The Ozark Trail Association was founded in 2002, and has added more than 50 miles of trail to date, most constructed by volunteers. The association continues to maintain and expand the Ozark Trail. April 29th, 2006 was proclaimed “Ozark Trail Day” by Missouri’s governor, and in May 2008 a portion of the trail was designated a National Recreational Trail. In 2013 Missouri was named Best Trails State at the International Trails Symposium, due in part to the increasing popularity of the Ozark Trail.