Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry
| Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry | |
|---|---|
Location in Missouri Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry (the United States) | |
| Location | Shannon County, Missouri, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°20′37″N 91°25′20″W / 37.34361°N 91.42222°W |
| Area | 95 sq mi (250 km2) |
| Established | 2001 |
| Administrator | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Official website |
The Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry is a 60,000-acre (243 km2) area of private land that is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for hiking and backpacking by the public.[1] The land is part of the largest private forest in the state, the Pioneer Forest, owned by the L-A-D Foundation, an endowment of the late Missouri timber magnate, conservationist, and philanthropist Leo Drey (1917–2015).[2]
Two significant wilderness areas are included in the managed area: the Current River Natural Area which contains 400-year-old trees,[3] and the Pioneer Natural Area adjacent to the Current River, which is home to old-growth cedar and hardwood trees.[4]
The area is crossed by 27 miles (43 km) of trails: the 13-mile (21 km) Blair Creek Section of the Ozark Trail, the 12-mile (19 km) Brushy Creek Trail, and a 2-mile (3.2 km) Laxton Hollow Trail, which connects to the Ozark Trail. An additional trail under construction, the Current River Trail, will eventually connect Round Spring, a few miles west of the backcountry area, to the Brushy Creek Trail.[5]
References
- ^ "Trails of the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ Flader, Susan. "Missouri's Pioneer in Sustainable Forestry" (PDF). Forest History Today (Spring/Fall 2004). Forest History Society. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
- ^ "Current River Natural Area". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "Pioneer Natural Area". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry". L-A-D Foundation. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
External links
- Trails of the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry Missouri Department of Natural Resources
- Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry L-A-D Foundation