OTMB-Main-CW - Cuba-Willow Springs, main loop, Ozark Trail Mountain Bike Route (clockwise direction)

This is a set of bikepacking/singletrack/gravel routes that encompasses the Ozark Trail (most mountain bikeable portions) and connects those disconnected sections via gravel roads (where possible) and low-traffic paved roads (where necessary) to create long-distance bikepacking routes and loops, and to connect to nearby community and services.

As of April 2024, the entire route from the northernmost section of the trail where bicycling is allowed (near Bass River Resort - mile 29) to the Raymondville (mile 383) to has been checked and ground-truthed.

The remainder of the route (mile 0-29 and 383-end) is a DRAFT route submitted for discussion and feedback. Many if not all portions may be suitable for use by the adventurous, however! Please read all of the following carefully.

This route is part of an Ozark Trail Mountain Bike/Bikepacking Route Network: ridewithgps.com/events/95771-ozark-trail-mountain-bike-bikepacking-ro

CHARACTER OF SURFACE AND ROUTE BY SECTION
From the Onandaga Trailhead to the 4155 Trailhead (the major north/south central section of the system), this is the Ozark Trail Mountain Bike route. It follows many miles of the Ozark Trail--all the Ozark Trail segments where mountain biking is allowed in this area. When bypasses of the Ozark Trail are necessary, the route takes mostly singletrack and gravel roads. Just a few miles of paved roads (mostly in the area of Ozark National Scenic Riverways, where mountain biking on trails is currently not allowed) are used as necessary to complete the connection.

Between the Ozark Trail sections west and east of West Plains, a connector of about 42 miles through West Plains is required. This connector uses county gravel roads where possible, but also incorporates some miles of paved roadway,

From the western end of the Ozark Trail (NW of West Plains) back to Cuba the route integrates more paved county roads, relatively fewer gravel roads, and only one section of singletrack (North Fork and Ridge Runner, about 16 miles). The paved/gravel proportion in this section has not been analyzed in detail. It prefers low-traffic routes (ie county paved or gravel roads) foremost, then low-traffic lettered routes, and numbered or US paved routes only when necessary. Altogether, it is a pleasant, scenic, very low-traffic touring route using mostly low-traffic paved roads, that incorporates some single-track and gravel sections.

The final portion, Rolla-St James-Cuba, finds low-traffic roads where possible, going longer distances and less direct routes in order to search out low traffic roads. An alternative here would be to follow US Bicycle Route 66 instead. USBR 66 follows fairly high-traffic roads that parallel I-44. See:

mobikefed.org/missouri-bicycle-maps-and-routes#route66

OZARK TRAIL ASSOCIATION - MAIN INFORMATION SOURCE FOR THE TRAIL
The Ozark Trail Association is the primary resource for information about the Ozark Trail:

ozarktrail.com

OTA has a page listing extensive trail services, including lodging, camping, shuttles, and more:

ozarktrail.com/trailservices-2
OZARK TRAIL ASSOCIATION - MAIN INFORMATION SOURCE FOR THE TRAIL
The Ozark Trail Association is the primary resource for information about the Ozark Trail. The Association has done all the hard work of envisioning, developing, maintaining, promoting, and mapping the OT. Please consult and carefully study the Associations' web site for all details about the trail, including maps, shuttle services, re-supply points, points of interest along the trail, and much more:

ozarktrail.com

OTA has a page listing extensive trail services, including lodging, camping, shuttles, and more:

ozarktrail.com/trailservices-2

MoBikeFed's role has been limited to envisioning and developing connecting segments for bicyclists to bypass portions of the Ozark Trail where bicycling is not allowed or is not suitable, and to create linking routes suitable for bicycling, to connect various disconnected segments of the Ozark Trail.

For sections of this route that use the Ozark Trail, please rely primarily on the trail maps and resources from the Ozark Trail Association. We have not tried to duplicate or improve on the resources they have provided, and where discrepancies exists, the OTA's information and mapping is more current and accurate.

The purpose of this route is primarily to supply bicycle-appropriate connecting links for the various Ozark Trail segments.