Chadwick Motorcycle & ATV Use Area

The Basics

Chadwick Motorcycle & ATV Use Area
State Highway H
Chadwick, MO

Phone: (417) 683-4428 (Ava District Office)

Closest Towns: Chadwick, Sparta, Ozark, Forsyth

Directions: From Ozark: Travel East from Ozark on MO Hwy 14 towards Sparta. At Sparta, from the intersection of MO Hwy 14 & MO Hwy 125, head South on MO Hwy 125 approx. 6.3 miles to Chadwick. Continue past Chadwick on MO Hwy 125 for approx. 1.3 miles to State Hwy H, then turn right. Go approx. 1.1 miles to the Camp Ridge Day-Use Area on your right, or continue to Lookout Rd. at approx. 2.4 miles on your right to reach the Cobb Ridge Campground.

From Forsyth: Travel West on US Hwy 160 out of Forsyth approx. 2 miles to the intersection with State Hwy H. Head North on State Hwy H approx. 15 miles to Lookout Rd. on your left to reach the Cobb Ridge Campground, or continue to the Camp Ridge Day-Use Area at approx. 16.2 miles on your left.

About Chadwick Offroad Area

The Chadwick Motorcycle & ATV Use Area sits on 12 square miles of rugged National Forest land in Christian County just south of the town of Chadwick, where the area gets its name from. Nearly 80 miles of rough and rugged trails are open to ATVs, dirtbikes and mountain bikes. The riding area is one of two located on the MTNF, with the other being the Sutton Bluff Motorcycle & ATV Use Area near Centerville in Southeast Missouri. Chadwick is also rated as being one of the top two ATV parks in Missouri, along with St. Joe State Park.

The trails at Chadwick wind in and out of deep, forested hollows and down long ridgetops. It is possble to spend a full day riding without having to backtrack.

The Trails

The Chadwick offroad area offers riders nearly 80 miles of managed trails open to ATVs, dirtbikes, and mountain bikes. Most trails follow ridgetops or hollow bottoms, with connecting trails crossing side slopes. Some trails offer a greater challenge than others, with some trail sections being very steep, rough or rutted. Challenging trail sections are indicated on the Chadwick Area Map.

There is also a trials bike area, and a fun area where off-trail riding is allowed, otherwise, DO NOT go off trail. Only numbered trails are open for riding. Please do not travel on closed routes, or go off trail. Hill climbing is not allowed. Helmets are required for riders under the age of 18, and recommended for all others. An approved muffler and spark arrester must be properly installed to operate a motorized vehicle on any trail. Only motorized vehicles under 50" wide may be operated on the trails. Utility All-Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) are not allowed at Chadwick. A permit is required for ATVs, dirtbikes, and mountain bikes. Permits are good at both Chadwick and Sutton Bluff.

Cobb Ridge Campground

Cobb Ridge Campground is located within the Chadwick Motorcycle & ATV Use Area, and is used primarily by trail riders. The trails can be accessed directly from the campground via several different trailheads.

The campground is open year-round, and a campground host is on site for much of the riding season. 50 campsites are available, with 35 of those offering electric hookups. Most sites are well separated, with a few groups of two or three sites together. Traditional back-in sites, as well as pull-through sites, are available, and some sites can even accomodate RV's up to 40ft in length.

Many sites can be reserved through the National Recreation Reservation System online at www.recreation.gov, or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Reservations are usually taken from 3/1 through 11/30.

In 2009, the campground underwent renovations, and many upgrades and improvements were made. Drinking water, vault and flush toilets, and showers are centrally located within the campground.

During the peak riding season, especially on holiday weekends, the campground can become over-crowded and full. There is an overflow camping area located approx. 1.8 miles further down State Hwy H from Lookout Rd., directly across from Garrison Ridge Rd. There are no facilities available here; primitive camping only.

Camp Ridge Day-Use Area

Camp Ridge is a day-use only area on the edge of the Chadwick offroad area that also provides access to the trails. It is available as an access for those riders who wish to spend the day riding and not spend the night. An information board and vault toilet are available. No overnight camping is allowed in this area.

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