Berryman Trail

The Berryman Trail is a pawesome option for a two- or three-day hiking adventure with your dog in Missouri. This 24-mile loop trail is dog-friendly, but your pooch is required to remain on a leash. If you're seeking a bit of solitude with your pet, this trail will be right up your alley! It isn't heavily trafficked, but it's well-maintained and easy to follow.

This trail is part of the Mark Twain National Forest, which covers 1.5-million acres of land throughout 29 counties in Missouri. This particular hike can be found near Potosi, and it's rated as moderate. If an overnight hiking adventure isn't an option for you, there are also day hike options. Along the trail, you'll find a few road closures, and some hikers choose these spots to turn around and head back the way they came.

During most of your hike, you'll be walking under heavy tree cover which will give you relief from the sun, but you'll also want to pack warm clothes just in case. The northern end of the trail has a campsite with toilets, as does the picnic area in the south. There's no drinking water along the trail, so be sure to pack plenty of your own. Alternatively, you can bring your own filter and drink water from one of the creeks that run along the trail.

The Berryman Trail is also open to mountain bikers and horseback riders, so be prepared to share the trail, although most hikers won't run into too many other people. Several forest roads interject the trail, so if you ever find yourself in need of a quick exit, it's easy to get off the path. Waterproof footwear is a good idea on this trail because you'll cross creeks a few times, but the trail tends to drain well.