Busiek State Forest takes up a whopping 2,505 acres, all of which are available for camping, hiking, and other activities. To find your way to this park, just follow the signs along Hwy 65. While this park doesn't have any breathtaking waterfalls or spectacular rock formations, it does offer free campsites and amazing hilltop view of the Ozark mountains and valleys. There's a small stream that runs through the middle of the property, and there's also a shooting range just on the other side of the bridge. The stream, Woods Fork Creek, is clear and cold, and it's usually around knee deep during the spring. The forest is lush and dense, and usually not too packed with visitors.
The trails are wide, which makes it easy for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. Hunting is allowed in the park, when in season, of course. There's even a hidden treasure tucked away at the top of one hill. After pulling into the parking lot, head south, cross Woods Fork Creek, and follow the path. This path leads up a very steep hill, that's quite large, so you'll want to be in decent shape to make this venture. At the top of the hill, you'll find an overgrown, forgotten cemetery. Most of the headstones aren't legible, but they date back as far as the Civil War. The park is open year round, and is free to public.
