And plans are afoot to extend it into Missouri, eventually reaching St. Louis, a distance of nearly 1000 miles. The one million acre Ozark National Forest, created by proclamation of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, is home to over 500 species of trees and woody plants.
Hardwoods comprise the majority of the forest, with oak and hickory predominating.
Five wilderness areas are included within the forest, totaling nearly 66,000 acres, but only the Hurricane Creek Wilderness is traversed by the OHT, although the trail does pass around the edge of a second wilderness, the Richland Creek Wilderness. It is listed below long with the mailing address. He is a lifetime local resident and will shuttle you to whatever trailhead you wish and provide great company and interesting local information as you travel to the trailhead.