Ozark Trail Association

Dec 13, 2025 -- Last Hurrah Maintenance on the OT
2025-12-13 | Ozark Trail Association Office, 406 West High Street, Potosi, Missouri, 63664
Dec 13, 2025 — Last Hurrah Maintenance on the OT — weather permitting.
One more chance to put some TLC in 2025. We’ll be doing tread work on the Courtois Section
just south of the gated access of the conservation area. We’ll be working around MM 2.
We will meet at the entrance of Ozark Outdoors at 9 am and then drive up the road about 2 miles to the trail crossing and walk in from
there about .5 miles. We’ work until about 2:30 or so
Bring at least 2 liters of water and a lite lunch.
Wear sturdy hiking shoes or bots, long pants and layers appropriate for the weather as it could be cold.
Last outing of 2025 soo let’s make the most of it.

Join Our Trail Crew Leader on the Ozark Trail!
2025-12-16 08:00 - 2025-12-19 16:00, 2025-12-22 08:00 - 2025-12-24 16:00, 2025-12-29 08:00 - 2025-12-31 16:00, 2026-01-14 08:00 - 2026-01-16 16:00, 2026-01-21 08:00 - 2026-01-23 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Ozark Trail, MO, United States
The OTA now has a full-time Trail Crew Leader —Devin Barnett! Working along the northern part of the OT this week, Devin will be out on the trail tackling maintenance projects, and we’re inviting volunteers to join him! Whether you’re a seasoned sawyer or just want to lend a hand, there’s a place for you.
Projects will include: Trail Clearing – This involves cutting downed trees, weed eating, lopping, leaf blowing, and putting up trail markers. *Must be a USFS certified sawyer to operate a chainsaw with OTA.
📝 Want to help? Bring your gloves, water, lunch, and trail spirit—Devin will provide the tools and guidance. Since locations vary, registrants will be contacted with information on where to meet for the work day.
Together, we can keep the Ozark Trail wild and wonderful. See you on the trail!

Jan 10, 2026 -- Cold Day on the Trail
2025-12-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Ozark Trail Association Office, 406 West High Street, Potosi, Missouri, 63664
Jan 10, 2026 — Cold Day on the Trail
We can meet up at the OTA Potosi office and car pool or at the HWY DD TH and then go the work site access point.
We’ll be performing GAOA Tread rehab on Trace Creek around MM 7.5
It’s winter — so come prepared with layered clothing, cold weather hat, gloves, coat and hiking shoes or boots
Bing a day pack with a lunch, at least 2 liters of water and if you bring tea, or cocoa etc — we’ll have a stove and
can boil up some water or soup if it gets cold enough.
We’ll have tools, gloves, and safety equipment for everyone. we’ll also provide a first aid kit.

Mar 14-22,2026 OTA- American Hiking Society Spring Break Service Week
2025-12-20 08:00 - 17:00 | Peck Ranch
Mar 14-22,2026 OTA- American Hiking Society Spring Break Service Week
The OTA is hosting a Tarleton University Student Service week out of Peck Ranch.
We will be doing tread build, rehab and general trail maintenance on several sections of the OT.
We will also be providing additional enrichment activities and educational activities during their stay.

April 10-April 14 Sierra Club Spring Maint 2026 -- Blair Creek Section
2026-04-10 08:00 - 2026-04-14 17:00 | Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, 148 Taum Sauk Trail, Middle Brook, MO, 63656
This event was originally planned as a joint effort with the Sierra Club. Due to a scheduling change on their end, they have moved their event to April 10–14 and will now be hosting the trail maintenance outing at Johnson Shut-Ins State Park.
Unfortunately, this overlaps with our Spring Mega at Greer Campground scheduled for April 10-12, and we hope many volunteers will join us there for a weekend of trail work, camping, and community.
If you are still interested in helping with trail maintenance in the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry, the Sierra Club will be completing brush clearing and trail marking along a 15-mile stretch mostly on the Ozark Trail during their event. Volunteers can participate for one or multiple days. Lodging will be available at the seasonal facility close to the trailhead near the concession store, and a $10/day food donation is requested.
To learn more or register for their outing, visit:https://www.sierraclub.org/missouri/eastern-missouri/outings

April 18, 2026 O'Fallon Park Cooperative Trail Build
2026-04-18 | O’Fallon Park Rec Complex – St. Louis, 4343 W Florissant Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63115
April 18, 2026 O’Fallon Park Cooperative Trail Build — Start time at the YMCA O’Fallon Park Rec Complex parking lot is 8:45 am.
The OTA will be teaming up with other organizations such as the Sierra Club, Open Space STL and the City of St. Louis Forestry Division to work on additional new trails in O’Fallon Park just behind the YMCA O’Fallon Park Rec Complex.
The OTA will supply all tools and volunteer safety equipment and tools. We’ll also have cold drinks and snacks available for volunteers.
Volunteers should wear long pants, shirts and sturdy hiking shoes/boots. Bring at least 2 liters of water.

April 25th, 2026 - Adopt-A-Trail Meetup at Berryman Campground
2026-04-24 08:00 - 2026-04-26 15:00 | Berryman Campground, 11237 County Rd 207, Berryman, MO, 65565, United States
Adopt-A-Trail Meetup at Berryman Campground
April 25th 2026 – 8:00am
This event is focused on connecting new and veteran trail adopters. Come out and meet your fellow adopters for a day of trail work on the Courtois and Trace Creek sections. Optional free camping is available Friday and Saturday nights at Berryman Campground. There will be a simple dinner spread on Saturday evening.
We’ll circle up at 8:00am on Saturday morning to make final plans for trail work. We’ll be pairing off in two vehicle groups to self shuttle various adopter segments in the area. Work will involve the typical activities of a trail adopter outing: removing deadfall, cutting back vegetation, weed eating, leaf blowing, etcetera. We will not be doing any tread work this weekend.
Attendance from folks who adopt on the Courtois & Trace Creek sections will be key to covering mileage. Your knowledge of the area will allow us to split into smaller groups covering more ground. Please bring whatever gear you currently go out with: gloves, handsaw, loppers, weedeater, blower, chainsaw (only if USFS certified), etc. I will also have some tools on hand for any who need them.
Any and all are welcome! You do not need to be an adopter or current OTA member to attend. This is a great opportunity to get out and learn more about the Ozark Trail and the Adopt-A-Trail program.

Aug 8, 2026 -- OTA Sponsered --3 Legged Monster Race Prep -- 3LM Volunteer Signup
2026-08-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Bass’ River Resort, 204 Butts Road, Steelville, MO, 65565, United States
Aug 8, 2026 — OTA Sponsered –3 Legged Monster Race Prep — 3LM Volunteer Signup

We’ll meetup at Bass River Resort parking lot at 9:am. We’ll work until about 3PM
We’ll be weed eating, and clearing any tree blow down on trail between Ozark Outdoors and Bass River Resort.
We’ll also perform similar maintenance on the bike course on the loop between Bass and the Berryman Loop
on the bike course

We’ll utilize the OTA s UTV’s to access various points on the trail.
Bring a day pack with lunch/snacks and at lease 2 liters of waters.
It’s prime tick/chiggar season so prep your gear and clothes with permetheryn and your self with picaridan or heavy duty OFF ( other of your preference)
The OTA wil provide all equipment and safety gear.

Sept 6-12, 2026 - OTA and The American Hiking Society Vacation Trail Week
2026-09-05 - 2026-09-13 | Peck Ranch
The OTA is hosting an Amercian Hiking Society – Vacation- Trail maintenance week at
Peck Ranch. We have reserved housing space for the vacation group and OTA coordinators.

There is ample camping space at the facility and there may a very limted number of beds for volunteers on
a first come first serve basis. There will be multiple folks ( up to 4) per bedroom.
We will be doing trail building, trail maintenance and other enrichment activities during the week.

Peck Ranch general info
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/peck-ranch-conservation-area

Tuesday Sept 29th, Oct 1 and 2 - 6th Annual Devil's Toll Race Prep
2026-09-29 08:00 - 2026-10-02 17:00 | Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, 148 Taum Sauk Trail, Middle Brook, MO, 63656
The 6th Annual Devil’s Toll Race is coming back and we need some help in getting the trail in shape
So Tuesday Sept 29th, Oct 1 and 2 we’ll be out on the trail weed eating and clearing obstructions

On Tuesday — we’ll be up on Taum Sauk at the Power line weed eating and clearing trail in
both directions. We’ll go as far as we can in each direction. We’ll take a beak on Wednesday and then come
back out on Thursday and finish up as much as we can up on Taum Sauk and Profit Mtn then
Friday morning we’ll come out and clear the path from the Scour Overlook Pavillion down to the Black River crossing at the Johnson Shutins Day use Pavillion.

Friday night . we’ll be over at thee Goggins Mtn Trailhead parking area to signin participants as they come in until approx 9pm.

We’ll try and cover anything else during the day

Race Date: October 3rd, 2026
Taum Sauk SP – Johnson Shut-ins SP

Oct 16-18, 2026 -- OTA Fall Whoopin It up in Winona
2026-10-16 08:00 - 2026-10-18 17:00 | Winona USFS Facility, Winona, MO
Oct 16-18, 2026 — OTA Fall Whoopin It up in Winona
We’ll be based out of the USFS facilities in Winona, Missouri.
The OTA will be doing or traditional southern trail section maintenance on the southern sections of the Ozark Trail.
Beds are on a first come first serve.
So Sign up early.
The OTA will provide it’s traditional Saturday evening meal and provide drinks for folks
during the day. As always bring a lunch for Saturday and any other food for other meals.
Wear weather appropriate clothing, sturdy hiking shoes/boots and have the ability
to carry at lease 2 liters of water.
Bring sleeping bags as Winona has beds .. there is no bedding.
There are 2 full bathrooms in the 2 story Ranger house and 1.5 baths in the single
story annex.
Both houses have full kitchens .. the 2 story is the main facility for
any OTA prepared meals.
You can start arriving Friday afternoon after 12 noon.
We will meet in the parking area at 8:15a so we can be ready for
the trail by 8:30am.
GPS
37.0520255,-91.3820066

Directions to Winona USFS facility on Hy 19 in Winona, MO

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Winona+Work+Center/@37.0520255,-91.3820066,12z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x87d0b7529750def9:0xd99d03357eba3942!8m2!3d37.0154279!4d-91.3229536!16s%2Fg%2F11fplx_zsx?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYxMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Oct 25-30, 2026 -- OT100 Endurance Run Prep -- Bass River Resort
2026-10-25 08:00 - 2026-10-30 17:00 | Bass’ River Resort, 204 Butts Road, Steelville, MO, 65565, United States
Oct 25-30, 2026 — OT100 Endurance Run Prep — Bass River Resort

The OTA will be out during the week doing prep work on the OTA Between the OT100 start on County Rd 862
where the event starts all the way up to Bass River Resort.
We’ll be clearing as much debris ad blowdown on the trail as possible and leaf blowing
every road crossing .

You can signup here for any day you can come out and help. Be sure to bring at lease 2 liters
of water, a lunch, sturdy hiking boots/shoes and weather appropriate clothing.
