The Council Bluff Lake connector trail offers a short, .5-mile detour to the largest lake in Mark Twain National Forest. It's a relatively easy trek off the Trace Creek section of the OT for easy access to lakeside camping, swimming, and a peaceful change of scenery. Thanks to a 2006 reroute that bypasses a once-flooded area, this side trail offers a great side trip to longer hikes without much extra effort.