Artist Lee Copen takes her studio outdoors STORY AND PHOTOS by Jim McCarty On a beautiful summer day, Lee Copen sets up her easel and watercolor paints next to the iconic Alley Spring Mill. She ignores the obvious red mill — one of the most photographed and painted...
B4 Outdoors uses hunting, fishing and fellowship to give back to those who serve others Story and Photos by Sara Schafer The sun pierces the rolling timber of northeast Missouri, as Matthew Burke and Kevin Rhodes sit shoulder to shoulder inside a turkey blind. The...
A cliffside climbing course in Missouri state parks STORY AND PHOTOS by Ricki Spargo Tucked deep in the St. Francois Mountains, Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is best known for its rushing water and smooth pink rhyolite. On hot summer days, it’s packed with Missourians...
Ozarks man completes 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail STORY by Paul Newton The Ozarkian was never afraid of a good walk in the woods. Dave McVicker spent his youth in south-central Missouri exploring everything nature had to offer all around him. “Growing up here in the...
Cold weather angling offers solitude and success by Jim McCarty Those anglers who hang up their poles in the fall are missing out on a key truth about fishing: It’s a year-round activity. From catch-and-release trout to ice fishing on farm ponds, the fish continue to...
Adventure awaits in the Mark Twain National Forest by Jim McCarty | jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop These days it can be hard to get away from it all. Cell phones seem to intrude on whatever peace and quiet you find. Nature hides behind paved streets. Even the night sky...
Tips on making an award-winning Missouri State Park photo Once again, Missouri State Parks joins us in sponsoring the Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest, open to amateur photographers. If you love exploring the outdoors and capturing great moments, this is your chance...
Explore the longest, continuous rail-trail in the nation Stretching 240 miles across the belly of Missouri, the Katy Trail is a historical and recreational gem. Built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT Railroad), the Katy is the longest,...
Cardiac Mountain Outfitters offers unique way to fish Ozark streams by Kyle Wayne Stewart | info@ruralmissouri.coop The blue heron stood low on a branch jutting from the shoreline. It had been following the boat for the last quarter-mile, keeping a safe distance,...