Southeast Missouri / St. Francois Mountains
Marble Creek links Iron County visitors to the Ozark Trail
The Forest Service describes Marble Creek Recreation Area as a remote creekside campground with an Ozark Trail trailhead reached from the Arcadia and Ironton side.
Marble Creek is the kind of place that explains why Iron County outdoor trips often cross between town roads, forest roads, and trail systems. The U.S. Forest Service says Marble Creek travels through the national forest for about 20 miles and was named for dolomite deposits once mined as “Taum Sauk Marble.”
The recreation area has creekside camping, fishing, day-use spots, and the main trailhead for the Marble Creek Section of the Ozark Trail. The Forest Service directions include the route from Arcadia and Ironton: south on MO 21/MO 72 about 1.5 miles to State Highway E, then about 12.5 miles along Highway E to the creek.
The reader job is simple. If you are using Iron County as the base for an Ozark Trail or creek trip, check the Forest Service page for current alerts, fees, water availability, and restrictions. County names help you orient yourself; the forest manager sets the recreation rules.
Where to see it
- Marble Creek Recreation Area
Use the Forest Service for camping, trail, and access conditions.
References
More from Iron County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: July 16, 2026.