Level: Advanced
Length: 21 mi (33.8 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: -
Total: 6 riders
Mountain Biking Ozark Trail: Karkaghne Section
#100 of 169 mountain bike trails in Missouri
Another section of the Ozark trail. Fast and flowing with a guaranteed back woods experience. This section of the ozark trail has some of the largest uphills in the area. To begin your ride starting at Hwy J trail head, (this is actually the end of the Middle fork section) follow the washed out gravel path about 100 yards across the creek and continue on the trail labeled OT. From here its a little over 10 miles of well marked singletrack to the paved road that takes you down to Sutton Bluff recreation area. See ozarktrail.com for more information.
First added by pdinsurance on Aug 30, 2010. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
From Black
Drive 7.8 miles west on Hwy J. Trail head is on the left.
(Well marked, but easy to fly by and miss)
Good ride. Feel is more remote then other Ozark Trail segments. Trail is generally clear and well-marked though not as manicured as other more popular OT sections given it a more back country feel.
Black overall though not overly technical until about 10 miles in on approach in to and then away from Sutton Bluff. Rocky sections, climbs but overall plenty of intermediate+ mileage.
Water: Sutton Bluff Campgrounds, West Fork Black River, smaller stream(s) depending on season
Put together 43 Mile loop starting south from Hwy J and looping back north on county dirt/gravel which can be steep up/down. +/- 6,000 feet climbing. Good big day training loop.
Ranks up there with Berryman Loop and Middlefork Loop and exceeds them in some ways. Not an easy day but worth it imo. County Road 864 is a pretty fun descent.
| ThankI'd heard horror stories about the Karkaghne Section of the Ozark Trail. Too steep, washed out, overgrown, etc. Needless to say I didn't have high expectations when a group of us went to ride the first stretch of the upcoming OT100MTB. Right from the start it was a different trail than I imagined. Yeah, it had been groomed for the race, but we enjoyed a rolling course through the countryside with swoops and dips and tight sections. As we got closer to Sutton Bluff Recreation Area the climbs became longer and steeper, very steep and very long. But none of it was washed out and all of it was rideable, if you had the engine. The back side descents were narrow, just barely clinging to the hillside. You had to keep on your toes to make the sharp turns that were thrown in. Its not among the best singletrack I've ridden but it gets some points for epicness. In the end it was a very challenging and satisfying ride.
| Thankgreat singletrack
| Thank