DISPERSED CAMPING ON THE TRAILS

Dispersed camping means there are no toilets, no structures, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates.

There are extra responsibilities required for this type of camp. It's a must to educate yourself before you try it, but we hope the adventure of dispersed camping in the National Forests calls to you!
  1. Pick a Campsite and follow the Leave No Trace Principles
  2. Camp 100 feet away from trails and water sources.
  3. Treat any water found in the area before consuming it.
  4. Human waste (Feces) must be buried at least 6 inches deep and covered.
  5. Pack out all of your garbage.
  6. Please don't camp on glades.
Do not camp on private property along the trails. Camp only in state parks, recreations areas, private campgrounds, or where the trails is in a National forest or on Corp of Engineers lands. See the USFS topo map for locations of private property. The Keystone trail camping restrictions are yet to be published.
Camping on the Wappapello section is not permitted on Corps of Engineers property except north of Highway 67 (a primitive area).

Mark Twain National Forest camping
Ouachita National Forest camping
Ozark-St. Francis National Forest camping
National Scenic Riverways camping
Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River camping
Buffalo National River Backcountry Camping
Buffalo National River Developed Campgrounds

PURPLE PAINT LAW
Ever been on a float trip or camping and crossed the path of a tree or fence that had a purple painted square on it? You probably didn't pay any attention to it. Many floaters and campers don't acknowledge the purple square at all without realizing by ignoring it, they're breaking the law.

The purple square painted on trees or on fences means 'No Trespassing.' Missouri is one of the few states that have this law, although there are some property owners in other states that enjoy this law and are hoping that their state passes it too. The law was passed in 2012 and took immediate effect in 2013. The reason behind it is to help private property owners keep away from unwanted guests. The legal owner of the property can paint these squares anywhere they'd like to keep people away, such as rowdy crowds, floaters who want to stop to eat or swim, or campers.
The Purple Paint Law

WARNING
Flash floods or seasonal flooding may block creek crossings and even road access on rare occasions for hours or days. Normally, flooding is not a problem but the streams infrequently rises quickly, especially after heavy rains. HINT: Camp on the side of creek in your direction of travel that way if you experience a deluge then you won't have to backtrack. Do not camp on creek gravel bars if rain is predicted as that is a sure sign that high water has covered them in the past! Be prepared to move to high ground.

Poisonous snakes are always a concern in much of the United States; the area supports the cottonmouth, copperhead, and rattlesnakes. Cottonmouths are rarely found away from water, but they and copperhead occasionally lie in streams especially away from recreation areas where they tend to be chased away or worse by tourists. Most folks will have to seek out rattlesnakes to find one, but they do occur. Find them on rocky ledges, usually well away from eroded area. In summer, they gravitate toward moist sites like springs in the upland areas. Copperheads may be found at any time, almost anywhere on the area. None of these snakes tend to be aggressive but they will defend themselves if stepped on or threatened at close range. Just watch the ground as you walk and you should not have any problems.

The area of the creeks and rivers maybe surrounded by high bluffs and occasionally with loose talus. Some sections of the trail run along bluffs, especially in its up stream sections. Talus is generally not a concern unless one goes climbing up steep slopes off of the trail. In that case, take precautions to not dislodge loose rocks especially if someone is following you.

USDA Forest Service - Outdoor Safety
National Park Service - Staying Safe
TICK AWARENESS - MISSOURI STATE PARKS

Heat and Sun
Summer is hot in Missouri. And hiking is hard work. Please be aware of your body and the messages it is sending you. Remember that with every drop of sweat and every exhale of breath you are steadily losing fluids. You need to be ahead of the curve replacing fluids so that your body can effectively cool itself. Be sure that you are carrying enough water to get you to your next source. If you feel you are overheating, take a break and cool down with a damp rag on you head. Also, be sure to use sunscreen to avoid burns which further reduce your body's ability to cool you.

Ticks and Turkey Mites
Ticks and Turkey Mites are prevalent in the forests. Take plenty of repellant. Skin so soft works if your are not into DEET. Inspect yourself each evening and remove the tick before it latches onto you. Taking some simple precautions can help keep ticks off your body during your next outdoor adventure!

If you should find a tick attached to your body, carefully remove it immediately.
Turkey Mites infest tall grasses and dig under your skin and itch like the devil. I take permethrin cream to rub on the effected area to kill the little buggers (follow the package directions). You can also apply it to your clothing to repel them.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Visitors to public lands are urged to practice Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics in order to protect our shared outdoor spaces for the next hiker or floater coming down the trail and for future generations to enjoy.. Even if you're unfamiliar with the concept of Leave No Trace, you've probably practiced it before without realizing. In short, always strive to "leave it better than you found it."

The Leave No Trace Seven Principles provide guidance to enjoy our natural world in a responsible way that minimizes human-created impacts. The principles have been adapted so they can be applied in your backyard or the backcountry.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

4. Leave What You Find

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

6. Respect Wildlife

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors