiking south from DD to the Highway J trailhead, about 23 miles.

Along the way the trail crosses Neals, Strother, Henderson, Little, and Brooks Creeks and the headwaters of the Middle Fork itself, and passes Barton Fen, seeps, and small springs. The OTA describes it as winding “over and around many fingered ridges” through oak-hickory forest, shortleaf pine, and small savannahs. Hiking Project lists 24.1 miles with about 2,500 feet of climbing.

A blog trip report from October 2017 describes hiking it south to north: three days and two nights from Highway J to Highway DD. The writer’s first day ended after 5.5 miles at Little Creek, the second covered 10.5 miles to the waterfall in Wolf Pen Hollow, and the third finished with 6.5 miles to DD. The writer notes that Strother Creek ran highest of the creeks they crossed and could be difficult in high water, and that “the maps recommend not drinking from this water source” because it lies downstream of a lead tailings pond.

The OTA calls the section well used and “in great shape,” mostly clear of downed trees, with seasonal growth in areas cleared or thinned in recent years. Its main caution is the creeks: crossings can be hazardous after rain. The trail is open to hikers, bikes, and horses.

To extend a trip, the OTA suggests continuing north on the Trace Creek Section, east to Council Bluff Lake, or south toward Brushy Creek Lodge on the Karkaghne Section.

Tips

Start at Highway DD. The Forest Service recommends it; the Highway J lot holds only two or three vehicles on a private easement, and you should not block the gate.
Think twice about Barton Fen parking. The OTA reports past car break-ins there.
Skip Strother Creek for drinking water, per the 2017 report, and treat all other water.
Wait out high water at creek crossings after rain.
Wear orange in November. Missouri’s November firearms deer portion runs Nov. 14 to 24, 2026 (MDC).

Camping

The Forest Service allows dispersed camping along the trail at least 100 feet from it. There are no toilets, structures, trash cans, or fire grates, and no treated water. Bury human waste and pack out all trash. No permit was found for camping on this section.

Inside Intel: The October 2017 trip report found an established campsite at Little Creek already taken, so the group camped on a nearby bluff, close enough to the creek for water but high enough to stay out of a flash flood. It also mentions an established site near the bridge at Henderson Creek, where the group stopped for lunch. The writer liked the Wolf Pen Hollow waterfall camp but found it too close to the highway, with traffic noise through the night.

Trail facts

Distance: About 24 miles (OTA, Forest Service); about 23 miles from Highway DD to Highway J
Route type: Point-to-point
Difficulty: Easy (OTA, Forest Service); intermediate (Hiking Project users)
Campsites: Dispersed, 100 feet from the trail; established sites reported at Little Creek and Henderson Creek
Water: Plentiful creeks, fens, seeps, springs; treat all water; avoid Strother Creek
Permits: None found
Uses: Hiking, biking, horses
Trailheads: Highway DD (recommended), Highway J, Barton Fen (unofficial)
Land manager: Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District, 573-438-5427
Last verified: October 8, 2026

The Lowdown

Traffic noise at Wolf Pen Hollow:

One group found the Wolf Pen Hollow camp too close to the highway to sleep well. Noise is one of several things these side-sleeper tips cover, along with pads and pillows.

Get the side-sleeper tips →

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.