The Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry is a 62,000-acre expanse of privately owned forest managed for public hiking and backpacking by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. It’s part of the Pioneer Forest, a conservation legacy of Leo Drey, and includes beautiful old-growth areas, peaceful streams, caves, and over 60 miles of trails like the Blair Creek and Brushy Creek loops. Named for conservationist Roger Pryor, the backcountry offers a unique and fantastic primitive wilderness experience in the heart of the Ozarks.