Burden Falls Wilderness, Bell Smith Springs, Jackson Falls

Burden Falls Wilderness

Bell Smith Springs

Jackson Falls

Ozark Trail Curtois Section

Parked at the Lower Narrows trailhead and hiked north to the Curtois crossing, then south to Lower Narrows road crossing, then north again back to truck.

The trail along the Curtois River.

The trail crossing at the Curtois.

Hiking along the Narrows ridge top; this is one of the better views.  The forest, managed by MDC, is not real attractive.

Passing south past the Lower Narrows trailhead, the trail goes into some really piney hills.  Great section of trail.

Then this magnificent view of the Huzzah valley.

Which for some reason is unfortunately all marked/taped off.

Near the end of a long, very low bluff line.

The trail on this section is some of the best trail I have ever seen. Perfectly constructed.

The trail goes through a very recently burned section.

But even here the tread is just incredible.

Ozark Trail - Between the Rivers Day Hike

About 13f at 7:30am; hands freezing getting ready at Sinking Tower Trailhead.  Sunny morning and still.  I hiked about 5.5 hours and got to where you start to go up hill on your way out of the Cedar Creek watershed.  No one on trail.  Deer, turkey, lots of birds, especially woodpeckers.  Most of the time spent travelling through the heavily fire and mechanically managed pine oak woodland project area.

Irish Wilderness

Two days at the end of November.  A Wednesday and aThursday.  Saw a single boater on the 11 Point on Wednesday, and a group of four equestrians on Thursday.  Otherwise totally alone.  Good weather; about 32f low, in the 40s or 50s during day with lots of sunshine.