Blue Buck Knob Scenic Byway
Blue Buck Knob Scenic Byway is a National Forest Scenic Byway in Missouri. Within Missouri it covers roughly 22 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Blue Buck Knob Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The Blue Buck Knob Scenic Byway is a 24-mile National Forest Scenic Byway through Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest, cutting through farmland, open pasture, and densely wooded hillsides. Oak and pine forest lines most of the drive, opening periodically at overlooks including Indian Creek Overlook and Blue Buck Overlook, with the Children's Forest and Blue Hole Trailhead providing access to the Ridge Runner and Ozark Trails for hikers wanting to get off the road. Noblett Lake Recreation Area, centered on a 26-acre lake, offers picnicking, fishing, birdwatching, and canoeing, along with 13 miles of maintained trail winding through ridgetops and hollows in mixed oak hardwood and southern pine, open to hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. The route runs through Ozark limestone karst country, known for its sinkholes and underground drainage. Its short length makes it a manageable afternoon excursion, though the trail network and Noblett Lake are worth stretching it into a full weekend.
- 24 miles, Mark Twain National Forest
- Indian Creek & Blue Buck overlooks
- Noblett Lake Recreation Area
- Ridge Runner & Ozark Trails access
- Ozark karst limestone terrain
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What is a National Forest Scenic Byway?
National Forest Scenic Byways are routes designated by the U.S. Forest Service that thread through the mountains, canyons and old growth of America's national forests and grasslands.
Where to Stay along Blue Buck Knob Scenic Byway
1 campground or RV park sits within about 5 miles of Blue Buck Knob Scenic Byway.
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