Ozark's Mountain Challenge- Hiking (Ascent only)

We will crown an Alpha Lizard (male) and an Apex Lizard (female) who complete the most ascents.

In 2027 the Spark of Strength Ceremony will be held at the CCC Lodge on Friday, April 30. We will meet at 6:00 pm and should finish by 6:30 pm, leaving time to visit Wally B's or relax at your camp site or cabin. We will NOT be hiking to the top as a group this year.

Attendance is free and cold drinks are provided. No pre-registration is needed for this optional event.

Registration includes all food (breakfast, lunch and dinner), beverages and alcohol at the event and after-party, all hydration and nutrition at the aid stations, recovery aids at the recovery tent, event swag, the optional Spark of Strength Ceremony (Friday evening), and membership in a special tribe of endurance athletes.

Check-in and start

Check-in runs from 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday, or the night before at the CCC Lodge at Sam A. Baker State Park from 4 pm to 6 pm. The staggered start is at 7 a.m. Saturday. You have 12 hours to complete the challenge. An after-party follows at about 7 p.m.

Engineers studied the route and hiker volume to recommend the number and size of shuttles. Expected wait time is under 7 minutes. Use downtime to refuel with liquids and snacks, use the bathroom, and visit the recovery tent.

General

Spectators are allowed near the starting area to cheer on their friends and family. Pets are not allowed on the trail with hikers for safety reasons.

Additional meal and drink passes are available for $25 each. Your ticket already includes admission.

The minimum age is 16. Any minor must be registered with an adult.

The host, Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Most funds go to event expenses and marketing for next year's OzMC, and the rest supports regional tourism efforts through SeeTheOzarks, whose mission is to raise awareness of the points of interest in the Ozark Foothills.

Accommodations are your own responsibility, though the organizers can offer recommendations.

Contact Steve Halter at [email protected] or 573-429-8361 (cell).

No ticket transfers are allowed after March 15, 2027.

We have partnered with Missouri State Parks (Sam A. Baker Park) and our Platinum Sponsors to see who can hike 7,980 ft of elevation, the height of Mt. Olympus, right here in the Ozark region of Missouri. Each participant has twelve hours to hike eight times up Mudlick Mountain, which has the second highest vertical increase in the state of Missouri.

The route follows the Mudlick Hike Only Trail (available on the All Trails app) to the Mudlick Equestrian and Hike Trail, then the spur to Fire Tower Trail. All Trails rates this trail "hard" for its rugged terrain and inclines near 28% at times.

Once at the summit of Mudlick Mountain, shuttles take hikers back down to the trailhead.

Other participants and race volunteers will encourage you along the way.

If you cannot complete all 8 ascents or 23 miles, we will celebrate your achievement, even if it is one time (nearly 950 ft of elevation change and 2.8 miles). If you have competed before and want to beat last year, you may ascend additional times after you "Conquer Mt. Olympus," but you still have 12 hours.

For 2026 we adjusted the course out of an abundance of caution. Safety is our top priority. Participants sharing the road with shuttle traffic was not ideal, and hiking on trails is more enjoyable than on a gravel road without vehicle fumes.

Our goal is to ensure the longevity of this event and the safety of our community, many of whom return year after year. This change also opens the experience to more participants.

You will find training plan suggestions on the event page. Everyone starts at a different fitness level, and the event requires significant physical and mental toughness.

There is no shame in completing fewer than 8 ascents (23 miles, 7,980 ft of elevation change). Milestones are set for each ascent, and every ascent is celebrated.