The North Sylamore Creek Trail between Gunner Pool and Blanchard Springs was seriously obstructed by a March 14 tornado and the Blanchard Springs to Allison segment was obstructed by flood debris that accompanied that storm. Thanks to the efforts of a group of volunteers from the Ozark Highlands Trails Association, some of the obstruction is gone.

The EF-4 tornado crossed the trail and the creek about halfway between the mouths of Bee Branch and Bad Branch, leaving few trees standing. Over the period of May 21-23 2025 approximately 2 dozen OHTA volunteers (including moi) and a couple USFS employees worked in 3 groups with chain saws, hand saws, loppers, and various other implements to clear all the obstructions from Blanchard Springs west almost to Bee Branch. The 2 miles of trail from Bee Branch west to Gunner Pool might have a few random trees down but should be passable. The USFS will reopen the trail between Blanchard Springs and Gunner Pool very soon. As of today the campground and day use areas at Blanchard Springs remain closed so the closest trail access in the mean time would be to park up the hill at the waste cleanout station (which is outside the gate) and walk down to the trail head in the day use area.

On days 1 & 2, 2 groups attacked from either side the core 1/2-mile of destruction – described by many as a “wall of trees” – finally meeting in the middle. My group spent day 1 working the fringe area east of the core, clearing about 1.4 miles to Blanchard Springs. On day 2 we flipped to the western fringe and began working upstream, clearing only 450′ of trail. On day 3, everyone attacked the western fringe and cleared the remaining 3/8-mile.

I haven’t seen it but the area downstream of Blanchard Springs is reported to be an even bigger mess. High water from the White River backed-up into the high water of North Sylamore Creek, which was carrying a lot of tornado debris, and as the current slowed the debris was deposited. There is apparently a 15′-tall pile of stuff beginning about a mile downstream of the Blanchard Springs area so the trail to Allison might be closed for a long time. A USFS person said they’ll probably have to get heavy mechanized equipment into the area somehow to address the obstruction. I suggested dynamite.