Sponsored: Devil’s Knob-Devil’s Backbone Natural Area

Located about 10 miles southwest of Melbourne in the Ozark Mountains, Devil’s Knob-Devil's Backbone Natural Area includes limestone, dolomite, and sandstone glades, woodlands, and bluffs. Local topography includes an uplifted ridge with two knolls joined by a saddle known as Devil’s Backbone. Glades and bluffs on the natural area support several rare plant species and the bluffs are home Ashe's juniper trees, some hundreds of years old.DKDB Natural Area has a 1.25-mile roundtrip trail that takes visitors past Ashe's juniper trees, through open glades and underneath shelter bluffs, which include interesting rock formations. Beautiful views from rocky outcrops and vistas can be seen at many points along the trail. Blue diamond markers indicate the pathway in most locations. Where there are fewer trees to attach blue diamond markers, the trail is marked with blue ribbon ties. The trail is considered moderate because of the short, but steep climb to the top of the mountain; the rest of the trail is relatively flat once you are on top of the backbone. Download a trail map here.

Several types of hunting are allowed in the Devil’s Knob Natural Area WMA.