The great outdoors have never been better than on the Ozark Trail. With over 350 miles of the anticipated 500 miles of the trail already completed, it is already one of the biggest hiking, camping, backpacking, biking, and equestrian highlights of Missouri, but the best is yet to come. On completion, it's anticipated that the trail will reach from St. Louis to Arkansas. Yet that's not the end of it all. When combined with the Ozark Highlands Trail, the total distance is thought to measure some 700 miles, making it an absolute haven for outdoor enthusiasts of all sorts.

The Ozark Trail passes through the following public lands, which hold much in terms of interest for tourists passing through the region, those fascinated to find out more about the surrounding area, or serious hikers who are looking for an informative and healthy holiday:

• Ozark National Scenic Riverways
• Mark Twain National Forest
• Onondaga Cave State Park
• Johnson's Shut-ins State Park
• Sam A. Baker State Park
• Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

Dating back to the dreams of land managers and owners in the 1970s, the Ozark Trail is the realization of a grand-scale long-distance hiking project. At present, the trail is divided into thirteen stages, some joined, others slightly separated, with the longest measuring 225 miles between the Onondaga Cave State Park and the Eleven Point River. It's worth noting that the Ozark Trail is not part of the National Trails System, but for more information about those that are, refer to tourist brochures in nation-wide information bureaus and hotels in hotels in New York, Jefferson City, or even Los Angeles. In fact, in destinations all throughout the United States there are more details available about local hikes, nature reserves, or national parks; it's just a matter of asking around. Of course, when you happen to find yourself in a San Francisco hotel, then it's difficult to access word-of-mouth advice or detailed hiking maps for Branson and the Springfield region, so that's when the internet is a valuable resource, either in terms of seeking advice or reserving accommodation or transport.