The Big Piney Trail is a complete wilderness loop through the Paddy Creek Wilderness in the Mark Twain National Forest near Roby, Missouri. The route starts and finishes at the Big Piney Trail registration area at Roby Point.
The submitted route measures approximately 16.4 miles with around 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Published distances vary between roughly 16 and 18 miles, depending on whether the trailhead approach is included and how the route is mapped. The attached GPX defines the official FKT route.
From the registration area, follow the access trail for approximately 0.7 mile to the main North Loop and South Loop junction. The route may be completed in either direction, but runners must complete the entire outside loop without using the North-South Connector shortcut.
Big Piney is a true Ozark wilderness trail that constantly changes character. The route moves through shortleaf pine forest, hardwoods, rocky ridges, creek bottoms, sections of old road and a series of short but steep climbs and descents. There is not one enormous climb. The difficulty builds through repeated elevation changes, uneven footing and constant transitions in terrain.
Traveling counterclockwise, the southern half of the loop includes the Little Paddy Creek crossing, portions of the old Military Road and a descent toward Big Paddy Creek. The route crosses Big Paddy Creek twice, with the second crossing located near Paddy Creek Campground.
Creek conditions can vary significantly depending on recent rainfall. During lower-water conditions, the crossings may be shallow and straightforward. Following heavy rain, they can become deeper, faster and potentially unsafe. Runners should check recent weather and local water conditions before attempting the route.
After the second Big Paddy crossing, the route begins its longest sustained climb. This leads to an incredible overlook at approximately mile 8.8, with wide views across the Big Paddy drainage and surrounding Ozark hills. The overlook is one of the best features of the entire trail.
The northern half of the loop continues through a mixture of rocky descents, shorter climbs, narrow singletrack and old-road sections. It is not an easy downhill return to Roby. The constantly changing terrain makes it difficult to settle into one pace for very long.
Near mile 15, the route enters one of its most beautiful sections. The trail follows a small creek through the woods and passes a waterfall and pool. This quiet creek corridor provides a striking contrast to the exposed ridges and rocky terrain found earlier in the loop.
Navigation is a meaningful part of the Big Piney experience. Because the route is within a designated wilderness area, signs and trail markings are limited. Horse paths, old roads and faint side trails can resemble the main trail. Extra attention is needed at creek crossings, road intersections and places where the trail enters or exits a drainage. Runners should download the route GPX for offline use.
Vegetation can be heavily overgrown along the narrower portions of the trail. Runners should prepare for ticks, insects, brush and sections where the trail may be difficult to see beneath the growth. Bug spray and strong tick protection are recommended.
Roby Point provides a clear and repeatable start and finish. Roby Lake is also immediately accessible after completing the route, giving runners a convenient place to clean off mud, creek water and trail debris.
