Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Houston, Missouri

Middle Ridge (FS 424) is a semi-maintained gravel forest service road within the Willow Springs Unit of Mark Twain National Forest. The road begins at Missouri Route AM, heading north along the elevated ridge. When…
Learn more about Middle Ridge - FS 424

This route is a narrow and lightly traveled out-and-back trail that feels far more remote than the main roads nearby. Overgrown trees and brush crowd the path, making pinstriping very likely for wider vehicles or…
Learn more about Coyote - FS 1790

Perkins Ridge (FS 423) is a semi-maintained gravel forest service road within the Willow Springs Unit of Mark Twain National Forest. The Perkins Ridge begins at Missouri Route AM, heading west along the raised ridge…
Learn more about Perkins Ridge - FS 423

Tick Hollow (FS 423A), also known as Perkins Ridge Spur, is a semi-maintained gravel forest service road within the Willow Springs Unit of Mark Twain National Forest. The Tick Hollow road begins as the northern…
Learn more about Tick Hollow - FS 423A

This route follows a graded and maintained gravel road through a scenic forest setting, making it an easy and relaxing drive for nearly any vehicle. The road is generally wide enough for two vehicles to…
Learn more about County Road 6630

Section 8 (FS 705) is a fading gravel dirt forest service road within the Willow Springs Unit of Mark Twain National Forest. Section 8 logistically connects between the Middle Ridge FS 424 on the east,…
Learn more about Section 8 - FS 705

This forest route offers an easy and relaxing drive on a gravel surface that is generally well-maintained and simple to navigate. It is mostly one vehicle wide, though there are several spots where drivers can…
Learn more about Gallings - FS 1791

This route follows a mostly one-vehicle-wide gravel trail through the forest with several dispersed campsites located along the way. It begins as an easy scenic drive, but conditions become rougher as you near the Big…
Learn more about Pocket Eddy Ford - FS 1792

This route follows a narrow one-vehicle-wide track through the forest with a mix of dirt and loose rock surfaces. Tight sections between trees and overgrown brush require careful tire placement and slower speeds, especially for…
Learn more about Pocket Eddy Ford Spur A

This out-and-back route offers an easy and scenic drive on a fairly well-maintained gravel road that winds gently through a stand of tall pines and hardwoods. Unlike many tighter trails in the area, the wide…
Learn more about Trout Cemetery - FS 1771

This is part 3 of 5 on a trip around Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Here, you get into more of the Mark Twain National Forest. There will be several low-water crossings (they will all be…
Learn more about Bald Road to Western Road

This out-and-back forest route follows a gravel-based trail that is easy to navigate and offers a relaxed drive through the trees. Unlike some tighter trails in the area, vegetation is kept back enough that pinstriping…
Learn more about Hamilton Ridge

This is part 2 of a five-part trip around Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. You'll have to follow some pavement to reach this section, a romp through Pump Station Road. At the end of the road…
Learn more about Pump Station Road

This scenic forest route follows a well-maintained gravel road that is easy to travel in most conditions. Trees line both sides of the trail, and in several sections, their branches stretch overhead to create a…
Learn more about Hamilton Ridge - FS 1769

Big Gulch (FS 497) is a semi-maintained gravel, transitioning to natural coarse gravel and dirt, forest service road within Mark Twain National Forest, Willow Springs Unit. The road begins at the Douglas County Road 160,…
Learn more about Big Gulch - FS 497

This route travels through an active logging area inside Mark Twain National Forest, so drivers should stay alert for logging equipment, truck traffic, and changing road conditions. The trail itself is a maintained gravel road…
Learn more about Blooming Rose - FS 1503

This out-and-back spur road branches off Blooming Rose (FS 1503) and offers an easy, relaxing drive through the woods of Mark Twain National Forest. The route is fairly wide for most of its length, making…
Learn more about Blooming Rose Spur B

Upper Greasy Creek (FS 129) is a gravel Forest Service road within the Mark Twain National Forest Willow Springs Unit. Upper Greasy Creek begins by turning northwest off Missouri Route 181, first turning hard north…
Learn more about Upper Greasy Creek - FS 129

Greasy Creek (FS 427) is a gravel Forest Service road within the Mark Twain National Forest Willow Springs Unit. Greasy Creek begins by turning west off Missouri Route 181, quickly dropping grade down and back…
Learn more about Greasy Creek - FS 427

This is part 4 of 5 on a trip around Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It's a nice little section through the forest, with some farmland travel along some streams that feed the Big Piney River.…
Learn more about County Road 6590 & 6410

Robin Hood (FS 714) is a semi-maintained gravel Forest Service road within the Willow Springs Unit of Mark Twain National Forest. Robin Hood begins at the Howell County Road 5710 heading south into the forest,…
Learn more about Robin Hood - FS 714

Bull Knot (FS 139) is a gravel Forest Service road within the Mark Twain National Forest Willow Springs Unit. Bull Knot heads southeast off Missouri Route 181, riding along the ridge, having scenic views of…
Learn more about Bull Knot - FS 139

This route is a fairly straightforward drive through the woods with a mostly dirt-based surface and gentle terrain. While it is generally easy to navigate, there are several washouts along the trail that can catch…
Learn more about Duke - FS 1755

This route follows an easy gravel two-track through a quiet pine forest with light overgrowth along both sides and grass beginning to fill the center of the trail. While the corridor feels narrower than the…
Learn more about Independent - FS 1756

Chug-A-Lug (FS 446) is a Forest Service Road, with a gravel base transforming to a natural base path within the Mark Twain National Forest Willow Springs Unit. Chug-A-Lug heads east off Missouri Route 181, seeming…
Learn more about Chug-A-Lug - FS 446

This route begins as a narrow gravel two track before transitioning into a more lightly traveled forest trail. Early sections are easy to follow, with a firm surface, light grass growth in the center, and…
Learn more about Watts Hollow - FS 1509

This trail is your main road for accessing different areas within the park. Please follow the signs designating areas where you can camp and also speed limits while some areas may have young riders terrain…
Learn more about Main Park Entrance Trail

This is an absolutely beautiful trail featuring loose rocks and some mild obstacles. Although it's a bit longer of a trail it's truly an enjoyable relaxing experience taking you deep into the trees and surrounding…
Learn more about Turkey

This loop is very fun for the kids to run laps on. The trail is easy and mellow with a few little "challenges" along the way. Located centrally in the park gives you a chance…
Learn more about AXC Kids Loop

Jog It is a quick and relatively easy trail for most rigs that have high clearance and all-terrain/mud-terrain tires. This trail has loose terrain and a climb that will require just a bit of offroading…
Learn more about Jog It