The Ozark Trail: A Guide to Hiking Missouri’s Mountains

The Ozark Trail is a hiking, backpacking, and, in many places, biking and equestrian trail under construction in the Missouri Ozarks in the United States. It is intended to reach from St. Louis to Arkansas. Over 350 miles ozark trail chair (563 km) of the trail have been completed as of 2008, and the estimated length when finished will be at least 500 miles (805 km). I’ve been using this bag for over a year and love it for it size and comfort levels.

But over the last few years my wife and I are into longer hikes. We hike anywhere from 3 to 4 miles at a time up to 7 miles with a goal of a 10-mile round trip day hike. Sometimes it’s a single trail or we combine multiple trails at a state park. During these longer hikes I found it useful to have a large hiking bag and not just a school backpack. Generally, you get what you pay for when you purchase cheap hiking gear. But I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the Ozark Trail 45 Liter Backpacking Backpack.

I sweat under the best of rain shells when hiking hard in moderately cold temps. The umbrella gives me a little roof to walk under, but it’s not for everybody. I’ve also used a poncho which kept my upper body dry, but I still get clammy. Some sections have restrictions on their use in order to be compatible with the goals and purposes of the various public and private landholders whose property the trail crosses. Horseback riding, mountain biking, or trail side camping may be restricted in certain environmentally sensitive areas.

The Ozark Trail had its beginnings in the 1970s when a group of public land managers, land owners, and trail users met to discuss the concept of a long-distance hiking trail. A comprehensive state outdoor recreation plan prepared by the state of Missouri in 1975 showed a need for an addition of 500 to 900 miles (805 to 1,448 km) of hiking trails. A first ozark trail canopy meeting in 1976 at Meramec State Park lead to the first draft of the trails proposal in February 1977 and in 1981 the first sections of the trail were under construction. If you have a friend that enjoys hiking (or if you need a new backpack yourself!), check out these deals on Ozark Trail Hiking Backpacks today – you can grab these as low as $10.

Once I got home my wife helped me fit the bag to my size and shape. We loaded the bag up with everything we might need for a 10-to-12-hour day out on the trails. The Hiking Backpack Eagle bag is our top choice for the best . This backpack is a hiker’s dream thanks to its spacious 40-liter volume, shoe compartment, attachment points for trekking poles, and hydration pouch compatibility. This bag comes with a rain cover in its lower compartment, which gives you the freedom to tackle your next climb even with some precipitation. Make sure to let a friend or family member know what you’re doing and where you’re going.