Photo gallery: Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Welcome to our gallery of photographs taken at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area. Click on a picture to see a larger version.

See other posts about Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area.

Busiek East Parking Lot Sign

Busiek East Parking Lot

Campsite 5 Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

The fire rings at Busiek are quite primitive and don’t include a grill.

The Red Trail passes to the left here, while the trail to campsite 8 goes right. Campsite 8 is officially a Group Campsite.

Busiek Red Trail

Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck. It seems someone has tipped the truck upright since I was here in June

Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck – Engine Block.

Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck

Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck – Engine Number

Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck – Engine Block.

Persimmons – we found a lot of ripe ones.

Ripe persimmons. It’s a shame I didn’t remove the cat fur from my bandana before I put them on it

Busiek Yellow Trail heading west

Helenium amarum (Sneezeweed or Bitterweed)

Busiek Yellow Trail heading west

Deer hunting sign – East side parking lot.

Woods Fork – Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

The creek can be very picturesque in the fall.

The trails are quite clearly marked with colored blazes, though in the fall leaves on the ground can disguise the trail in places.

Horses and hikers crossing Woods Fork near the Eastern Trailhead. The rough gravel creek bed is very hard on bare feet

Horses crossing the Woods Fork creek near the east trailhead parking lot. And it is much easier to cross the creek on a horse than on foot. The gravel is very uncomfortable on bare feet.

The gravel road leading from HWY A to the Busiek South Trailhead

Fall color on the Red/Yellow Trail

The Yellow/Red Trail near the Carter Family Cemetery

Woods Fork in the Fall

Note the footwear – Hiking Huaraches

Woman wearing shorts and trail runner shoes hikes downhill on very rough terrain in the Ozarks using a trekking pole for stability.

The downhill sections of trails in the Ozarks can have quite difficult footing. A hiking pole gives stability and balance and would help stop your fall in the case of a stumble on these rocks.

Campsite 7 – Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area. Note the trail to the left – it’s that close.

Looking forward to two days leisurely backpacking around Busiek. Yes that is a chair I’m sitting on.

Up early enjoying the cooler air, view and my morning coffee

Red Trail, Woods Fork Creek crossing near campsite 8. There used to be bridges across the creek, but they got washed out a few years ago and they’ve never been replaced.

It pays to check around for blazes when to come to trail forks at Busiek. There is a nice big red blaze on the tree center right of the picture, and that’s the way the trail goes.

My first exploration off the Red trail led me to this very well kept private cemetery just outside the Busiek boundary.

Some parts of the trail are closed for ‘Vegetation Recovery’ the new routes are always very obvious. It the trail isn’t obvious, you’ve accidently left it at some point. Simply retrace your steps.

Off the regular trails at Busiek

Red Trail at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Abandoned vehicle – Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Photograph of an abandoned vehicle in the woods at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

We found this abandoned panel van on one of the unmarked trails on Busiek’s east side

Trail Closed - Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Tree down at the eastern end of the Yellow Trail Short Cut – Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Cooling off in a pool on Woods Fork

The approach to Campsite 8 – Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Campsite 8 – Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Bending the rules at Campsite 8. I had booked campsite 7, because it was furthest away from the parking. I had wanted book Campsite 8, but they told me I couldn’t because it was a group site for boy scouts etc. Campsite 7 was right on the trail and didn’t have any running water, so I decided to bend the rules and overnight at Campsite 8 anyway. I had seen the booking sheet and knew it wasn’t booked, and who was going to want to use it mid week?

The higher parts of Woods Fork were still running . This is where I topped up my water and had my dinner.

The Red Trail can be quite rough in places

Tree stand – Ozarks style.

The unmarked trail ended at the wilderness’ boundary

Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area – Seen from the glades on the Yellow Trail. Day two of my hike

Back at the swimming hole

Waiting for Ginger at the Busiek East Side Trailhead Parking Lot

Busiek Sign at the South Trailhead. Hiking the Silver Trail at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

South Trailhead Parking Lot at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Hiking along the ridge on the Silver Trail at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

This tree has had a very lucky escape. It’s obviously been struck a glancing blow by lightning. On the ridge top of the Yellow/Silver trails

This tree has had a very lucky escape. It’s obviously been struck a glancing blow by lightning.

The rocky trail makes this a tough hike up or down. Note the trail marker blazes on the tree to the right. Hiking the Silver Trail at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

This part of the trail is rough going. It’s steep in place and a total of 250′ descent. Hiking the Silver Trail at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Hiking the Silver Trail at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

This is the eastern boundary of the area and the Yellow trail, seen here, turns north. The Silver trail turns South with a steep ascent of 300 ft. which has a gradient of 1:2 in places. The descent is on the other side is steeper but easier going.

About two thirds of the way up I take a rest and wait for the others to catch up. Hiking the Silver Trail at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

The disadvantage of having Katie and Lanie with us is the noise. So we get to miss out on a lot of the wildlife. Lanie had gone ahead, and Ginger and Katie had lagged behind so I had a chance for a bit of quiet which is what you need to spot little fellas like this. If he hadn’t made a noise moving, I wouldn’t have spotted him.

Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area – West Trailhead

Junction of the White Trail and the main trail that runs along Camp Creek. Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area – White Trail

Intermittent spring – Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area – White Trail

Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area – White trail

Descending down the White Trail. Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Descending the White Trail – Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area. This part of the trail was closed in 2012 – there’s now a much easier descent via switchbacks.

Steep descent on the White Trail. This trail has since been replaced with a set of switchbacks – much easier and safer to ascend and descend. Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

Hiking the White Trail at Busiek. This part of the trail runs alongside a small creek. It’s easy going but can get very muddy after rain.

White trail junction with the main trail running along Camp Creek.

Note the trail marker on the left. Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area – White Trail

The pile of brush marks where the old trail made a very steep descent. It’s been replaced with an easier but longer series of switchbacks. Someone has been very busy.

Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area – New route of the White Trail. The new part of the trail goes to the north of this tree and then descends into the valley via a series of switchbacks.

Caution – there’s no bridge!! In 2011 the bridge to the shooting range was washed away. It has since been replaced.

Ephemeral Creek at Busiek

Ginger on the White trail at Busiek state Park and Wildlife Area

Spring on the White trail at Busiek State Park and Wildlife Area

Ginger and the Dogwoods

Ginger wanted to see the Dogwoods in bloom. Today we went on a short, three mile hike on the silver trail at Busiek. About half way round we stopped for lunch at a small creek and I decided to try out my new lightweight hiking tripod.