Day 4 of my thru-hike of Missouri’s Ozark Trail and I’ve arrived at my first big question… Do I hike to Big Spring Campground, which is 5 miles off the trail, or do I pass by it, shaving a day off my total hike?

Hiking the Between the Rivers Section of the Ozark Trail is all about water planning. It’s Day 3 and I set out on the Between the Rivers Section hiking 15.4 miles from the 3152 Trailhead to Milligan Spring.

Day 2 of 18 of my Ozark Trail through hike in Missouri. I finish out the Eleven Point Section with a 14.5 mile hike from McCormack Lake to 3152 Trailhead. How much of the Eleven Point River did I actually see?

Day 1 of 18 of my Ozark Trail through hike in Missouri. My wife Abby dropped me off at the Eleven Point Terminus, or Western Trailhead of the Eleven Point Section, and I hike 19.5 miles to McCormack Lake Campground.