Red Oak School - FS 145B

Trail Overview

Red Oak School FS 145B is a natural terrain forest service road within the Mark Twain National Forest Ava Unit. This is a secondary spur road off the primary road Pond Fork FS 145, both are part of the larger Glade Top Scenic Byway area and ultimately connect to the Glade Top North FS 147. FS 145B features the old historic path to the Red Oak School, featuring a base of coarse natural gravel mixed with dirt, leading along the bald hillside to its north, eventually having large cobbles and mild rock shelves before ending at a feeder creek bottom at the end of the MVUM sanctioned road. The path ultimately continues back to the former location of the Red Oak School, another 275 yards south of the creek. Due to recent history, the FS 145B gives a good context to the destructive force of a wildfire and the use of a "Fire Road", with the south having trees, and the north side being barren and charred. Worth seeing if you want a glimpse of the former walking paths of school children in the Missouri Ozarks, Red Oak School doesn't disappoint despite being so short.

Photos of Red Oak School - FS 145B

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Difficulty

Red Oak School FS 145B is given a base rating of 3/10, featuring a natural coarse gravel and dirt pathway, with small rock ledges ranging from 6-12" in height, mild forms of active erosion, potential surface mud, a moderately steep grade, and some large cobble rocks (6-10") in the pathway. Expect all the normal gravel road complications in potholes, mounding, and washboards. Unsung difficulties, the trees on the south side are rather tight to the path, expect pinstriping, especially if using a larger vehicle.

History

Red Oak School's history using online research leads mostly to dead ends, until referring to old maps, it still was noted by name at approximately 36.77778, -92.75139 up until 1945, with the future maps showing the property lines surrounding the former school up to the 2004 update of the map, but in the 2015 update those lines are gone showing a likely Mark Twain National Forest purchase of the 2-acre plot, yet on maps such as OnX, it still shows as two separate pieces of land despite the same owner. The location in person showed no obvious signs of the former school, yet there is this feeling and sense of something to be found. In recent history, on October 28th, 2024, wildfires were reported in the Fond Pork/North Glade Top area, with the quick action of the Mark Twain firefighters the fire was 100% contained 3 days later on the 31st, roughly affecting 1611 acres of land, and is now noted as the Sugar Fire of 2024. The Red Oak School trail was used as a fire break and is the Southwest corner boundary of the fire's reach.

Technical Rating

Red Oak School - FS 145B can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV