Hiking Council Bluff Lake Trail to Johnson Mountain | Missouri

Missouri
Written By Michael Jordan

I was finally able to get out and enjoy the beautiful fall colors in Missouri on this 10.3 mile hike from the Council Bluff Lake boat ramp to the summit of Johnson Mountain (1660 feet). Council Bluff Lake Trail is in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri about 2 hours south of St. Louis. The trail is mostly flat circling the lake but you can hike up Johnson Mountain (Missouri’s 6th tallest mountain) for a good view from a classic Missouri glade. Hike counter-clockwise from Council Bluff Lake boat ramp trailhead for the quickest route to the Johnson Mountain split.

Council Bluff Lake to Johnson Mountain

Type: Out-and-Back | Rate: Moderate | Traffic: Moderate | Length: 10.3mi | Elevation Gain: 1076ft

Hiking from Council Bluff Lake boat ramp to Johnson Mountain Summit.

View my AllTrails Route Details

Council Bluff Lake Boat Ramp to Johnson Mountain Split

The first 3.5 miles of the hike to Johnson Mountain runs right along side Council Bluff Lake. I arrived to the parking lot at 7am and was greeted with a beautiful sunrise over the lake. The morning mist over the lake and the fall colors made for a great start to this hike. There is a $5 daily use pay box at the parking lot so be sure to have some cash on you. I scrounged through my car and was able to come up with the fee in dollars and quarters.

These sunrise photos were take with my DJI Mini 2 drone, aka Tyrone The Drone.

Council Bluff Lake Trail

The trail alongside the lake is mostly flat with views of the lake the entire way. You’ll cross through Council Bluff Beach which I’m sure in the summer months is a great place for a picnic and swim in the lake. It wasn’t open when I hiked the trail, but there are picnic tables, facilities, and what looked to be even a concession stand. The trail continues on a gravel road a little ways until you dip back into the woods.

Hiking to Johnson Mountain Summit

The split to Johnson Mountain Summit is not market, but it is recognizable. The hike up is a gradual climb straight up to a classic Missouri glade. The views from the top are mainly to the east so you don’t really get a view of Council Bluff Lake, but I was able to capture some nice drone shots. Johnson Mountain is Missouri’s 6th tallest mountain with it’s peak standing at 1660 feet.

A Wet Butt Hike

Pro Tip: Make sure your Camel Bak is securely screwed down so it doesn’t leak through your day pack and soak your back and butt. Odd that I didn’t notice it until half way up Johnson Mountain when my butt started to get wet. Nothing that a little sun drying at the peak of Johnson Mountain couldn’t fix though.

Cotton Kills

My wet butt reminded me of a saying my high school Outdoors teacher Mr. Savery used to say, “Cotton Kills.” Cotton dries slowly, and more dangerously pulls heat away from your body, as opposed to other materials like wool and synthetics that keep heat in when they get wet. Good news is all of my hiking clothes are synthetics and dried very quickly in the sunlight at the top of the mountain.

Drying out atop Johnson Mountain

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Michael Jordan
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