AVA, Mo. — Mark Twain National Forest offers a wide spectrum of recreation opportunities to Forest visitors, including motorized trail riding.
The Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs (ACW) Ranger District provides the public with access to fantastic off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding opportunities along the Chadwick Motorized Trail System.
Projects to improve this popular OHV trail system and the nearby Cobb Ridge Campground are in the works.
New shower buildings will be installed to replace the old ones within the next two years. Trail maintenance will occur more frequently, thanks to a new service contract being put in place. A new, automated, fee machine is planned to be placed in the Cobb Ridge Campground, as early as next year. The fee machine will have the ability to issue the daily and annual OHV permits as well as campground site fees.
The process for obtaining OHV permits hit some hurdles last year.
In response, the Forest established additional ways for the public to obtain permits, including in person, at the Ava USDA Forest Service office or the Casey’s General Store on the west side of Sparta; via hard copy mail; via a combination of hard copy mail/fax/email and over the phone; and via the internet – internet sales are for daily permits only. As mentioned previously, the Forest also began looking for options to install a fee machine at the campground to make it even more convenient for visitors to purchase passes.
This spring, a group of volunteers were trained and certified in chainsaw and OHV operations, to help employees keep designated trails cleared of fallen trees within the Chadwick Motorized Trail System.
In the past, storms could leave some trails closed for extended periods of time while employees cleared downed trees—especially during times of staffing shortages. The volunteer corps will help the Forest repair and re-open trails much more quickly after storm events, allowing riders to get back to enjoying the trails.
Anyone interested in becoming part of the trail maintenance volunteer group, please contact the Ava office at (417) 683-4428.