350 miles of Ozark Trail featured

The trail, not nearly as famous or as long as the Appalachian Trail, nonetheless offers 350 miles of rugged, backwoods country through the biologically diverse Ozarks.

The Ozarks' peaks lie at an altitude of just 1,200-1,800 feet, but they constitute the only significant highlands between the Appalachians and the Rockies.

''For Missouri, it's the closest thing to a Colorado experience you can get,'' said S. Scott Whitaker, president of Gateway Off-Road Cyclists. ''It's very secluded, a true wilderness experience with great big hollows and creek bottoms.

''The fall is definitely my favorite time. With fall colors, the vistas become even more extraordinary.'' . . .

Ozark Trail is divided into 13 sections of about 20 to 30 miles in length, each taking its name from a natural feature, except for the Karkaghne, a mythical creature in forest folklore.
While some trail sections that go through wilderness are off-limits to anyone but hikers and backpackers, other parts are also open to off-road bicyclists and equestrians.