Missourians are blessed with some amazing state parks and conservation areas that are filled with awesome hiking trails. The Show Me State is home to some diverse landscapes that offer stunning views and unique sights that only require a short hike to enjoy. While there are many, many more great hiking destinations, this list of five of the best great hiking trails in Missouri are definitely bucket list-worthy.
- Devil’s Icebox Trail
Charles Garvin/AllTrails The Devil’s Icebox Trail is located in Rockbridge Memorial State Park and is one of the most unique trails in the state. This short boardwalk trail may be difficult for those who don’t do well with stairs. Once you make it to the bottom of the trail, you will realize why they call it the icebox. The cave formations keep the temperatures lower, which makes for a refreshing hike in the summer. The wet weather falls are a great bonus to an already beautiful hiking spot. Read more about Devil’s Icebox Trail, and start planning your trek today. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 5901 South Highway 163, Columbia, MO 65203, USA
- Katy Trail
J Unk/AllTrails The Katy Trail is a must for Missourians. This iconic trail stretches across most of the state. The Katy Trail is currently 240 miles long, starting from Machens and going all the way to Clinton. With easy accessability and mostly flat, well-maintained surfaces, any section of the trail is a winner. You’ll love the river views along the trail. It’s definitely one of the bucket list. Read more and plan your journey along the Katy Trail. Katy Trail, Clinton, MO, USA
- Devil’s Honeycomb Trail
Raymond Sprauge/AllTrails This 1.6-mile hike will not only treat you to amazing views but will also allow you to see some of Missouri’s most unusual geological formations. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, “The rhyolite of Hughes Mountain formed from ancient lava flows around 1.4 billion years ago.” Learn more about Devil’s Honeycomb Trail. Devil’s Honeycomb trailhead, Hughes Mtn, MO, Irondale, MO 63648, USA
- Shut-In Trail
Shellie Gonzalez/Flickr This 2.3-mile trail will take you to one of the prettiest waterfalls in all of Missouri. While this may not be the easiest hike on the list, your hard work will certainly pay off. Feel free to bring your pup along for this hike or your swimsuit, and cool off with a swim before you head home. Get all of the details on the Shut-In Trail. Sam A. Baker State Park, 5580 MO-143, Patterson, MO 63956, USA
- Hickory Canyons Trails
lavella98/TripAdvisor Hickory Canyons is a great nature area just outside of Ste. Genevieve. Before you visit the wineries in town, hit the trails. The best time to visit Hickory Canyon is after a rainy day, when all of the wet weather waterfalls are on display. However, the canyons are always beautiful and well worth the trip. Start planning your visit to Hickory Canyons. Hickory Canyons Natural Area, New Offenburg, MO 63670, USA
Do you agree that these are five of the best hikes in Missouri? If you had to pick your five favorite Missouri hikes, which trails would make your list? Share your list with our readers in the comments below.
Charles Garvin/AllTrails
The Devil’s Icebox Trail is located in Rockbridge Memorial State Park and is one of the most unique trails in the state. This short boardwalk trail may be difficult for those who don’t do well with stairs. Once you make it to the bottom of the trail, you will realize why they call it the icebox. The cave formations keep the temperatures lower, which makes for a refreshing hike in the summer. The wet weather falls are a great bonus to an already beautiful hiking spot. Read more about Devil’s Icebox Trail, and start planning your trek today.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 5901 South Highway 163, Columbia, MO 65203, USA
J Unk/AllTrails
The Katy Trail is a must for Missourians. This iconic trail stretches across most of the state. The Katy Trail is currently 240 miles long, starting from Machens and going all the way to Clinton. With easy accessability and mostly flat, well-maintained surfaces, any section of the trail is a winner. You’ll love the river views along the trail. It’s definitely one of the bucket list. Read more and plan your journey along the Katy Trail.
Katy Trail, Clinton, MO, USA
Raymond Sprauge/AllTrails
This 1.6-mile hike will not only treat you to amazing views but will also allow you to see some of Missouri’s most unusual geological formations. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, “The rhyolite of Hughes Mountain formed from ancient lava flows around 1.4 billion years ago.” Learn more about Devil’s Honeycomb Trail.
Devil’s Honeycomb trailhead, Hughes Mtn, MO, Irondale, MO 63648, USA
Shellie Gonzalez/Flickr
This 2.3-mile trail will take you to one of the prettiest waterfalls in all of Missouri. While this may not be the easiest hike on the list, your hard work will certainly pay off. Feel free to bring your pup along for this hike or your swimsuit, and cool off with a swim before you head home. Get all of the details on the Shut-In Trail.
Sam A. Baker State Park, 5580 MO-143, Patterson, MO 63956, USA
lavella98/TripAdvisor
Hickory Canyons is a great nature area just outside of Ste. Genevieve. Before you visit the wineries in town, hit the trails. The best time to visit Hickory Canyon is after a rainy day, when all of the wet weather waterfalls are on display. However, the canyons are always beautiful and well worth the trip. Start planning your visit to Hickory Canyons.
Hickory Canyons Natural Area, New Offenburg, MO 63670, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Missouri March 24, 2022 Beth Price-Williams What are some of the best kid-friendly hikes around Missouri? Remember when we were kids and had boundless energy? We might not have that same energy these days, but a good hike – with the kids in tow – can be invigorating. Fortunately, we have an abundance of easy hikes in Missouri that are also kid-friendly. You just have to know where to look. The Long Trail, which is actually pretty short at 1.6 miles, meanders through Springfield Nature Center. It’s perfect for exploring nature, keeping an eye out for wildlife, and for snapping photos. If the kiddos are up for a bit longer of a trek, follow the three-mile Drover’s Trail at Prairie State Park, where you’ll get an up close view of the resident bison. Are there any easy hikes at Elephant Rocks State Park in Missouri? Elephant Rocks State Park is the perfect destination for a family-friendly adventure. Follow the park’s lone one-mile trail, the Elephant Rocks Loop Trail, a picturesque, tree-lined path that leads to the ruins of a historic engine house. The path is perfect for a leisurely stroll any time of the year. However, the highlight of any visit to the park is, arguably, Elephant Rocks, a series of 1.5-billion year old granite stones that like look like circus elephants. The majestic rocks are particularly popular with the little ones, who often climb and explore them. Where are the most scenic hikes in Missouri? With such gorgeous landscape, it’s not hard to find beautiful hikes in Missouri. Stroll among the blossoming wildflowers, for example, along the 3.3-mile Quail Ridge Loop Trail in Wentzville. The trail’s dotted with scenic beauty – from colorful wildflowers to crystal clear streams. The majority of the trail is paved, too, making for an easy trek. Hawk Ridge Trail meanders four miles through Ballwin, offering stellar views of meadows brimming with wildflowers and towering trees. Next time you’re in St. Louis, set off on the picturesque Tower Grove Park Trail. It tallies 3.5 miles and offers a ton of natural beauty, including sprawling gardens and tumbling fountains.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Missouri
March 24, 2022
Beth Price-Williams
What are some of the best kid-friendly hikes around Missouri? Remember when we were kids and had boundless energy? We might not have that same energy these days, but a good hike – with the kids in tow – can be invigorating. Fortunately, we have an abundance of easy hikes in Missouri that are also kid-friendly. You just have to know where to look. The Long Trail, which is actually pretty short at 1.6 miles, meanders through Springfield Nature Center. It’s perfect for exploring nature, keeping an eye out for wildlife, and for snapping photos. If the kiddos are up for a bit longer of a trek, follow the three-mile Drover’s Trail at Prairie State Park, where you’ll get an up close view of the resident bison. Are there any easy hikes at Elephant Rocks State Park in Missouri? Elephant Rocks State Park is the perfect destination for a family-friendly adventure. Follow the park’s lone one-mile trail, the Elephant Rocks Loop Trail, a picturesque, tree-lined path that leads to the ruins of a historic engine house. The path is perfect for a leisurely stroll any time of the year. However, the highlight of any visit to the park is, arguably, Elephant Rocks, a series of 1.5-billion year old granite stones that like look like circus elephants. The majestic rocks are particularly popular with the little ones, who often climb and explore them. Where are the most scenic hikes in Missouri? With such gorgeous landscape, it’s not hard to find beautiful hikes in Missouri. Stroll among the blossoming wildflowers, for example, along the 3.3-mile Quail Ridge Loop Trail in Wentzville. The trail’s dotted with scenic beauty – from colorful wildflowers to crystal clear streams. The majority of the trail is paved, too, making for an easy trek. Hawk Ridge Trail meanders four miles through Ballwin, offering stellar views of meadows brimming with wildflowers and towering trees. Next time you’re in St. Louis, set off on the picturesque Tower Grove Park Trail. It tallies 3.5 miles and offers a ton of natural beauty, including sprawling gardens and tumbling fountains.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Remember when we were kids and had boundless energy? We might not have that same energy these days, but a good hike – with the kids in tow – can be invigorating. Fortunately, we have an abundance of easy hikes in Missouri that are also kid-friendly. You just have to know where to look. The Long Trail, which is actually pretty short at 1.6 miles, meanders through Springfield Nature Center. It’s perfect for exploring nature, keeping an eye out for wildlife, and for snapping photos. If the kiddos are up for a bit longer of a trek, follow the three-mile Drover’s Trail at Prairie State Park, where you’ll get an up close view of the resident bison.
Are there any easy hikes at Elephant Rocks State Park in Missouri?
Elephant Rocks State Park is the perfect destination for a family-friendly adventure. Follow the park’s lone one-mile trail, the Elephant Rocks Loop Trail, a picturesque, tree-lined path that leads to the ruins of a historic engine house. The path is perfect for a leisurely stroll any time of the year. However, the highlight of any visit to the park is, arguably, Elephant Rocks, a series of 1.5-billion year old granite stones that like look like circus elephants. The majestic rocks are particularly popular with the little ones, who often climb and explore them.
Where are the most scenic hikes in Missouri?
With such gorgeous landscape, it’s not hard to find beautiful hikes in Missouri. Stroll among the blossoming wildflowers, for example, along the 3.3-mile Quail Ridge Loop Trail in Wentzville. The trail’s dotted with scenic beauty – from colorful wildflowers to crystal clear streams. The majority of the trail is paved, too, making for an easy trek. Hawk Ridge Trail meanders four miles through Ballwin, offering stellar views of meadows brimming with wildflowers and towering trees. Next time you’re in St. Louis, set off on the picturesque Tower Grove Park Trail. It tallies 3.5 miles and offers a ton of natural beauty, including sprawling gardens and tumbling fountains.
