Oakwood Bottoms/Turkey Bayou FSR 786/786R

Total Miles
5.8

Elevation

119.38 ft

Duration

0.5 Hours

Technical Rating

1

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Trail Overview

The Oakwood Bottoms FSR 786, and Turkey Bayou FSR 786R, also know in the forestry maps as Johns Spur Road, is a gravel forestry road through the wetland bottoms in the northwest Mississippi Bluffs sector of Shawnee National Forest. Through there is two separate road names and IDs the road seamlessly connects with no signage separating them. The road is easy and decently maintained, but features some heavy pot holes, the road is generally flat and traverses only feet above the wetlands that surrounds it. There is many attractions along it's route, the road ultimately crosses the big muddy river levee, and leads to the Turkey Bayou (body of water) and the primitive and RV (no hook up) campsite of the same name is open year-round.

Photos of Oakwood Bottoms/Turkey Bayou FSR 786/786R

Oakwood Bottoms/Turkey Bayou FSR 786/786R
Oakwood Bottoms/Turkey Bayou FSR 786/786R
Oakwood Bottoms/Turkey Bayou FSR 786/786R

Difficulty

The road is easy, generally flat, and well maintained, but does feature potholes, and could get to the level of having moderate washboarding and mounding if the road was left unmaintained for an extended period. The area is potential to flood when rain is heavy and the river water levels are up, during this scenario and time, the road should not be used.

History

In the area there is much history concerning Shawnee National Forest, the Big Muddy River Levee, wetland, and Mississippi Bluffs (FSR 236 and 345 area), and this info can be found on the specific trails in those areas.

Technical Rating

1

Status Reports

Chris Menz
May 23, 2023
1999 Jeep Cherokee
Open
Normal
Dusty

Access Description

From the South at Wolf Lake, IL at Illinois Route 3 and Main Street, at 37.50431, -89.43742, head north on Route 3 for 12.3 miles, turn onto the gravel road on your right, at 37.67374, -89.47947, you are now on the road. From the North, at the intersection of Illinois Route 3 and Route 149, at 37.75732, -89.46314, head south on Illinois Route 3 for 5.9 miles then turn left onto the gravel road, at 37.67374, -89.47947, you are now on the road.

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