The Koen Interpretive Trail is short little trail that is both easy to get to and easy to hike.
The trail is in the Koen Experimental Forest. The Experimental Forest was created in 1950 with the goal of studying plant life in the south Ozarks and understanding sustainability of the forests in the area.
The Koen Interpretive Trail is a short, .25 mile loop through the Koen Interpretive Forest. There are also a couple of short spur trails here that connect the different sides of the loop, so if you take them all it will be about .4 miles total.
The trail is a nice, flat, packed trail, that is handicapped accessible and is a good trail for folks of all ages. Along the trail, 34 different types of trees and plants are well marked to help you in recognizing both native and non-native species. There are also many different types of wild flowers and bird species in the forest.
There are plenty of sitting areas, as well as a nice little picnic area at the trailhead that makes this a great outing for families looking to spend some time outdoors. This trail can also be easily combined with the Ponds Loop Trail -- which is just down the road - for two short, easy, family friendly hikes.
Getting there:
The trail is easy to get to, as well as to hike. From Jasper, take Highway 7 North 4 miles to Highway 79 (gravel) - this is about 2.5 miles South of Pruitt.
Go West on Highway 79 (marked by a sign pointing you to the Erbie Campground, which is now closed). At .4 miles, a sign will point for you to turn right to get to the Koen Intepretive Trail, turn right on this dirt road. The parking area and picnic spot are about 200 yards down this road.
Difficulty: Easy
Footwear: Anything will work
Trail Guide: Not required, but covered in Tim Ernst's Buffalo River Hiking Trails
Kid Friendly: Yes!
