Mailbox Carousel - RCR 826

Trail Overview

Mailbox Carousel, or Reynold County Road 826, is a partially paved, mostly gravel county road within Reynolds County, Missouri, that runs alongside parcels of the Mark Twain National Forest Salem Unit. The Mailbox Carousel is the logistical beginning off of Missouri Route J to the remote section of dense National Forest that exists just a few miles south of this road. What makes the Mailbox Carousel worth knowing about is the touch of humanity along it. Starting from the northwest end off of Missouri Route J, it first comes to a roadside well pump and spring on the east side of the road, then the Pleasant Union Church, and its own Spring across the road from it, this short northwest section being one lane wide and paved. Then the road crosses a low water bridge over the Brushy Creek, transitioning to a gravel base, running parallel to the west of the creek up to the point the road has an intersection with the Missouri Branch - RCR 828, where the actual carousel of mailboxes exists on the inside edge of this corner. At this intersection, the road makes a hard turn heading east to a second low water crossing over the Brushy Creek, after which the creek then also turns and the two parallel again going east, as the road etches itself into the hillside to the north, as to avoid the creek, providing a raised view southward of the Brushy Creek Valley and ranching farmland and homesteads. The southeast end of the road loops back to Missouri Route J, where the gravel ends at the pavement.

Photos of Mailbox Carousel - RCR 826

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Difficulty

Mailbox Carousel is given a base rating of 1/10, for having only mild coarse gravel and dirt base road, over dry low water bridges, with only mild graded inclines. It is safe to expect potholes, washboarding, and mounding of the gravel. Difficulty could increase in times of wet or inclement weather, or flash flooding, adding splash level or greater water depth at the low water bridge crossings.

Technical Rating

Mailbox Carousel - RCR 826 can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV
• SxS (60")