Hey to all of you guys/gals from the 'show me state'

Looking to get a list together of all the places to ride in Missouri.

I figure if everybody tosses in their $.02, we could prolly get a pretty good list together. Please include specifics - like location, type of vehicles allowed, types of riding available, cost, ammenities, proximity to camping/hotels...and basically anything else you can think of about the place...

 

St Joe State Park -

The Park is about an hour south of St Louis - near Park Hills, MO

From personal experience, and from talking to friends...I would have to rate the riding area a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10...

Weather conditions depending...you will find lots of dust & sand...lots and lots of sand.
There are places to 'sand-drag', a ton of flatland...If you like to go flat-out fast across the flat, you will have a blast.
A word of caution...watch the 'whoops'...they are everywhere. The 2nd biggest complaint that my friends and I had was that the constant 'rolling' was a bit annoying - made riding much more of an effort than it needed to be.

Aside from the sand, there are a few trails to explore...some are pretty technical, and take some effort to navigate, but most are pretty simple stuff...I did not see any serious hiils to climb...but I may have just missed them.

Also, there are a few spots in the riding area that are perfect for the serious 'mudder'. If you like the soupy, sloppy, messy stuff...You have 5 or 6 mudholes to keep you busy...


- As far as the park itself...seemed OK. There are spots to camp, and changing rooms and a bathroom or 2 by the parking area...There is also a small (very small) beach where you could swim...Concrete ramps are also ther for loading/unloading.
Bring food & drink if you plan on being in the park for the day...as the only vending machines (soda/bait) are at about 2 miles from the parking lot...

The Park allows for ANY vehicle to enter the riding area...and I mean ANY. As long as you have a safety flag & a helmet...you can take it out. I have seen a Ford Escort driving out there...it was silly.

My biggest complaint about the place was the volume of people...there were lots os ATV's, MX'rs, and 4x$'s...and could very easily create a dangerous situation...

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All-in-all...I would give a 7 out of 10...beacuse the place seems to be well maintained, and is convenient.

cost is $3.00 per day, and bring a safety flag & helmet.

 

I like Columbia MO. It's a state park called finger lakes. They have some awsome riding there. From trails to tracks. I love the hill climbs there. If it rains it gets kind of muddy but they have a place to wash your bike off before you leave, just carry an extra set of cloths for the ride home.

 

Finger Lakes State Park...

Finger Lakes State Park is located about 15 minutes north of Columbia, MO

As stated in the previous post...F.L.S.P (Finger lakes State Park)...has LOTS of good trail riding...I will say again for impact...LOTS of good trail riding.

If you are interested in technical trails, smooth trails or medium to difficult climbing...F.L.S.P. is worth the drine from just about anywhere in MO. You will find mudholes, sloppy-wet spots, and some SERIOUS...mean hills to climb.

For those of you that are interested in the flat, sandy runs...this is prolly not the spot for you...

All others...I would certainly recommend F.L.S.P.

On most weekends (from what I'm told), you will not encounter too much traffic on the trails...as there are 80+ miles available for riding. There is also a MotoX track...but check the Mo State Parks website for 'open' days - they close the track for race weekends.
Also, as previously posted, there is a clean-off area with a hose for cleaning-up your bike.

Two ramps (high/low) are in the staging lot for loading & unloading...there is also a bathroom (toilet only) on the staging lot.

Only vehicle with handlebars (nothing with a steering wheel) are allowed on the trails...so you will not have to worry about getting trampled by an SUV.

One thing that I feel should be mentioned - some of the trains seem to simply end into one of the many lakes...this presents some danger in the fact that if you are not paying attention...you could find yourself in a few feet of water after cresting an unfamiliar hilltop.

As far as 'exras' - there are no vending machines...so bring food & drink. Camping is available in the park, and there is also a spot for swimming. Hotels & fast food are within 15 of the park.

$3.00 gets you a day of riding, and the only requirement is a helmet.

 

Chadwick is southeast of springfield a little ways. Its in the mark twain natl forrest and has 125 miles of trails up and down the ozark hills, so you have to have a permit and a spark arrestor. You stop at a convience store in the town of Chadwick (I think named Kay's?) and get your permit, ($5/day or $35/year). You have to give them the VIN of your atv also. Be sure to get a map, it has the trails marked easy, intermediate and expert. Pay attention to how they are marked and dont get in over your head! There are steep hills in Chadwick, and people have gotten into places there where they couldnt get out!

There are 2 campgrounds there. I have only been once, so somone else may have more info, but I had a blast and cant wait to go back! Warning, the trails have lots of rocks, aftermarket skid plates are strongly recommended. Also stay on the marked trails, this is a nice place to ride, we dont want to loose it. here is a website

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/marktwain/re...rail_index.htm

 

come on fellas...

I know there are more places in MO...

Those of you that have been to the 'Sutton's Bluff'...tell us about it.

Also...the spot in Fulton, MO...who has details?

 

There is a private place in Fulton, MO (Lake Potawatomi campground I think) it is $5/person, have to sign a waiver. Great for a half day of fun. Several tracks, lots of trail riding. All off-road vehicles are welcome and the jeeps can be fun to watch.

Deepcreek/Cooper Creek near Clinton, MO Cooper Creek. No fee, great place to ride, from what I have seen the boundries are unknown, and I have not seen any rules. (I see many dual riders, no helmets.) No park rangers, did see a local police or county deputy, but they were interested in road riders only. Been there twice and still have not ridden all of the trails. Reminds me of finger lakes, but with less severe hills and no ATOMIC clay/mud.

SLG
2000 Polaris Sportsman 500 - Faded Yellow

 

Chadwick looked kinda cool but I didn't get to see much of it. I went with buddy and to start the day off his 250r quit running about 2 miles iin because of water in the gas. No big deal, drain and refill, change the plug and we were off again until he had a flat. A group of rider's came up on us and said they had some plugs at their camp about a mile away. So he road it on two wheels to their camp but on the way there I raced a raptor from the other group on my shee and beat him pretty bad in the dirt. He complained about traction so when we got to the pavment at their camp, we raced again. I was spanking him pretty good until I hit 4th and my chain broke. I know it's not Chadwicks fault but sometimes you just have to know when you are not wanted. My buddy got his tire fixed, hauled me back to the truck and we headed for home. I have never had the courage to try Chadwick again. Not to mention that I wish we would have known that we had to buy passes at a store that is about 5 miles from where we started riding at. Maybe then we wouldn't have had to spend half the morning driving around.

 

We are riding in Mill Creek SE of Fayetteville AR...we have riders from Missouri coming down.

27 miles of main trails - 15 miles of interior loops and shortcut
trails for varying ride lengths. Day use fees are not collected, but
donations are accepted.

Mill Creek - take AR 16 from Fayetteville to Combs, AR, turn S on
Forest Service Road 1007. After 4 miles turn left on Forest Service
Road 1509 and travel 1/2 mile.


We will try to meet at the trail head at approx. 10 am. I will leave the store in pearidge at approx. 8am then go to Ozark Center Point Place in Springdale at 540 & 412 intresection. We will leave at 8:45 to head there.



Dawn
racechick73@yahoo.com