Activities for the Whole Family
Sutton Bluff
Activities for the Whole Family
The Sutton Bluff campground and recreation area near Centerville
offers a wide variety of activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including
camping, swimming, and fishing, as well as trails for hiking,
horseback riding, and riding ATVs.
Sutton Bluff is operated by the U.S. Forest Service as part of
the Mark Twain National Forest.
The bluffs which give the area its name provide some of the most
spectacular views one could hope to see anywhere. In some places,
the sheer cliffs are more than 200 feet tall, and drop directly
into the West Fork of Black River.
The river provides ample opportunities for fishing and swimming.
The river is not consistently deep enough at this point to attract
canoers, but there are float plans available from local outfitters.
The main attraction at Sutton Bluff is the ATV trails, of which
there are more than 20 miles solely dedicated to ATVs and motorcycles.
Sutton Bluff is one of only two areas maintained by the Forest
Service in the Mark Twain system with ATV trails.
The area is featured in many national ATV publications and websites
because of its rugged, steep trails.
The ATV trails are clearly marked and the surrounding roads and
trails are patrolled by both Forest Service rangers and the Reynolds
County Sheriff's Department.
Around the country, ATV enthusiasts complain that the government
does not open enough public land for use by ATVs. Sutton Bluff
is one of the rare exceptions. Users, we are asked to observe
regulations and not endanger ATV privileges for everyone else.
Many of the trails come out on county roads. To drive on these
roads back to the campground or your starting location, you will
need to obtain an ATV permit from the Reynolds County Courthouse
in Centerville. Anyone found operating an ATV on county roads
without a permit by a sheriff's deputy or forest ranger will be
ticketed. There are also some further county regulations regarding
ATV use. For more information about regulations or to obtain a
permit, please call the Reynolds County Clerk's office at (573)
648-2494. Once you reach the courthouse switchboard, dial 9 and
then 1 for the clerk's office.
Sutton Bluff is also home to an Ozark Trail trailhead. The Ozark
Trail is one of the most unique ongoing projects in the country.
When it is completed, it will have over 500 miles of interconnected
hiking and- in most areas, including at Sutton Bluff- horseback
trails throughout the Ozark region.
The trail is complete going both north and south at Sutton Bluff.
The next trailhead north of Sutton Bluff is at Oates, and the
southern trail winds its way west and ends near Bunker.
Sutton Bluff also features a large camping area. There is a large
pavilion and picnic area and bathrooms with running water and
showers.
The campsites are well spread out and, in many cases, are separated
by rows of trees. The sites are not small and tightly packed together
like at campgrounds at other public facilities in the area.
To reach Sutton Bluff, turn off of Highway 21 onto Forest Service
Road 6636 about three miles north of Centerville. The campground
is located about eight miles from the highway. The ATV trails
begin within a couple of miles of the highway, and the Ozark Trail
head is located about 1.5 miles beyond the campground.
For more information about camping fees or for maps of the Ozark
Trail or Sutton Bluff ATV trails, contact the Mark Twain National
Forest Salem District Ranger Office at (573) 729-6656.