Hiking The Ozark Trail Then Floating Greer To Turner

[Andrew324]

Maybe Brian can answer these questions:

I'm thinking of doing a weekend trip where I secure some boats at Greer Access, then travel to Turners, leaving the vehicle there. Then I would hike the 2-3 mile road back up to the Ozark Trail Trailhead on CO/FS 3152. Taking the Ozark Trail back towards Greer, I would arrive back at the boats and campsite Saturday night. Camp that night, and float the section of the river on sunday from Greer to Turner.

Thinking about doing this is late august (hot i know). And just a few questions for anyone who might know:

1. Would the Ozark Trail be horribly overgrown? Especially the bottomland section. I tried to find trail conditions on their website, but its down or something.

2. Is the camping at Greer crazy? (Really busy, nutty partiers, etc) I assume it might be, if its free, but how would you rate it?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Sorry its not too related to fishing.

[Gavin]

I think that youll end up with a nasty case of P.I. and a slew of tick & chigger bites, plus you might lose your boats...Greer CG is pretty busy place and there is a good bit of jet boat traffic on any summer weekend. Do it in the winter months if you want to hike the trail, but avoid rifle deer season. The BOB (Blaze Orange Brigade) will be camped at every river access. Cheers.

[Andrew324]

Thanks for the input Gavin. I think I will reconsider this trip for a later date.

[Brian Sloss]

I agree about the chiggers and and PI, but the other stuff is debatable. The boat traffic on Sunday in the Greer to Turner section would not be that bad. I would have a problem picking the boat up on the North side of the river at Turner as we outfit from the south side, so you would have to cross the river. We could drop the canoe off Sunday morning so it does not have to be left there all day Sat and Sat night. If you would be willing to set a pick up time to meet at Turner with the canoe so it isn't left unattended at such a remote location and then cross the river to your car on the north side, you could do it. That said, the trail will be more pleasant in the fall and winter. Because there is a camp host at Greer and it costs $10/site, it is the most family friendly place to camp on the river.

[ozark trout fisher]

Hiking in the Ozarks in mid/ late summer is not the activity of a sane man! I say this from personal experience. Last summer I went on a 7 mile hike in the hills around the middle Current on a 90 degree+ summer day. The only redeeming value was a swim in the river halfway through.

I love hiking in Missouri, and the Eleven Point country is a wonderful place to do it. But for me it's an late September-early June thing. Nothing better than a good, long hike in the fall when the leaves are turning colors or in the winter when snow is blanketing the mountainsides. But mid-summer hiking around here is more misery than it's worth if you ask me.

I think it's a great idea you have and you should do it. But I'd wait till fall. That's just my opinion though.

[hank franklin]

What OTF said. Great trip idea, but not in the summer.

[Coldspring]

Wait till a frost or two in October, then go for it.

[jdmidwest]

Camping at Greer is not free, it is a NFS fee area. Camping along the river on gravel bars is free. McCormick Lake area may be free, they have a few sites and are on a loop of the Ozark Trail above Greer.

You never know what the heat will be in late August, it may be in the 70's, but probably not. Vegetation should be dying down, but can't vouch for the trail. I have only used portions of it.

Make arrangements with Brian to deliver the boats to ensure their security.