Frozen Chosin Challenge

12/5/2025 to 12/7/2025 | Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park | Middle Brook, MO

From Dec. 5-7, Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park will host a series of winter treks collectively known as the Frozen Chosen Challenge. Sponsored by the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial, this event is designed to bring awareness to the Korean War – specifically the Battle of Chosin Reservoir – and its participants. All proceeds from the event support the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial.

This event consists of three separate challenges events over three days: the Chosin Challenge, the Devil Dog Challenge and the Warrior Challenge. The Chosin Challenge and the Devil Dog Challenge are rigorous backpacking and bivouacking treks along Goggins Mountain Equestrian Trail and a portion of the Ozark Trail. The Warrior Challenge is as an accessible walk along the Black River and Johnson’s Shut-Ins’ paved trail system. The purpose of the event is not for participants to compete against each other but to work as teams and ensure that each person completes the course.

For more information or to register for a course, please visit the official event listing on the Missouri Korean war Veterans Memorial website. Paid registration is required for each course, and participants are expected to review all the information about their course. A brief summary of each course is provided below; more information is available on the official website.

Courses:

Chosin Challenge – rigorous 40-mile trek

Start time: staggered start from 7-10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5

End time: 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7

The Chosin Challenge Course is a rigorous 40-mile winter trek spanning three days and two nights. This course requires a two-night bivouac. It uses Goggins Mountain Equestrian Trail and a portion of the Ozark Trail, including a section in Taum Sauk Mountain State Park.

The course begins in the Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park campground. It takes participants along a 28.5-mile journey outbound across Goggins Mountain and along the Ozark Trail. Challengers will traverse ancient mountains, ford the Black River, and ascend and descend the state's highest waterfall and highest point. The trail then goes back along 11.5 miles through the Devil’s Tollgate, long ascents and another winter river crossing back to Johnson’s Shut-Ins.

This route was designed to replicate the conditions that service members endured during their 16-day 78-mile fighting withdrawal in temperatures as low as 35 degrees below zero.

Devil Dog Challenge – difficult 17-mile trek

Start time: staggered start from 7-10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6

End time: 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7

A shorter version of the Chosin Challenge course, Devil Dog begins at the trailhead in the Johnson's Shut-Ins campground and ends in the park's day-use area. Like Chosin Challenge, it features rugged mountain terrain and crosses the Black River, but it is less than half the distance and requires only one winter bivouac. 

Warrior Challenge – accessible 3.6-mile walk

Start time: 9 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7

End time: noon on Sunday, Dec. 7

Beginning near the trailhead in the Johnson's Shut-Ins campground, this 3.6-mile course traverses open fields before crossing under Highway N and over a bridge at Cope Hollow. It then winds along the Black River to the shut-Ins and a wheelchair-accessible 0.3-mile boardwalk trail above the flowing waters of the shut-ins. The trail then follows the Black River Trail System back to the Johnson’s Shut-Ins day-use area and the finish line. 

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park is located at: