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

The Ozark Trail (OT) is one of America’s premier distance hiking trails. Mostly divided into linked sections, the trail winds through 390 miles of rolling hills, stone bluffs and cool streams in central and southern Missouri. I’m also an Appalachian Trail Maintainer & Trail Crew Member – it’s not uncommon to see sledge hammers, picks, buckets, bow saws, etc. strapped to this pack while hiking to and from trail work details. I’ve had this pack for 2 years and I’ve beaten the living daylights out of it and it still performs just as well as the day I bought it. I priced other internal frame daypacks before my trip and this was by far the cheapest.

Dogwood Canyon is a family destination offering hiking, biking, wildlife tours, horseback riding and trout fishing amongst towering bluffs, waterfalls, creek beds, handcrafted bridges and wildlife. The Everywhere Chair keeps your bottom about 4 inches off the ground. The strap that supports the back (and doubles as a carry strap) allows adjustments to control your angle of recline, from upright to a stargazing-appropriate angle. Unlike other portable chairs, the Everywhere Chair is designed to sit on uneven slopes; this can be handy when space is limited at a fireworks show or an outdoor theater performance.

Because the waterfall is easily accessible and open year-round, large groups and families with children may enjoy the falls, too. Not the best choice for long trips or hikers who need to carry a large amount of gear. ozark trail canopy Great for hiking in warm weather, thanks to the breathable construction, mesh straps, and hydration bladder hook up. This hydration compatible backpack has a connection for a water bladder built in to the design.

I took this pack on a 5-day mountain bike ride from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Washington, D.C., and it performed very well. The GCI Outdoor chair also has a pocket built into the back that can hold a phone or a book. This chair comes in green or blue and is rated to hold up to 250 pounds. After six months of sitting mostly outside in the Southern California sun, our gray Coleman chair was noticeably less faded than our Walmart and Renetto chairs, the latter of which had bleached from bright red to pink.

“This is the Platonic ideal of your camp chair,” one of our campers gushed. You can stow this featherlight, compressible chair in a backpack or even a work bag. All in all, the Blackstone griddle is a great portable grill and a great travel companion, especially if you want to grill for several people.

From fishing to starry-sky camping, these 10 rad activities prove it. This roomy and practical backpack works well for a multi-day hike. While much of the trail is under shaded tree canopy, you’ll still want to use sunscreen to prevent any burns. If you’re on the trail for several days, toilet paper and a cathole shovel are necessities. When you do have to answer the call of the wild, make sure to stay at least 100 yards away from a water source and bury any solid waste at least 6 inches deep.