Outdoor Adventures in the Ozarks

     Lately I have been looking for options for entry into some of the more remote areas of Buffalo National River.  The park consists of over 95,000 acres with access points along the state highways that cross the river.  There are also lots of back roads that will get you a little ‘deeper’ into the park, but with all the private property around BNR, getting to the remote areas can be challenging for day-hikers. Buffalo River      I guess the challenges vary for different usage groups, for example: horseback riders have a much longer range than the typical day-hiker but they need access points accessible to trucks with horse-trailers.  Recently I’ve been investigating Wildlife Management Areas, some of which share common boundaries with BNR and seem to have some nice big parking areas.  Gene Rush WMA is the one bordering BNR with lots of potential to reach some remote areas in the national river. green info-board at parking area ...

       It’s another beautiful day, and it would be a waste not to get outside for the day.   Getting a late start, I must have partied too hardy for Super Bowl last night.   Since I’m getting out the door later than usual I decide to head over to Bee Creek in Mincy, it only takes about 20 minutes to get there so I’m still at the trailhead by 10:00.   ‘Mincy’ is part of the Drury Mincy Conservation Area just over the border in Missouri. Bee Creek      Mincy, or if you like acronyms ‘MCA’ is south of Drury ‘DCA’ the two sections are separated by some private property parcels, MCA is also much larger than DCA.   Haven’t made it up to Drury yet, I just can’t seem to get past Mincy, this is my sixth visit.   Today I’m back in the Bee Creek area which is the prettiest part of the park, that I’ve seen so far  (see: 111 Bee Creek and Cornell ) . Bee Creek Rd. parked at food-plot 33      Pulling onto Bee Creek Road...