Location: Shannon and Carter Counties in Missouri passing through the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (National Park Service), Missouri Department of Conservation Lands (Peck Ranch) and through the Mark Twain National Forest. A quarter-mile of the trail also passes through private property along Pike Creek.

Distance: 30-miles from the trailhead at Powder Mill Campground (Owl's Bend) at Hwy 106 (the southern terminus of the Blair Creek Section) south to Hwy 60 just east of Fremont, MO (about 4 miles west of Van Buren - the north trailhead of the Between the Rivers Section).

Water: Water is available at the Powder Mill campground throughout the camping season and there is supposed to be an all weather faucet on the south side of the old visitor center year around. Water is also available from the Current River, Indian Creek, Rocky Creek, the water lily pond in Pritchard Hollow, Mint Spring (along the trail) in the NE upper branch of Brushy Hollow, and from Pike Creek which the trail crosses on private property.

Parking: Official overnight parking is available at Powder Mill Campground (the northern trailhead), The south fence of Peck Ranch (about 1/2 mile from the trail at mile 14.5, the south fence of Peck Ranch (about mile 20.5), and along Hwy 60 at the southern most trailhead. Unofficially, you can park at Klepzig Mill crossing on Rocky Creek at mile 7.0 and along Hwy NN at mile 8.5. There is also a parking camping spot at mile 2.5. If you plan on shuttling cars into and out of Peck Ranch then allow extra time to get through the gravel roads as it will add a good 45 minutes oneway to your shuttling time. There is also a campground in Peck Ranch but it is not on the trail and you are not allowed to camp between the north and south fence within Peck Ranch except at the campground near the visitor center.

Comments - 9 Oct'05 - Powder Mill to Hwy NN (mile 0 to mile 8.5) - I hiked this piece of the Current River Section for my 2nd time on 9 October 2005 with a group of hiking friends. The trail official starts on Hwy 106 as it joins the Blair Creek Section but we were camping at Powder Mill Campground. There is a cutoff trail from Hwy 106 to get to the campground that was finished during 2005. You have to cross the bridge over Hwy 106 to get to the south side of the river then catch the trail as it takes off to the east of the highway. The trail then follows the river along a mowed trail under the floodplain canopy for nearly 1-1/2 miles before it climbs to the bluffs above the Current River. Due to tree cover there is only one good view point along this area and you will find a very short spur trail and a log bench to rest on and enjoy the view. The trail descends from the bluff into the flood plain and picks up along Indian Creek heading upstream due west then southwest from the Current River for approximately 1-1/2 miles before heading southeast through a saddle on the southwest side of Barnett Mountain. After passing through the saddle the trail turns to the southwest along bluffs above Rocky Creek and eventually descends to Rocky Creek at the Klepzig Mill crossing at mile 7.0 along the trai. After crossing Rock Creek at the mill the trail passes through a forest with a high canopy before coming back to Rock Creek at a shut-in area between Buzzard and Mill Mountains. This is a great area to take a break and enjoy the small waterfalls and pools formed in the shut-ins. From the shut-ins it is but a 1/2 mile through trees and glades on over to Hwy NN where the trail crosses the road just northeast of Rocky Creek then crosses the low water bridge and heads off into the woods again corssing the stream in Denning Hollow.

Comments - 10 Oct'05 - Hwy NN to the south fence on Peck Ranch (mile 8.5 to mile 20.5) - Our group continued hiking the next day but starting at the south fence of Peck Ranch and hiked north to Hwy NN. From the south fence heading north the trail goes through a burned area for a mile Plus before getting back into some good tree cover. You have to watch for the trail signs as the tread is not well defined and is very rocky through this piece. The trail leaves the burned area headed just east of north and goes into Pritchard Hollow after crossing a road on the ridgetop where there was a slight jog in the trail to the west and it wasn't marked well. The sign on the north side was back in the trees and hidden by some branches. In Pritchard Hollow there is a large pond with covered with water lilies and it is about the only source of 'for sure' water as you hike through Peck Ranch between the fences. From the pond where we again crossed a road a 1/2 mile north and headed up on the ridgetop between Mule and Cane Hollows. The trail was moderate from here on across Rogers Creek (which had some water running) at the north fence where we picked up another burned area just prior to switchbacking up the south side of Stegall Mountain. Many of the trail markers in the burned area had been lost to the fire and some were melted to the trees. The trail up Stegall was very rocky but had enough switchbacks to make the hiking less than difficult. We did have to watch for the trail signs to stay on the trail. The views across the ozark hills from the south side of Stegall were fantastic and well worth the climb. The top of Stegall that the trail passes over is a very large glade and due to the surrounding trees on the edge of the glade it is hard to get a great view but the glade itself was beautiful. Here we stopped for lunch and enjoy the sun, the rocks, and the lizards - I also found a green snake crossing the glade! After lunch we descended Stegall Mountain following the trail off to the northside which takes you into Kelley Hollow. The trail passes over a burned out bridge that crosses a small ravine. I stepped across the bridge but most of the group went around it. Kelley Hollow was very wooded and a nice easy trail on up to crossing Rocky Creek. At Rocky Creek there is a 1/2 mile trail to the west that will take you to Rocky Falls. It is well marked with a post/sign. From this crossing it was but a mile back to our vehicles at Hwy NN through a small saddle that took us into Denning Hollow and across the creek.

Comments - 11 Oct'05 - The south fence of Peck Ranch to the trailhead at Hwy 60 (20.5 mile to 30 mile point) - On this day we again shuttled our vehicles and started our hike at the south fence on Peck Ranch headed south to Hwy 60. The trail heads southeast into Midco Hollow for about a mile before turning due east for about 2-1/2 miles before crossing the upper branches of Brushy Hollow where the trail passes by Mint Spring in the NE branch of Brushy Hollow. This is one of the few water sources in this area of the trail and a fire ring was nearby and became our lunch stop for the day. Another mile to the east took us through the upper portion of Long Hollow then followed the ridgetop around to the head of Wilburn Hollow before heading off to the south. There are several road crossings not shown on the brochure map so be sure and checkout the other map sources, especially the OTA maps, for better source material as you plan out your hike. From the head of Wilburn Hollow the trail loops out to the east and back to the west then heads through a narrow area of private property that is fenced off but also has a potential wet crossing across Pike Creek - today we were able to walk across a pile of rocks and sticks but the bank on the south side was rather steep and could be a problem along with the crossing in wetter weather. The remainder of the trail was pretty much a walk in the park from this point on south to the trailhead at Hwy 60. The entire trail from the south fence of Peck Ranch was very moderate. Thanks to some recent maintenance work on the trail it was easy to follow for the most part but do watch for the trail signs!

Maps: Map/brochure of this section is available from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Ozark Trail Coordinator by calling 1-800-334-6946 (talk to a real person). Maps of trail sections can also be obtained from the Rolla Supervisor's Office, Mark Twain National Forest by calling 573-364-4621. The most up-to-date maps can also be downloaded from the Ozark Trail Association Website.