Bell Mountain Trail
~3 days · 8.1 mi · easy · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Bell Mountain Trail is known for
An 8-mile figure-eight loop through the Bell Mountain Wilderness in the St. Francois Mountains of southern Missouri. The trail climbs to the rocky, open summit of Bell Mountain (1,702 ft), the second-highest point in Missouri, with panoramic views across the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. It passes through old-growth pine and mixed hardwood forest, with several stream crossings on the lower loop. The route is entirely within a designated Wilderness area — no motorized use, no fee, no facilities.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 3,520 ft to 5,554 ft over 8.1 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 3.1 mi · 38%
- Downhill 3.9 mi · 48%
- Flat 1.1 mi · 14%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Bell Mountain Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Bell Mountain Trail scores 9/100, a relative rating across the 1,243 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Bell Mountain Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the Bell Mountain Trail in about 3 days (2 nights out) over its 8.1 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Bell Mountain Trail?
The Bell Mountain Trail climbs roughly 896 ft total — about 111 ft per mile, topping out near 1,706 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.