Hiking, Biking & Beaches

Hiking & outdoor safety — be your own ranger

Most Missouri trails are free, open, and unsupervised, so plan as if help may take time. This short list of habits helps keep a long Ozark hike from turning into a hard lesson.

Beat the heat

Beat the heat: hike early, take shade breaks, wear a hat and light clothing, and carry plenty of water — and actually drink it.

Dress for it

Dress for it: sturdy shoes for the rocky Ozarks, sun protection, layers, and a rain shell.

Ticks, chiggers & mosquitoes

Ticks, chiggers, and mosquitoes: use repellent, wear long pants on brushy trails, and check yourself for ticks after every hike. (See the Wildlife hub for tick-borne illness, alpha-gal, and removal.)

Snakes & poison ivy

Snakes and poison ivy: watch where you put your hands and feet, give snakes room and never handle one (the copperhead is the most common), and remember 'leaves of three, let it be.' (See the Wildlife and Foraging hubs.)

Don't get lost

Don't get lost: on remote trails carry a map and compass or a GPS, follow the blazes, and don't count on cell service. Tell someone your route and when you'll be back.

Flash floods & creek crossings

Flash floods and creek crossings: Ozark creeks and low-water crossings rise fast — don't cross fast or rising water on foot or by car. Turn Around, Don't Drown. (See the Rivers & Tubing hub.)

Hunting season

Wear orange in hunting season. (See the Hunting hub.)

Pack these every time

Trail basics

A short kit that turns a small problem into a non-problem. Right-size it to the hike — a paved loop needs far less than a long backcountry section.

Water — more than you think you'll need
Food or snacks
Navigation — a map and compass or a GPS
A small first-aid kit
A headlamp or flashlight
Sun protection
A rain layer
A whistle
A charged phone in a bag

In hunting season

In fall and winter, many public lands are shared with hunters. Wear blaze orange, keep dogs leashed, stay on marked trails, and check area closures or managed-hunt dates before you go. (See the Hunting hub.)

Before you go

Official sources and current guidance

The agency that runs the trail or beach sets the local rules.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. Trail rules, e-bike access, and beach conditions change with the season and the manager — and out here, no one is watching out for you. Check before you go, carry water, and watch the kids.

This is a summary — not the law, a medical authority, or a guarantee of safety. Trail rules, e-bike access, and beach conditions change — check the managing agency before you go. In an emergency, call 911.

Heads up: This is a safety summary, not medical or survival advice. Conditions and rules change, so use the managing agency's page before you go; in an emergency, call 911.

Mark Twain National Forest — trails & backcountry
MSHP — water safety — for flooded crossings

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