Kris Muldoon knows his way around the Ozark National Forest as well as others know their own neighborhoods.
Muldoon has been riding ATVs in the Ozarks back country since he was a kid. Now, as president of the Clarksville Johnson County Chamber of Commerce, he wants to share the joy of traveling the remote and rugged two-track routes with other off-road enthusiasts.
"Every place has its own beach. Something that other people want to come and see. This is our beach," Muldoon said, admiring a wilderness view worthy of an artist's canvas.
From a lofty hill top, miles of hill country forest stretched to a blue-sky horizon. Not one iota of civilization tainted the vista seen from the seat of Muldoon's ATV. It's a four-seater big enough to haul his whole family.
The chamber president and six of his friends were four miles into a 45-mile ride through the Ozark National Forest and Johnson County routes open to ATVs.
The four-hour trek visited deep valleys, hill tops, mountain streams and waterfalls. Some of the routes were so rugged they might give a mule pause. That's the kind of travel legions of off-road aficionados prefer, Muldoon said.
The riders stopped now and then at their favorite spots. One break was along Murray Creek, which flowed bank full, loud and proud with small stair-step waterfalls. It's a busy place during summer, Muldoon noted. A pool below the falls is a refreshing swimming hole for the ATV crowd, miles from the nearest pavement.
Lunch was at a meadow in front of the Union School house, circa 1929, out in the Johnson County back woods. Mike Howard pulled a log of deer summer sausage out of an ice chest and cut thick slices for the hungry bunch.
It's possible to hike into some of these forest delights, but not everyone is able to slog miles over a trail. Howard was part of the group bouncing through the wilderness. Medical issues prevent him from hiking far, but his two-seater ATV gets him into the woods -- most of it.
Not all roads and two-track trails in the Ozark National Forest are open to ATVs. Howard and Muldoon would like to see the U.S. Forest Service open more routes to ATV sight-seeing travel.
Howard said he wouldn't mind paying a fee, up to $60 per year, to ride through more of the forest.
The Ozark National Forest website points to concerns about erosion, water quality, wildlife habitat and disturbing other visitors as reasons for designating ATV routes. Maps of the routes, which cover hundreds of miles, are available on the web site.
Howard says the logging industry does more damage in the national forest than ATVs.
Through the year, Muldoon sees the out-of-state tags of vehicles towing trailers with one or more ATVs. The activity is a tourism gem the Chamber of Commerce is cultivating.
"When the chamber promotes the sport, it brings more customers to our local businesses. That's the chamber's job," he said.
Brian Eisele, the chamber's CEO, said the staff is working on a map of ATV routes in the area that should be available in February.
Off-road tourism has good potential, he said.
"People come here. They spend the night. They buy gas and eat in our restaurants," Eisele said.
For Muldoon and other ATV enthusiasts near Clarksville, the Johnson County back woods are their stomping grounds. To all they say, "Welcome to our neighborhood."
Away from the pavement
Hundreds of miles of back country routes are open for ATV riding in the Ozark National Forest and around Johnson County. Maps and regulations are available at the Ozark National Forest website. A map being developed by the Clarksville Johnson County Chamber of Commerce will be available soon.
Information: Contact the chamber at 479-754-2340, www.clarksvillejoco…. Contact the Ozark National Forest office in Clarksville at 479-754-2864 or visit the Ozark National Forest website.
Source: Staff report
Sports on 01/15/2019