Backpacking the Big Piney Trail in the Paddy Creek Wilderness, Mark Twain National Forest

This is a reedit of our original hike video from the Big Piney Trail in April of 2021. This trail is in the Paddy Creek Wilderness within the Mark Twain National Forest. It is roughly a 17 mile hike however we did about a 1.5 mile backtrack which added about 3 miles making this nearly a 20 mile hike over the two days.

[@db_illin]

Awesome video!

[@jasonjohnson842]

Planning on doing this for my first overnight hike. Does this area have a problem with black bear? Do you carry a sidearm or beardpray?

[@crawfordhikes]

We took spray and a bear can for food storage however we were mostly testing weight in prep for backpacking in CO. I don't think you would need spray or sidearm. Bears are very rare in the Ozarks. If it makes you more comfortable though you always can. Also, the creek we cross is not the Big Piney. I think you can get to it though from the picnic area. Look all trails over beforehand, unlike us!

[@ayman1234ish]

Did you end up doing this hike? how was it?

[@jasonjohnson842]

@ayman1234ish I did the south loop and it was a good beginner hike. I went back and did the north loop last spring and it was a bit confusing with the water crossings and a little more challenging overall.

[@yeetusmaximus6389]

Amazing

[@jormar6]

What is the name of trailhead?

[@crawfordhikes]

It's a loop so the trailhead is just the Big Piney Trail.

[@jormar6]

@@crawfordhikes Thanks!