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What We Do

Ozark Trail Damage Cleared

At left is the late John Roth, who founded the Ozark Trail Association in 2002 and under his leadership, 35 miles of Ozark Trail were developed, contributing to a total of over 360 miles to date. Roth inspired hundreds of volunteers to donate over 13,000 hours in 2008 alone to building and maintenance of the trail. At right is one of thousands of downed trees along the Ozark Trail as a result of a May 2009 storm. A June 2009 trail-clearing project, which received funding from the Foundation, proved to be one of Roth's last before his tragic death in an accident in early July.

By Kathy Atnip, Ozark Regional Trail Communications

Thanks to swift action on the part of the late John Roth and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, five miles of trail have been cleared.

On May 8, 2009, a severe storm called a “derecho” devastated trees along more than 40 miles of the Ozark Trail in Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest and Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area. The trailhead itself was damaged as well from fallen trees. With both straight-line winds and several tornadoes, the windstorm delivered the worst damage from one weather event in the 30-year history of the Ozark Trail, a multi-use hiking, cycling and equestrian trail.

Acting quickly to assess the work needed to clear and re-open the trail, John Roth, founder of the Ozark Trail Association (OTA), soon learned that support for the clean-up would be scarce. Many other areas in southern Missouri had been buried under downed trees and were suffering from other storm damage, making it difficult for the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to immediately address all areas requesting help.

Enter the Missouri Heritage Conservation Foundation. On a quick turnaround and working with both the Ozark Trail Association and MDC, the Foundation supported a June clean-up project on five miles of the Ozark Trail through the Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area. “Without the support of the Foundation, it would not have been possible to get the Taum Sauk section through Ketcherside Mountain cleared as quickly as it occurred. MDC and Foundation assistance of more than $3,000 was greatly appreciated by the OTA,” said Steve Coates, OTA president.

The support for crews was a critical first step toward restoring access to one of the most scenic areas of the Ozarks, in Iron County. Two chainsaw teams from Americorps, each working for a week, completed the work between Claybaugh Creek and Russell Mountain, clearing hundreds of downed trees in just 14 days. Now re-opened from the Highway 21 trailhead, the Taum Sauk section leads to Missouri’s highest point at Taum Sauk Mountain and connects to a loop trail for access to beautiful Mina Sauk Falls.

Sadly, this project coordinated on behalf of the OTA by John Roth proved to be one of the last before his tragic death in an accident in early July. Roth founded the Ozark Trail Association in 2002 and under his leadership, 35 miles of Ozark Trail were developed, contributing to a total of over 360 miles to date. Roth inspired hundreds of volunteers to donate over 13,000 hours in 2008 alone to building and maintenance of the trail.

In recent years, Roth oversaw trail-building weekend Mega-Events, complete with camping, barbeques and prizes, drawing up to 150 people each and netting nearly a mile of new Ozark Trail per event. Recognized with a National Trails Award in 2002 and honored posthumously with a U.S. Forest Service Volunteer Award for 2008 representing the 20-state northeastern region, Roth was a lifelong outdoor enthusiast. “John Roth was a staunch proponent of developing partnerships with the various land managers along the Ozark Trail. His dedication in this effort has led to an outstanding partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation,” Coates said.

Note: The Taum Sauk Section of the Ozark Trail from south of Hwy A at the State Park Boundary through Goggins, Johnson’s Shut-Ins, and over to Devil’s Tollgate is still closed. This section suffered severe damage with the highest number of trees down per mile. Currently the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, with help from the OTA, is working to get the section from Johnson’s Shut-ins to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park open by late spring 2010. While this is in progress, if you have your mind set on the Taum Sauk Section, please visit one of the following: Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, the new Scour Loop Trail and Scour Overlook off Hwy. N, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, the eastern portion of the Taum Sauk, from Hwy. 21 over to Mina Sauk Falls Loop and Devil’s Tollgate.

Go to Ozark Trail Association Web site>>

Go to map and brochure of Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area>>