News Release

Ozark National Scenic Riverways releases final Roads and Trails Management Plan

The Roads and Trails Management Plan for Ozark National Scenic Riverways will guide the park in establishing new trails for hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: April 18, 2022

Contact: Dena Matteson, (573)-323-4814

VAN BUREN, Mo. – Ozark National Scenic Riverways announces that the final Roads and Trails Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (RT Plan) will be available online beginning April 18. 

“With the release of the final Roads and Trails Management Plan,” Superintendent Jason Lott states, “we can move forward to establish a network of roads and trails that is more sustainable and clearly mapped that will allow visitors to safely enjoy the park’s spectacular resources through a variety of recreational activities, while still protecting those resources for future generations.”  

The final RT Plan includes a finding of no significant impact and the amended environmental assessment illustrating the alternatives that were considered, as well as detailed maps and an errata to address technical edits and substantive comments that were received during the comment period for the draft RT Plan in 2021. The National Park Service has identified Alternative B as the preferred alternative for implementation. “Public input guided several revisions that appear in the final RT Plan,” Lott said.  A summary of public comments is available online with the final RT Plan. 

The final RT Plan is available at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/OZAR_RTplan. The plan, maps, and public comment summary report can be viewed online or downloaded for printing.  

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people. For more information, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ozar or on Facebook @ozarkriverways. 

www.nps.gov/ozar

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves 134 miles of the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people. 

 Learn more at www.nps.gov/ozar.  Find us on Facebook @ozarkriverways and on Instagram @ozarkriverwaysnps.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.