Springfield: Big Piney Trail
On this 16.6-mile overnight in the Paddy Creek Wilderness, see tranquil emerald-green creeks and timeless vistas of the rock-strewn Ozark Highlands.
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Mapped by Charlie Williams
Trail Facts
- Distance: 25.1
Waypoints
Small waterfall
Location: 37.5330352783203, -92.1133728027344
©Charlie Williams
BPT001
Location: 37.5212173461914, -92.1237335205078
Big Piney Creek trailhead is N of parking area; trail heads N across open prairie of western bluestem
BPT002
Location: 37.5305633544922, -92.1198654174805
R @ Y through Ozark hardwoods, black oaks and scrub oaks
BPT003
Location: 37.5307922363281, -92.0930633544922
Easy rock-hop over the gentle flows of Little Paddy Creek
BPT004
Location: 37.5281410217285, -92.0809631347656
L@ Y; follow old, overgrown dirt road
BPT005
Location: 37.5325355529785, -92.0766754150391
R @ Y; ramble over rugged hills
BPT006
Location: 37.5520477294922, -92.0537033081055
Camp #1: Big Paddy Creek. Refill water and look for campsites; watch for poison ivy
BPT007
Location: 37.5566291809082, -92.0457305908203
Cross FR 220; descend into terraced creek bed
BPT008
Location: 37.5574417114258, -92.04345703125
Cross road, ford creek near Paddy Creek Campground; trail goes ESE on creek’s N side through shrubby valley
BPT009
Location: 37.559871673584, -92.0435333251953
Scenic overlook of Big Piney River’s folded hillsides;
begin gradual traverse of tree-blanketed ridgecrest
BPT010
Location: 37.5664405822754, -92.0629196166992
Go straight @ junction with FR 220
BPT011
Location: 37.5473175048828, -92.0757904052734
R @ T; follow dirt road lined by piles of limestone crags
BPT012
Location: 37.5464859008789, -92.0897521972656
Go L past small teardrop pond; leave dirt road into hardwoods, pines
BPT013
Location: 37.5325813293457, -92.1124649047852
Camp #2: cross creek; find campsite in hollow upstream near 8-ft. waterfall spilling into jade-colored pool. To end, go .6 mi. to WPT 2. R @ Y; retrace to car