Category: Missouri

Missouri’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Missouri, Missouri Preppers, Missouri's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Missouri’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: Survivalist Guide to Driving Your Way Out

I’ve been around the globe and faced more than a few hairy situations where a vehicle was my lifeline. Whether it’s dense jungles, blistering deserts, or urban chaos, driving out of trouble requires more than just a license and a full tank. Missouri, with its diverse terrain and unpredictable weather, can become a battleground during a disaster. When roads deteriorate or nature turns hostile, only the prepared and skilled can make it through unscathed.

This isn’t just about knowing where the potholes are; it’s about understanding which routes can trap you, which roads will test your mettle, and how to handle your vehicle when everything is stacked against you.

Missouri’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

Missouri may not have the reputation of coastal storm zones or mountain passes, but when disaster strikes — whether it’s floods, tornadoes, ice storms, or the aftermath of a man-made event — certain roads become death traps.

  1. Route 66 through the Ozarks: Once the iconic American highway, many stretches of Route 66 here are narrow, winding, and poorly maintained. During floods or heavy storms, these roads can wash out quickly or become slick and impassable.
  2. Highway 36 near Kirksville: This stretch can become a mud trap during heavy rains. It’s a vital east-west artery, but flooding often turns it into a quagmire.
  3. The Mark Twain National Forest backroads: These gravel and dirt roads are tricky in the best conditions. After storms or ice, they’re nearly impossible without proper off-road skills and vehicles.
  4. I-44 through St. Louis suburbs: The traffic congestion combined with the potential for multi-car pileups and flooding means this interstate can gridlock fast during emergencies.
  5. Highway 160 near the southern Missouri Ozarks: Known for steep inclines and sharp curves, the rain turns it into a slide zone.
  6. The Chain of Rocks Bridge approach: This bridge is a choke point during floods along the Mississippi River, with narrow shoulders and limited escape routes.
  7. Mississippi River floodplain roads: Low-lying and prone to rapid flooding, these rural routes can trap you miles from help.
  8. Highway 79 near Clarksville: This highway hugs the Mississippi and can become slick with ice or floodwaters.
  9. I-70 in rural eastern Missouri: Often neglected in winter storms, ice patches here have caused serious accidents.
  10. Highway 21 near Festus: Curvy and with poor lighting, this route can be treacherous after dark or in storm conditions.

Why Knowing These Roads Matters

If you’re trying to evacuate during a disaster, knowing the weak points in your planned route can save your life. Roads prone to flooding or landslides can leave you stranded or force you into dangerous detours. Traffic snarls on main arteries might push you to take secondary roads where your skills need to be sharp.

15 Survival Driving Skills to Drive Your Way Out of Disaster

If you want to come out alive and whole, here’s the survivalist driving skill set you need locked and loaded.

  1. Vehicle Control on Slippery Surfaces: Learn to modulate throttle and braking to avoid skidding on ice, mud, or wet leaves.
  2. Emergency Braking Techniques: Know the difference between ABS and non-ABS braking and how to use threshold braking if needed.
  3. Hill Climb and Descent Mastery: When dealing with steep or slick inclines, controlling your speed and braking without locking wheels is key.
  4. Tire Placement Precision: On narrow or rocky roads, knowing exactly where to place each tire can prevent rollovers or getting stuck.
  5. Mud and Sand Recovery: Recognize when you’re stuck and how to rock the vehicle out safely without digging yourself deeper.
  6. Water Crossing Assessment: Identify safe ford points in flooded areas—depth, current, and bottom composition.
  7. Basic Off-Road Navigation: Use natural landmarks and maps when GPS is dead or misleading.
  8. Driving Without Traction: Utilize low gears and momentum to power through loose gravel or snow.
  9. Quick Evasive Maneuvers: Swerving effectively without losing control can help avoid sudden obstacles or debris.
  10. Fuel Management and Conservation: Drive efficiently and reduce unnecessary fuel consumption in extended evacuation scenarios.
  11. Night Driving with Limited Visibility: Master low-beam use and avoid high beams in fog or heavy rain.
  12. Vehicle Inspection and Quick Repairs: Know how to check tire pressure, fluids, and basic repairs on the fly.
  13. Towing and Recovery: Use ropes or winches effectively if you or a convoy member gets stuck.
  14. Vehicle Communication: Use CB radios or walkie-talkies to coordinate if you’re traveling with others.
  15. Mental Resilience Under Stress: Staying calm and methodical prevents panic decisions that lead to accidents.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere is a classic survival headache. But a few hacks can keep you moving or get you out of tight spots.

1. Gravity-Fed Fuel Transfer Using Clear Hose

If you have a spare container of gas, use a clear plastic hose or tubing to siphon fuel into your tank. Insert one end into the container and the other into your tank’s fuel filler, then create suction carefully by mouth or use a small pump. The clear hose lets you see when fuel flows.

2. Use Cardboard or Cloth to Improve Traction

If you stall on a slick patch with no fuel to restart, place cardboard pieces or fabric under your tires to gain traction and try to push the vehicle to a safer, more accessible spot.

3. Convert Manual Transmission Push-Start Technique

If you’re driving a manual, you can sometimes push-start the vehicle. With a little push from people or gravity (rolling downhill), put the clutch in second gear and release it quickly to start the engine without fuel injection—this can work if residual fuel is in the system or to jump a dead battery.

Final Thoughts

Missouri’s roads might not look like the wildest terrain on a map, but disaster reveals their true danger. If you’ve studied these routes, sharpened your survival driving skills, and learned a few hacks for when things go sideways, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of getting out alive.

Don’t underestimate the power of preparation and practice. Disaster driving isn’t just about speed or power—it’s about control, patience, and knowing your environment like the back of your hand. Take care, stay sharp, and keep those wheels turning.

Missouri Homestead Lifestyle: Ain’t No Place for the Weak

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Missouri, Missouri Homestead Lifestyle, Missouri PreppersLeave a comment

Let me tell you something straight out of the gate — living on a Missouri homestead ain’t some picnic under the big sky. If you think you’re gonna stroll out here, plant a garden, and sip lemonade while watching the sunset, you’re dead wrong. This life is tough. It’s grit, sweat, and blood, day in and day out. Missouri’s got its charm — fertile soil, rolling hills, four seasons that don’t quit — but it’ll chew you up if you don’t know your business.

Now, before you go dreaming of your rustic cabin and bountiful harvest, listen up. You need to earn this life. No fancy stores, no delivery apps, no running to the corner for a pack of smokes or a gallon of milk. You’re the boss. You’re the farmer, the handyman, the cook, the nurse, and the defender of your patch of earth.

So, here’s what you need to stop whining about and start mastering if you want to survive and thrive on a Missouri homestead.

15 Homestead Skills You’d Better Learn — Fast

  1. Garden Like Your Life Depends on It
    Missouri’s climate means you get a decent growing season, but it’s not forgiving. You better know how to prepare your soil, rotate crops, and fend off pests naturally. Plant hearty vegetables — beans, tomatoes, corn, squash. Learn to save seeds because every seed counts.
  2. Preserve Food to Last Through Winter
    Can, dry, ferment, pickle — if you don’t know how to store your harvest, you’re screwed come January. Missouri winters may be cold, but they’ll starve you faster than a summer drought if you don’t have food stored.
  3. Raise Livestock Like a Pro
    Chickens for eggs, goats for milk, hogs for meat, and maybe a cow if you’re really committed. You better know how to build shelters, feed, and care for these animals. Sick animals don’t wait for the vet to show up; you’ll need to diagnose and treat them yourself.
  4. Basic Carpentry
    Your homestead isn’t a fancy hotel. You’ll be fixing fences, building coops, mending roofs. Nail that board, saw that timber, and don’t half-ass it. Missouri’s weather will tear apart anything shoddily built.
  5. Fence Building and Repair
    Nothing keeps predators or wandering critters out like a good fence. Electric or barbed wire, learn to stretch it tight and keep it upright. A broken fence is an open invitation to disaster.
  6. Water Management
    Know how to find, store, and purify water. Missouri has creeks and springs, but they’re seasonal. Rain barrels, cisterns, wells — make sure you can access clean water every day.
  7. Firewood Splitting and Stacking
    Winter comes, and when it does, you better have wood stacked and ready. Don’t expect to run to a gas station to heat your home. Learn to fell trees safely, split logs, and stack for good airflow.
  8. Herbal Medicine
    You can’t call 911 for every cut, bruise, or stomach ache. Know your herbs — echinacea, yarrow, mint, comfrey — and how to use them. Nature’s medicine is your first aid kit.
  9. Food Foraging
    Wild blackberries, ramps, morel mushrooms — Missouri’s woods and fields are a pantry if you know where to look and how to harvest safely.
  10. Canning and Jar Sealing
    Nothing says homesteader like a pantry full of jars. Learn to water-bath can or pressure can meats and low-acid vegetables. If you mess this up, you risk poisoning yourself and your family.
  11. Basic Plumbing and Electrical Repairs
    Sure, modern homesteads may have power and running water, but outages happen. Fix leaks, patch wiring, and troubleshoot systems. Don’t wait on a stranger to get your lights back on.
  12. Composting and Soil Building
    Healthy soil means healthy crops. Learn to compost kitchen scraps and manure, turn it into black gold, and keep your land fertile without chemicals.
  13. Animal Butchering and Processing
    If you raise animals, you better know how to process them for meat respectfully and efficiently. It’s not pretty, but it’s necessary.
  14. Mechanical Skills
    Tractors, mowers, generators — keep them running, or your life grinds to a halt. Know your machines inside out and keep tools sharp.
  15. Weather Forecasting Without an App
    Cloud formations, wind direction, pressure changes — learn to read the sky and ground. Missouri weather can switch on you fast, from drought to flood in days.

3 DIY Missouri Homestead Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Yesterday

1. Rain Barrel System with Mosquito Screens
Missouri gets plenty of rain, so don’t waste it. Set up rain barrels with fine mesh screens on top to keep mosquitoes out. Use this water for irrigation and washing — save your well water for drinking. Bonus: position barrels near downspouts and connect multiple barrels with hoses for bigger storage.

2. Solar-Powered Chicken Coop Door
Early mornings in Missouri are brutal — freezing cold or sweltering heat. Build a solar-powered automatic door for your chicken coop. It opens at dawn and closes at dusk, keeping your birds safe from raccoons and opossums without you having to run out in the dark or mud. A cheap timer, small solar panel, and some scrap wood can do the trick.

3. DIY Root Cellar Cooler with Earth and Straw
Missouri summers can get brutal, but your food doesn’t have to spoil. Dig a shallow hole on the north side of your house, build a small wooden box, and insulate it with layers of earth and straw. Use old window panes or shutters for a door. This cool spot keeps veggies crisp without electricity. Perfect for potatoes, carrots, apples — all the staples.

Why Missouri Homesteading Is No Joke

Missouri’s landscape may look soft — rolling hills, river valleys, oak forests — but this land demands respect. Tornado season will blow your fences to hell. Winters will freeze your pipes if you’re careless. Summer humidity breeds bugs and mold that will test your sanity.

But the people who stick it out here — they’re tough as nails. They rise before dawn, face the sweltering sun or freezing cold, and get their hands dirty every single day. You don’t just “homestead” here. You live it, bleed it, and swear to defend it.

If you want to be a real Missouri homesteader, don’t expect kindness or shortcuts. Expect hard work, constant learning, and adapting every season. Master these skills and hacks, and you’ll stand a chance. Ignore them, and this land will swallow you whole.

So quit dreaming, get out there, and do the work. Missouri homesteading is for the strong, the stubborn, and the relentless. And if that’s not you, best find another place to chase your fantasy because this is the real deal.

Is Missouri’s Drinking Water Safe

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Missouri, Missouri PreppersLeave a comment

Alright, listen up — because this ain’t some cozy, sugar-coated fluff piece about Missouri’s tap water. If you’re living in Missouri or anywhere else, you better be damn sure your drinking water isn’t going to screw you over when you least expect it. The truth? Missouri’s drinking water safety is a mixed bag. Sure, they say it meets federal standards, but those standards don’t exactly guarantee you’re sipping on pure life-giving nectar instead of a toxic cocktail of chemicals, heavy metals, and god-knows-what else.

So before you just gulp down whatever comes out of your faucet like some kind of water-needy guppy, you need to know how to survive if that water turns on you. Because, trust me, it can and it will if you don’t prepare. Here’s the cold hard reality: municipal water systems can and do fail. Pipes rust. Contaminants sneak in. Natural disasters flood systems with sewage. Hell, industrial runoff or farming chemicals don’t exactly give a damn about your health.

Missouri’s Drinking Water Safety Reality Check

Missouri relies heavily on groundwater and surface water sources like the Missouri River and the Mississippi. They treat it — supposedly — but the problems are real:

  • Nitrates from fertilizers: Agriculture is big in Missouri. Chemicals seep into water tables and cause dangerous nitrate spikes. High nitrates can cause serious health problems, especially for babies.
  • Industrial contaminants: Heavy metals like lead and arsenic have shown up in parts of Missouri’s water.
  • Aging infrastructure: Many water systems operate on decades-old pipes and equipment prone to failure.
  • Microbial threats: Bacteria, viruses, and protozoa can survive treatment or sneak in during system failures.
  • Chemical spills and runoff: Missouri has its fair share of factories and farms. Chemicals leaking into water supplies is an ongoing threat.

Bottom line? You can’t just blindly trust the city water report. You gotta be ready to filter, purify, and survive if things go south.

15 Water Filtration Survival Skills You Need Like Yesterday

  1. Boiling Water: The simplest and most reliable way to kill pathogens. Bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute (3 minutes at higher elevations). No exceptions.
  2. Using Cloth or Bandanas as Pre-filters: Before filtration, run water through a clean cloth to remove large debris and sediment.
  3. Improvised Sand and Gravel Filters: Layer sand, charcoal, and gravel in a container to filter out particulates and improve taste. Not perfect but better than nothing.
  4. Charcoal Filtration: Activated charcoal adsorbs many chemicals and improves taste. You can make charcoal from hardwood and use it as a filter layer.
  5. Chemical Disinfection (Bleach): Household bleach can disinfect water — use 2 drops per liter, stir, and let stand 30 minutes. Use only regular unscented bleach.
  6. UV Light Purification: Sunlight can kill pathogens if water is clear. Use clear plastic bottles and place them in direct sunlight for 6 hours (SODIS method).
  7. Portable Water Filters: Carry compact ceramic or carbon filters designed to remove bacteria and protozoa. Make sure they filter down to 0.2 microns.
  8. Distillation: Boil water and collect the steam on a clean surface, allowing it to condense into a clean container, separating pure water from contaminants.
  9. Reverse Osmosis: Complex but highly effective if you can rig it, removes most contaminants including heavy metals.
  10. Using Iodine Tablets: Similar to bleach but meant for water purification tablets, effective against bacteria and viruses.
  11. Creating a Solar Still: Dig a hole, place a container in the center, cover with plastic, and use the sun to condense and collect purified water.
  12. Filtering with Coffee Filters or Paper Towels: Not a purification step but good as a pre-filter to trap particles.
  13. Testing Water Quality: Learn to use simple test strips to check for nitrates, pH, chlorine, and hardness before drinking.
  14. Storing Filtered Water Properly: Use clean, airtight containers, keep them in cool places, and avoid contamination.
  15. Reading Local Water Reports: Stay informed about boil-water advisories and contamination alerts from local authorities.

3 DIY Survival Drinking Water Hacks to Keep You Alive

Hack 1: DIY Charcoal Filter Bottle

You don’t need fancy gear. Take an empty plastic bottle, cut off the bottom, invert the top as a funnel. Layer sand, activated charcoal (make your own by burning hardwood and crushing the charcoal), and gravel inside. Pour dirty water through it. The charcoal removes odors, chemicals, and improves taste; sand and gravel catch debris. It’s slow but effective. Follow up with boiling or chemical treatment for safety.

Hack 2: Solar Water Purification Bottle

Fill a clear plastic soda bottle with water. Make sure the water is as clear as possible by pre-filtering. Place it on a reflective surface like aluminum foil in direct sunlight for at least 6 hours. This uses UV rays to kill pathogens. It’s called the SODIS method and has saved countless lives worldwide. It’s low-tech, lightweight, and foolproof.

Hack 3: The Straw Filter

Cut a plastic straw in half, fill one half with charcoal and sand tightly packed, seal one end with cloth or cotton, and use it as a makeshift straw filter. Suck water through it (only in desperate situations, and never a replacement for full purification). This reduces sediments and some impurities, buying you time until you can do proper boiling or chemical disinfection.

Why You Should Never Trust Missouri’s Water Blindly

I don’t care how glossy the local water quality reports look — those things don’t tell you everything. They’re often outdated, and testing standards are minimal. You could be drinking water laced with low levels of harmful contaminants that slowly ruin your health. You could get hit with sudden contamination from a chemical spill or flood.

And when disaster strikes — tornado, flood, or system failure — the water you counted on becomes a poison. If you’re not ready to filter and purify your own water, you’re risking your health and possibly your life.

The Angry Survivalist’s Final Word

Missouri’s drinking water? It’s a ticking time bomb unless you take survival seriously. You want safety? Then get your hands dirty learning these skills now. Boil, filter, chemically treat, store — repeat. Don’t wait until you’re stranded without safe water to realize you’ve been trusting a pipe full of poison.

If you want to survive, you don’t wait for someone else to fix the water. You take charge. You prepare with knowledge and tools. You learn how to purify water from ANY source because when the municipal system fails, it WILL fail. That’s survival 101.

Get off your ass and start prepping your water filtration skills today. Because when clean water becomes scarce, no one’s coming to save you. You’re on your own — and only the prepared survive.

These Missouri Hiking Trails Will Test Your Strength—and Your Will to Live

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Missouri, Missouri Hiking Trails, Missouri PreppersLeave a comment

These Missouri Hiking Trails Will Test Your Strength—and Your Will to Live

If you’re reading this, you’re not just a hiker—you’re a survivalist, a trail warrior, a seeker of solitude in the wild. You don’t just walk trails; you conquer them. Missouri, with its rugged Ozark hills, dense forests, and unpredictable weather, offers some of the most challenging and rewarding hikes in the Midwest. These trails aren’t for the faint of heart; they’re for those who thrive on adversity and seek to push their limits.

1. Ozark Trail – Taum Sauk Section

The Ozark Trail is Missouri’s crown jewel, stretching over 350 miles through the heart of the Ozarks. The Taum Sauk section, in particular, is notorious for its rugged terrain, steep ascents, and breathtaking vistas. It’s not just a hike; it’s a test of endurance and mental fortitude. The trail traverses dense forests, crosses babbling streams, and offers panoramic views that make every grueling step worth it.

2. Mina Sauk Falls Trail – Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

At 1,772 feet, Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest point in Missouri, and the Mina Sauk Falls Trail is its crown jewel. This 3-mile loop takes you to the state’s tallest waterfall, a 132-foot cascade that plunges over three ledges. The trail is steep and rocky, requiring careful navigation, but the reward is a stunning natural spectacle.

3. Whispering Pines Trail – Hawn State Park

This 10-mile loop is a favorite among backpackers seeking solitude. The trail winds through a mix of shortleaf pine and hardwood forests, following the meandering Pickle Creek and the River Aux Vases. The terrain is varied, with sandstone bluffs and seasonal waterfalls, offering a challenging yet serene hiking experience.

4. Mudlick Trail – Sam A. Baker State Park

For those seeking a true wilderness experience, the Mudlick Trail offers an 11-mile journey through one of Missouri’s most undisturbed natural landscapes. The trail begins in Big Creek Valley and climbs to the top of Mudlick Mountain, traversing rugged terrain and offering sweeping views of the surrounding hills.

5. Bell Mountain Wilderness Trail – Mark Twain National Forest

This 12-mile trail in the Mark Twain National Forest is not for the faint of heart. It climbs to the 1,702-foot-high peak of Bell Mountain, offering breathtaking views of the St. Francois mountain system. The trail features rocky outcroppings and shut-ins, providing a challenging yet rewarding hike for experienced adventurers.

6. Devil’s Icebox Trail – Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

This 2.2-mile loop is a geological wonder. The trail leads to the Devil’s Icebox, a natural tunnel 63 feet tall, and the double sinkhole, where a stream runs underground. Hikers can descend into Connor’s Cave, a 150-foot-long cave entered by wading through a shallow stream. The terrain is uneven and requires careful footing, but the unique features make it a must-see. All Outdoors Guide

7. Buford Mountain State Forest Trail – Buford Mountain Conservation Area

Just shy of being the state’s highest natural point, Buford Mountain offers a 10.5-mile trail that ascends to the first summit, then follows a series of saddles, glades, and summits. The highlight is the overlook from Bald Knob, about 3 miles from the trailhead, offering a spectacular view of southeast Missouri’s rugged landscape. St. Louis Magazine

8. Devil’s Backbone Wilderness Area

This 13-mile trail in the Mark Twain National Forest near Ava, Mo., offers a challenging hike through rugged terrain. The trail features steep inclines, dense forests, and offers a true wilderness experience for those seeking solitude and adventure. Kansas City Star

9. Paddy Creek Wilderness Loop

This 17-mile loop in the Mark Twain National Forest near Roby, Mo., is a true test of endurance. The trail brings hikers through thick forests, scenic creeks, and rocky outcroppings, offering a challenging and rewarding hike for experienced adventurers. Kansas City Star

10. Gans Creek Wild Area Trail

Located near Columbia, Mo., this 6.6-mile trail offers a challenging hike through rugged terrain. The trail features steep inclines, dense forests, and offers a true wilderness experience for those seeking solitude and adventure.

11. Roaring River Fire Tower Trail

This 4.4-mile trail features rugged Ozark terrain, dense hardwood forests, and open dolomite glades. The views from its wildflower-filled meadows remain pure wilderness, offering a challenging and rewarding hike for experienced adventurers. AllTrails.com

12. Devil’s Kitchen Trail

This 1.5-mile trail offers a beautiful walk along the bluffs above Roaring River. The trail features limestone bluffs, ledges, caves, and springs, providing a variety of flora and fauna native to the area. It’s considered a favorite walk around the park and offers a wide variety of natural features.

13. Elephant Rocks State Park – Braille Trail (continued)

This short, accessible loop allows visitors of all abilities to experience the stunning rock formations up close. The trail is paved and offers a unique opportunity to explore the massive granite boulders that resemble a train of elephants, some over a billion years old. Don’t let the ease fool you—these stones are ancient sentinels of the Earth. While it’s not physically punishing, it challenges your imagination and reminds you of the power of time and tectonics.

14. Ozark Trail – Eleven Point Section

Remote. Wild. Untamed. That’s how I describe the Eleven Point section of the Ozark Trail. Stretching over 44 miles through the Irish Wilderness, it’s one of Missouri’s most isolated hikes. You’ll cross creeks, dodge thorny underbrush, and sleep under canopies where cell signal dares not tread. It’s perfect for multi-day backpacking if you’re packing your bug-out bag and want to test it under real conditions.

15. Clifty Creek Natural Area Trail

This 2.5-mile loop in Gasconade County may seem short, but the terrain is unforgiving, with steep ridges and a creek crossing that often becomes a raging flow after storms. The trail rewards your grit with a natural bridge, 40 feet long and 13 feet high, carved by water and time. You’ll need sturdy boots, trekking poles, and a willingness to get wet and wild.

16. Hughes Mountain Natural Area – Devil’s Honeycomb Trail

The name alone ought to tell you what you’re in for. Just over a mile, this trail takes you to some of the most bizarre geology in the Midwest. The “Devil’s Honeycomb” is a field of hexagonal rhyolite columns, like nature’s own minefield. The rock is slick when wet and juts up like broken teeth—don’t take this hike lightly, especially if it’s rained recently.

17. Taum Sauk to Johnson’s Shut-Ins (Part of the Ozark Trail)

This roughly 12-mile point-to-point section is one of the most punishing stretches of the entire Ozark Trail. You’ll be contending with switchbacks, rocky drops, and relentless elevation changes. Water crossings? Oh, they’re there—and some might sweep your boots right off. The scenery, though? Otherworldly. Waterfalls, shut-ins, igneous bluffs—this stretch feels like nature showing off just to see if you’ll stick around.

18. Peck Ranch Conservation Area – Elk Restoration Zone Trails

Want to hike where the elk roam? These trails, spread across 23,000 acres, will test your ability to navigate without constant signage. Many parts are unmaintained and primitive, and wildlife encounters (bears, anyone?) aren’t rare. Your compass, GPS, and knowledge of orienteering aren’t optional—they’re essential.

19. Rockpile Mountain Wilderness Trail

This 2-mile out-and-back trail in the Mark Twain National Forest is a bushwhacker’s paradise. No maintained paths here. You follow faint traces through old oak and pine, across boulder-strewn ridgelines, and toward the massive stone mound for which the area is named. It’s believed to be ancient—possibly Native American—but no one really knows. That mystery alone makes the trek worth it.

20. Ha Ha Tonka State Park – Devil’s Kitchen and Colosseum Trails

The name might make you chuckle, but this park means serious business. Between the Devil’s Kitchen cave, sinkholes, spring-fed creeks, and the stone ruins of a 20th-century castle perched above a karst bluff, this is a surreal hike that’s as eerie as it is awe-inspiring. The trails wind up and down steep terrain, and the heat and humidity can suck the will right out of you in summer months.

Final Thoughts from the Trail

If you’re the kind of person who hears “strenuous” and thinks “sign me up,” then Missouri is your proving ground. These trails aren’t just about pretty views (though you’ll get those too); they’re about grit, gear, and guts.

When you hike in Missouri, you’re not just fighting elevation and fatigue—you’re contending with the unpredictability of the wild Midwest. The ticks are relentless, the humidity is brutal, and the weather can flip from serene to savage in minutes. I’ve hiked in storms that made me question my life choices, I’ve run out of water miles from the nearest stream, and I’ve ended days with bloody shins, soaked boots, and a smile that only a trail-worn hiker knows.

So gear up right. Waterproof your map, double-check your first aid kit, and always, always pack more snacks than you think you’ll need. Because when you’re deep in the Ozarks and you still have six miles to go and the sun’s dipping low, it’s not your legs that’ll carry you home—it’s your will to survive.

These trails will break you down, wear you out, and build you back up. And if you’re lucky? They’ll remind you why you fell in love with the trail in the first place.

See you out there, prepper. Stay sharp. Stay strong. And keep walking.

Only the Prepared Survive Mississippi’s Most Popular (and Deadly) Hiking Trails

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Missouri, Missouri Hiking Trails, Missouri PreppersLeave a comment

Only the Prepared Survive: Mississippi’s Most Popular (and Deadly) Hiking Trails

Let me tell you something straight: Mississippi may not be the first place you think of when it comes to hiking adventure—or survival-level terrain—but that’s a mistake that could cost you. This state may not boast towering peaks or desert wastelands, but what it does have are thick, humid forests, swamps that’ll swallow your boots, and trails that’ll chew up the unprepared and spit them back out.

I’m a survivalist. A prepper. Someone who carries a ferro rod like other folks carry chewing gum. I hike to test myself, to stay sharp, and to keep my instincts tuned. And let me tell you, Mississippi offers plenty of opportunities to do exactly that. This list isn’t just about beautiful strolls through nature—this is a warning. A challenge. These trails are the real deal, and if you step onto them with anything less than full preparation, you’re asking for trouble.

So tighten your pack straps, check your compass, and let’s get into the top 20 hiking trails in Mississippi where only the prepared survive.

Hiking Trails: Mississippi Hiking Trails

1. Black Creek Trail – De Soto National Forest

Length: 41 miles
This is Mississippi’s only nationally designated scenic trail, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Between high humidity, venomous snakes, and long remote stretches, this is where your gear gets tested. Don’t forget your water filter and backup fire starter.

2. Tuxachanie Trail – De Soto National Forest

Length: 12 miles
A fan favorite among survivalists. Lots of swamp crossings and foot-sucking mud. Carry insect repellent, wear gaiters, and be ready to bivouac if the weather turns.

3. Clark Creek Natural Area – Woodville

Length: Up to 5 miles
Home to over 50 waterfalls, but also steep elevation changes and slick rocks. Flash floods can come fast—know your exits and keep your topo map handy.

4. Bear Creek Outcropping Trail – Tishomingo State Park

Length: 3.5 miles
A gorgeous trail with rocky terrain rare in this state. A good place to practice rock scrambling and watch your footing—ankle injuries are common here.

5. Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail – Multiple Sections

Length: 60+ miles
Five separate sections parallel the Natchez Trace Parkway. It’s easy to underestimate this one due to proximity to civilization, but prolonged exposure in Mississippi heat is no joke.

6. Laurel Hill Wildlife Trail – Natchez

Length: 3 miles
A short trail, but thick brush and limited visibility make it prime snake country. Don’t forget to practice situational awareness—your life might depend on it.

7. Wall Doxey State Park Trail – Holly Springs

Length: 2.5 miles
Easy for beginners, but don’t let your guard down. Water crossings can spike after rains, and mosquitoes are relentless. Always hike with layered protection.

8. Clarkco State Park Trail – Quitman

Length: 5 miles
Rolling hills and pine forest make this scenic—but it’s also home to unpredictable weather. Hypothermia isn’t just a winter thing in the South. Pack dry gear.

9. Hugh White State Park Trail – Grenada

Length: 2.5 miles
Lake views mask the danger of slick terrain and sudden weather shifts. Watch cloud cover and keep your poncho accessible.

10. Bonita Lakes Trail System – Meridian

Length: 10+ miles
A series of interconnected trails around reservoirs. Nice scenery but easy to get turned around. A GPS is helpful, but don’t rely on tech alone—carry your compass.

11. LeFleur’s Bluff State Park Trail – Jackson

Length: 2 miles
You’re in the city, but nature here doesn’t care. Wild hogs roam this area, and they won’t wait for a polite introduction. Keep alert and carry a whistle or deterrent.

12. Puskus Lake Trail – Holly Springs National Forest

Length: 5 miles
Remote, quiet, and sometimes eerie. This is a great place to test your solo hiking readiness. Bring a backup flashlight and know how to self-rescue.

13. Choctaw Lake Trail – Tombigbee National Forest

Length: 3.3 miles
Often underestimated because of its length, but you’re deep in the woods here. Cell reception is minimal, and water sources are questionable—boil before you sip.

14. Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee Refuge Trails – Starkville

Length: 12+ miles total
This wetland preserve is full of gators and dense vegetation. Perfect for practicing stealth hiking and wildlife awareness.

15. Tanglefoot Trail – Northern MS (New Albany to Houston)

Length: 43.6 miles
Not technically remote, but long and exposed. This trail is excellent for testing endurance and pacing over days. Don’t forget electrolyte replenishment.

16. Golden Memorial State Park Trail – Walnut Grove

Length: 1 mile
Short doesn’t mean safe. This is one of the slickest trails after a rainstorm. Good for wet-weather boot testing and balance training.

17. Red Bluff Trail (Unofficial) – Foxworth

Length: ~1 mile
Known as “Mississippi’s Little Grand Canyon,” this trail is unofficial and dangerous. The bluffs are eroding fast, and one wrong step can mean a vertical fall. Only attempt with a buddy and extreme caution.

18. Lake Lincoln Trail – Wesson

Length: 2.5 miles
Quiet and rarely trafficked—meaning if something happens, you’re on your own. A good trail to practice solo communication protocols.

19. Trace State Park Trails – Pontotoc

Length: 8+ miles
Mountain bike trails overlap with hiking here, so stay aware. Also great for map-and-compass training due to a web-like trail system.

20. Roosevelt State Park Trail – Morton

Length: 5 miles
Hilly, forested terrain that’s good for prepping bug-out routes. Practice building natural shelters or setting up a stealthy overnight camp.

Final Word from the Trail

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably not a weekend stroller who brings a selfie stick and calls it a day. You’re someone who understands that nature doesn’t care how many followers you have or what brand your hiking boots are. It cares about one thing: Are you prepared?

Mississippi’s trails may not all be deadly by design, but complacency is the most dangerous predator out there. Down here, heat exhaustion can creep up quicker than a cottonmouth. Flash floods don’t knock. And if you get injured three miles deep in the Pine Belt with no cell reception? You’d better have more than granola bars and optimism in that pack.

So whether you’re testing a bug-out bag, practicing land nav, or just looking to toughen up your mental game—these trails are your proving ground.

Load up, get your topo maps, tell someone your plan, and hike smart.
Because out here, only the prepared survive.