Sandwiched between the cities of Saint Louis on the Mississippi River and Kansas City on the Missouri River, the state of Missouri lies at the crossroads of the Midwest, the South, and the Great Plains. With its mix of landscapes and geography, Missouri has many opportunities for outdoor recreation on its wide system of trails, and with campgrounds galore, Missouri is great for all kinds of travel, whether scenic driving, road biking, mountain biking, or hiking.
The southern half of the state is marked by the Ozark Mountains, where great hiking trails await in Mark Twain National Forest, Bell Mountain Wilderness Area, and Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, which houses Missouri’s highest point and its largest waterfall. Better yet, all of these destinations lie within an easy day trip of Saint Louis, Cape Girardeau, and Springfield. Great mountain biking trails are available in the region as well, including the Berryman Trail, Blue River Parkway, and Krug Park. The adventurous will enjoy following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, who paddled on the Missouri River. Nowadays, the KATY Trail runs on essentially the same path, a converted rail-trail that crosses the center of the state from east to west through Jefferson City. Regardless of whether they are following the entire length of the route or just making a quick day trip, both mountain bikers and hikers will find the trail to their liking with many great destinations along the way.
Find all Missouri trails
Find all Missouri hiking trails
Find all Missouri mountain bike trails
