Mark Twain National Forest

Mark Twain National Forest
A kayaker on the St. Francis River at Silver Mines Recreation Area in the Mark Twain National Forest
Location	Missouri, United States
Nearest city	Rolla, MO
Coordinates	37°38′13″N 91°05′24″W / 37.637°N 91.09°W / 37.637; -91.09
Area	1,491,840 acres (6,037.3 km2)[1]
Established	September 23, 1939[2]
Named for	Mark Twain
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Mark Twain National Forest

Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is a U.S. National Forest located in the southern half of Missouri, composed of nine disconnected parcels. MTNF was established on September 11, 1939. It is named for author Mark Twain, a Missouri native. The MTNF covers 3,068,800 acres (12,419 km²) of which 1,506,100 acres (6,095 km²) is public owned, 78,000 acres (320 km²) of which are Wilderness, and National Scenic River area. MTNF spans 29 counties and represents 11% of all forested land in Missouri. MTNF's nine tracts are divided into six distinct ranger districts: Ava-Cassville-Willow Springs, Eleven Point, Houston-Rolla, Cedar Creek, Poplar Bluff, Potosi-Fredericktown, and the Salem. Its headquarters are in Rolla, Missouri.

Some unique features of the Mark Twain include Greer Spring, which is the largest spring on National Forest land and part of the Eleven Point National Scenic River with an average daily flow of 214 million U.S. gallons (810 million liters).^[3] The public can also visit the Glade Top Trail National Scenic Byway, which offers views of over 30 miles (48 km) to the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. The 350-mile Ozark Trail system winds through much of the National Forest.

The Forest has two trail systems for certain motorized vehicles and bikes, being the Chadwick Motorcycle & ATV Use Area and the Sutton Bluff ATV, UTV, and Motorcycle Trail System.^[4][5]