United States historic center Mark Twain National ForestA kayaker on the St. Francis River at Silver Mines Recreation Area in the Mark Twain National ForestLocationMissouri, United StatesNearest cityRolla, MissouriCoordinates37°38′13″N 91°05′24″W / 37.637°N 91.09°W / 37.637; -91.09Area1,491,840 acres (6,037.3 km2)EstablishedSeptember 23, 1939; 86 years ago (September 23, 1939)Named forMark TwainGoverning bodyU.S. Forest ServiceWebsiteMark Twain National Forest Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is a U.S. National Forest located in the southern half of Missouri, composed of nine disconnected parcels. MTNF was established on September 11, 1939. It is named for author Mark Twain, a Missouri native. The MTNF covers 3,068,800 acres (4,795 sq mi) of which 1,506,100 acres (2,353.3 sq mi) is public owned, 78,000 acres (122 sq mi) of which are Wilderness, and National Scenic River area. MTNF spans 29 counties and represents 11% of all forested land in Missouri. MTNF's nine tracts are divided into six distinct ranger districts: Ava-Cassville-Willow Springs, Eleven Point, Houston-Rolla, Cedar Creek, Poplar Bluff, Potosi-Fredericktown, and the Salem. Its headquarters are in Rolla, Missouri. Some unique features of the Mark Twain include Greer Spring, which is the largest spring on National Forest land and part of the Eleven Point National Scenic River with an average daily flow of 214 million U.S. gallons (810 million liters). The public can also visit the Glade Top Trail National Scenic Byway, which offers views of over 30 miles (48 km) to the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. The 350-mile (560 km) Ozark Trail system winds through much of the National Forest. The Forest has two trail systems for certain motorized vehicles and bikes, being the Chadwick Motorcycle & ATV Use Area and the Sutton Bluff ATV, UTV, and Motorcycle Trail System.
[edit] The Mark Twain National Forest, as we know it today, was created on February 17, 1976. The Mark Twain National forest has a rather unusual history – for it was once known as both the Clark National Forest and the Mark Twain National Forest – both being proclaimed on September 11, 1939. Map of the National Forest In June 1973, the Clark and Mark Twain NF were brought under one headquarters in Rolla and became known as the National forests in Missouri. On February 17, 1976, the forests were combined and renamed the Mark Twain National Forest. Missouri’s only national forest, The Mark Twain, encompasses roughly 1.5 million acres (2,300 sq mi), mostly within the Ozark Highlands. Located across southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, the Ozark Highlands are an ancient landscape characterized by large permanent springs, over 5,000 caves, rocky barren glades, old volcanic mountains and nationally recognized streams. Portions of the Ozarks were never under oceans, nor were the areas glaciated. In the 1870s, citizens of southern Missouri began an era of extensive logging of the state's native oak, hickory, and pine forests. Lumber mills were commonplace, but by the 1920s they had disappeared, along with much of the state's native forests. Thus, in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the MTNF into existence. In March 1933, he also created the Emergency Conservation Work Act, better known as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In the area that would later become the Mark Twain National Forest, hundreds of young men at over 50 CCC sites worked at building roads and planting hundreds of acres of pine to preserve and enhance the natural resources of southern Missouri. Many of their contributions can still be visited and enjoyed today including the Rolla Ranger Station Historic District and Winona Ranger Station Historic District.
[edit] Bell Mountain Wilderness Devils Backbone Wilderness Hercules-Glades Wilderness Irish Wilderness Paddy Creek Wilderness Piney Creek Wilderness Rockpile Mountain Wilderness
[edit] County Area Acres Hectares Oregon County 104,721 42,379 Ripley County 97,437 39,431 Iron County 96,047 38,869 Carter County 90,641 36,681 Reynolds County 89,933 36,395 Wayne County 88,372 35,763 Shannon County 83,934 33,967 Washington County 82,133 33,238 Dent County 73,011 29,547 Taney County 65,953 26,690 Phelps County 65,379 26,458 Barry County 55,187 22,333 Christian County 52,260 21,149 Madison County 51,170 20,708 Howell County 50,504 20,438 Crawford County 50,048 20,254 Texas County 49,581 20,065 Butler County 48,494 19,625 Douglas County 41,030 16,604 Pulaski County 39,177 15,854 Ozark County 38,672 15,650 Laclede County 30,542 12,360 Callaway County 12,467 5,045 Stone County 10,335 4,182 Sainte Genevieve County 10,254 4,150 Wright County 7,159 2,897 Boone County 4,102 1,660 Bollinger County 1,646 666 Saint Francois County 673 272 Although it is far from being the largest National Forest in acreage, Mark Twain National Forest is located in more counties than any other. As of September 30,  2007[update], its 1,490,862 acres (2,329.472 sq mi; 6,033.30 km2) were spread over parts of 29 counties in southern and central Missouri.
[edit] Climate data for Mark Twain National Forest Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °F (°C) 75(24) 80(27) 88(31) 90(32) 94(34) 100(38) 107(42) 104(40) 99(37) 94(34) 83(28) 75(24) 107(42) Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 42(6) 48(9) 58(14) 68(20) 75(24) 83(28) 88(31) 87(31) 80(27) 69(21) 57(14) 44(7) 67(19) Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21(−6) 25(−4) 33(1) 42(6) 52(11) 61(16) 65(18) 64(18) 55(13) 44(7) 34(1) 25(−4) 43(6) Record low °F (°C) −19(−28) −11(−24) −2(−19) 18(−8) 28(−2) 40(4) 44(7) 39(4) 30(−1) 19(−7) 4(−16) −10(−23) −19(−28) Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.1(53) 2.29(58) 4.18(106) 4.28(109) 4.95(126) 4.22(107) 3.70(94) 3.40(86) 3.91(99) 3.44(87) 3.91(99) 3.30(84) 43.68(1,108) Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.7(17) 4.6(12) 2.1(5.3) 0.3(0.76) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 0.3(0.76) 0.9(2.3) 7.1(18) 22(56.12) Source: