Frisco Highline Trail Damaged By Floods

(POLK COUNTY, Mo.) -- The week's floods wreaked havoc across the Ozarks. No where is that more true than a place that many visit to get close to nature.

Yet, it seems mother nature took out a good portion of the Frisco Highline Trail in Polk county, canceling a lot of people's plans.

Flood waters have damaged a good portion of the road along the trail -- forcing officials with the Ozark Greenways to temporarily close it just north of walnut grove from mile marker 17 to mile marker 23 at the Little Sac River.

The trail attracts many from around the Ozarks every weekend, but recent flooding has slowed the number of people visiting its pathway.

As a result of the recent floods a six mile portion of the trail has been badly damaged. The water washed out the trail's surface and damaged plenty of roads and small bridges.

Employees with the Ozark Greenways are now working hard to help cleanup the mess left after the flooding.

Nancy Snoderly and her husband, Rick are avid bike riders and were surprise to see the damage.

"It slows you way down. There's a lot more walking, I mean. It's okay. It kind of gives you a little bit of a break from riding, but it slows you way down. We've been out here a long time this, today since we got here," she said.

As a result, the organization has decided to cancel a few of its planned events.

A dedication for a new bridge -- has been canceled until further notice.

Judging from the debris left on several trees -- people can almost imagine just how high the water came in the area.

"Well when you go back up towards the new bridge, it had to be more than just 6 feet there because it was clear up," she said.

Despite the extensive damage caused by the flood -- people are still making their way through the trail -- trying to enjoy nature along the path.

"We just hope its fixed before we come back by September, which we've been talking about -- it's probably not going to be, but we're hoping anyway," said Snoderly.

Two major portions of the Frisco Highline Trail will remain open for the public to use--those include areas from Springfield to walnut grove and Wishart to Bolivar.

Officials with Ozark Greenways say they will be issuing updates to the public on the progress of the reconstruction and will notify the community about its re-opening on the internet.

To check for updates on progress click on the link provided by Ozark Greenways http://www.ozarkgreenways.org