Bell Mountain Wilderness - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Bell Mountain Wilderness |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Missouri |
| Nearby Town: | Belleview, MO |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | South of Potosi, Missouri approximately 20 miles (15 miles south on Hwy 21, then about 5 miles west on Hwy 32, then 2 miles south on Hwy A). http://www.fidnet.com/~mcmurfy1/bellmtn.html |
| Total Hike Distance: | 20.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Moderate to Difficult |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | One-Way, Shuttle Hike |
| Hike Starts: | Three Trail Heads |
| Hike Ends: | Three Trail Heads |
| Trails Used: | All the trails at various times |
| Backcountry Campsites: | No |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams |
| Management: | U.S. Forest Service |
| Contact Information: | http://www.fidnet.com/~mcmurfy1/bellmtn.html Trail maps available from the Potosi Ranger District (573-438-5427), Highway 8 West, P.O. Box 188, Potosi, MO 63664. Quad sheets: Johnson Mountain, Banner, Edgehill, and Johnson Shut-ins, MO, 7-1/2 minute USGS 1:24000 Quadrangles |
| Best Season: | Winter, Spring, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Horses |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads |
| Hike Summary: | Overnight parking is available at two locations, one along Highway A (5 miles south of Hwy 32) west of Bell Mountain and another northeast of Bell Mountain along Forest Road 2228 about 2-miles off of Hwy A to the east (watch for sign on Hwy A). A third parking area to the east (you will need the map), for Lindsey Mountain, is also available. Shut-in creek separates Lindsey and Bell Mountain with no marked trail in-between. This is one of the best wilderness areas that I have been in in Missouri. The view from the top of Bell Mountain to the east is spectacular. The trail in from the north is very moderate until you get close to the top of the mountain. The trail from the southwest is the longest route to take to the top. There are also some beautiful vistas to the southwest while hiking up from the parking lot along Highway A. This is a nice trail for Fall colors ! It is also more rugged and is uphill all the way (and downhill back to the car). A loop can also be hiked in the center of the wilderness area to give one nearly a 10-mile hike as well. I have picked my way down the east side of Bell Mountain and hiked across Shut-in creek. Shut-in creek is very beautiful and worth the visit if you are so inclined. You can get down in about 15-20 minutes but expect twice as long to make the ascent back to the trail. With another hiker I have hiked across the wilderness area from the western parking lot to Bell Mountain to the parking lot for Lindsey mountain. This means crossing the Shut-in gorge. Since there is no trail it can be a difficult climb down and up with a lot of weight on your back. There are at least three ledges to climb over on the Bell Mountain side. It really looks like a wall from Lindsey Mountain ! There are no specific trail camps marked so keep it clean ! Good water is only available in Shut-in Creek. There are a few wildlife ponds but the water in them is usually pretty stagnate. |
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