Council Bluff Trail
Council Bluff Trail is a 11.9 miles trail in Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri. The Forest Service rates it trail class 4, highly developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Mark Twain National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 37.7315, -90.9308 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 37.7315, -90.9306 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 3 segments.
The trail
| Length | 11.9 miles |
| Trail class | 4, highly developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 10-12 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 056126 |
| Forest | Mark Twain National Forest (unit 0905) |
| States | Missouri |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed year-round |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
Open January to December · <p>The toilet is handicap accessible</p> No overnight camping in the day use area at any time of year. Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash in the day use area No trash containers; please pack out all your trash. Fireworks are prohibited. No motorized vehicles permitted on trail system. No motorized vehicles beyond posted sig | 0 mi |
Open January to December No overnight camping in day use areas at any time of year. Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash in the day use area No trash containers; please pack out all your trash. Fireworks are prohibited. Horses may not be tied directly to trees. | 0 mi |
Open January to December · <p>There are handicap parking spaces at the beach parking lot. The restrooms are handicap accessible at all locations.</p> On the Trail Hiking, Biking and Horseback riding is permitted. No motorized vehicles are permitted. Leave No Trace : Be prepared and minimize your impact. Refrain from using the trail during wet conditions. Be aware of hunting seasons, and make sure you are visible to hunters. At | 0.2 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date. The recreation page link goes to the Forest Service site, which may redirect to the forest's recreation index.
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Council Bluff Trail?
11.9 miles, the sum of the 3 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Mark Twain National Forest.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Council Bluff Trail?
hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Council Bluff Trail start?
The line begins at 37.7315, -90.9308 and ends at 37.7315, -90.9306. The nearest recorded trailhead is Enough Boat Launch and Trailhead, 0 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Council Bluff Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Council Bluff Trail?
Council Bluff Recreation Area (0.3 mi) and Council Bluff Recreation Area (0.9 mi) are within five miles of the trail. Site counts and booking links are on Campsite Atlas.
How developed is the Council Bluff Trail?
Trail class 4, which the Forest Service describes as highly developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Council Bluff Trail?
The typical grade is 10-12 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Council Bluff Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Council Bluff Trail?
Mark Twain National Forest, Forest Service unit 0905. The trail is in Missouri.
Source
This page is built from 3 segments named COUNCIL BLUFF TRAIL in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0905. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.