Mark Twain National Forest

Hazel Creek Recreation Area

The Hazel Creek Recreation Area is located a short distance from Palmer, and serves as a trail camp for the 24-mile Trace Creek Section of the Ozark Trail to the south and the 40 mile Courtois Section to the north. For more information about these sections of trail, visit the Ozark Trails. This site features a foundation from a historic lead smelter, and an interpretive sign for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

Area Attractions:

Campground: 13 individual camping units with tables, lantern posts and fire rings; Vault toilet. Horses welcome. No drinking water, Hazel Creek provides water for stock. Tying horses directly to trees prohibited; hitching posts available. Please scatter manure outside the mowed area before you leave.

Trail: Both of these sections of the Ozark Trail provide hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Bike riders must yield the right-of-way when encountering horseback riders. Tying horses directly to trees is prohibited but hitching posts are available.

Picnic Area: There is no picnic area, but a camp unit can be used for picnicking.

How to get there:

From Palmer, MO, take County Road 657 west about 1.25 miles; you’ll see a sign directing you to turn onto a gravel road. It’s about another mile further down that road.

Open year round; Managed season 4/15-10/31. No garbage service available: please pack out all of your trash. No fee charged, but donations are welcomed.