Paddy Creek Wilderness

Paddy Creek Wilderness was first logged in the early 1800s by Sylvester Paddy, and was later homesteaded and used as open range until the 1930s. The Wilderness is shaped by Big Paddy and Little Paddy Creeks, which flow through steep cliffs and rocky outcroppings before joining the Big Piney River near the eastern boundary. Karst features such as caves and rock formations highlight the area's Ozark Highlands topography. The creeks run most of the year, lined by forests of black, white, and post oaks, hickories, and shortleaf pine. Wildlife typical of the Missouri Ozarks — deer, wild turkeys, foxes, and bobcats — is abundant. Eighteen miles of minimally marked trails cross the Wilderness, so maps and a compass are recommended. Travel is by foot or horseback only, as motorized and mechanized vehicles are prohibited. The area is in Missouri, is managed by the Forest Service, and was designated in 1983.