The Basics
Sutton Bluff Motorcycle & ATV Use Area
Highway 21/Highway 72
Centerville, MO
Phone: (573) 438-5427 (Potosi/Fredericktown District Office)
Closest Towns: Centerville, Salem
Directions: From Centerville: Travel North on Highway 21/72 approx. 2.5 miles to CR# 907 on your left. (There should be a sign at the turnoff) Take CR# 907 approx. 6.7 miles to the junction with CR# 849. Turn Left onto CR# 849 and go approx. 2.4 miles (keeping right/straight at 2.1) to the campground on your Left.
About Sutton Bluff Offroad Area
Located in the rugged hills of the West Fork of the Black River, near Centerville, Sutton Bluff Recreation Area offers plenty of miles of trails for the ATV/dirtbike rider, mountain biker or hiker. The area contains over 20 miles of maintained trails, with more scheduled to be built in the near future. The riding area is one of two located on the MTNF, with the other being the Chadwick Motorcycle & ATV Use Area near Chadwick in Southwest Missouri. Although much smaller than Chadwick, the Sutton Bluff riding area offers many more scenic views.
The Trails
The Sutton Bluff offroad area offers riders nearly 23 miles of maintained trails open to ATVs, dirtbikes, and mountain bikes. Future development may add up to another 14 miles of additional trails. There are different levels of difficulty per trail, each following the forest ridge tops and/or crossing steep hollows. Trail segments are accessed via County and Forest roads; trails cannot be accessed directly from the campground without riding along the road. State regulations apply to all vehicles using public County and Forest roads.
Only numbered trails are open for riding. Please do not travel on closed routes, or go off trail. Hill climbing is not allowed. Helmets are required for riders under the age of 18, and recommended for all others. An approved muffler and spark arrester must be properly installed to operate a motorized vehicle on any trail. Only motorized vehicles under 50" wide may be operated on the trails. State regulations apply to all vehicles using public County and Forest roads. A permit is required for ATVs, UTVs, and dirtbikes on trails. Permits are good at both Chadwick and Sutton Bluff.
Another option for hikers, as well as backpackers, is the Karkaghne Section of the Ozark Trail, which passes next to the campground and along CR# 849, which is also the Karkaghne Scenic Drive. This nearly 30-mile section of the Ozark Trail connects the Middle Fork Section, at Hwy J near Oates, to the Blair Creek Section, at Hwy P and Hwy 72 near Bunker.
Sutton Bluff Campground
Sutton Bluff Campground is located along the bank of the West Fork of the Black River. The newl renovated campground offers 34 campsites. Three of those are double sites, and one is a group site; the rest are single sites. Fourteen sites offer electricity, the rest (incouding the group site) are primitive with no hookups. There are no water or sewer hookups at any site. A centrally located restroom also offers hot showers and drinking water. Each campsite offers a picnic table, pedestal grill, and lantern post. Most sites have wide, flat-to-gently sloping parking pads that can accomodate ATVs and trailers.
A group picnic pavilion is also available, offering 10 tables, as well as pedestal grills, and can accomodate up to 32 persons. It can be reserved through www.recreation.gov, or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
West Fork of the Black River
The West fork of the Black River, which skirts the edge of the campground, is a scenic and beautiful river thats adds so much to the area. During the hot summer months, this river is popular with campers for swimming. It is also popular year-round with anglers, looking to catch a smallmouth bass. The river has cut some fairly tall bluffs, including Sutton Bluff, which lends its name to the area.
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