10 Amazing Missouri Hikes Under 3 Miles You'll Absolutely Love
By Liz Oliver|Updated on August 12, 2022(Originally published August 05, 2022)
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Liz Oliver
Author
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
Missouri is full of amazing parks and conservation areas that offer some great little hiking trails. You can find a wide range of dog-friendly, ADA-accessible nature trails that aren’t an all-day adventure. Check out these beautiful trails that tally less than three miles and are considered some of the best hikes in Missouri.
1. Engine House Ruins Trail - Elephant Rocks State Park
Elephant Rocks State Park, 7390, 7406 MO-21, Belleview, MO 63623, USA
The Engine House Ruins Trail sits inside Elephant Rocks State Park and is an easy 1.5-mile hike. The trail is paved and is ADA-accessible. Leading to the ruins of a 1902 train engine house, this is one of the best hikes in Missouri. You definitely don't want to forget your camera, and after you've traversed this picturesque path, head over to Elephant Rocks for a bit of exploration. Read more about this trail to historic Missouri ruins in our previous article.
2. Johnson's Shut-Ins Sate Park Trail - Lesterville
Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park Campground, Middle Brook, MO 63656, USA
This trail, located in Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, is a 2.5-mile loop with amazing views. The rocky terrain and series of stairs may get you a bit sweaty, but cool off with a swim in the shut-ins once you finish. The shut-ins are a popular natural waterpark in Missouri, but be prepared for the crowds if you visit on one of the hottest days of the summer. Are you up for hiking two amazing Missouri trails at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park?
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3. Klondike Park Trail - Augusta
Klondike Park, 4600 S Missouri 94, Augusta, MO 63332, USA
The Klondike Park Trail is one of the shortest on the list at 1.4 miles. Pass a picturesque lake, and consider a bike ride on the near by Katy Trail when you finish. If you've never been to Klondike Park, you're in for a real treat and, likely, a huge surprise. Did you know that this pretty Missouri park is home to a white sand beach? Yep, and it's absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, you can't swim in the lake, but you can take a stroll barefoot along the soft sand. Get a peek at this hidden gem in Missouri in our previous article.
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4. Devil's Icebox Trail - Rockbridge Memorial State Park
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 5901 South Highway 163, Columbia, MO 65203, USA
The Devil's Icebox Trail is only 2.5 miles with amazing scenery. This trail will lead you over streams and through the woods. It even provides a view of the Devil's Icebox cave. Unfortunately, tours of the cave are no longer being offered, in an effort to protect the resident bats. The trek is still worth the effort for just a peek at this natural wonder in Missouri.
5. Trail Among The Trees - Rockwoods Reservation Conservation Area
Rockwoods Reservation, 2751 Glencoe Rd, Wildwood, MO 63038, USA
Considered one of the best hikes in Missouri, Trail Among the Trees is a short 1.8 mile-loop that's drenched in natural beauty. The picturesque path scores an easy rating. However, due to some stairs and elevation gains, it is not ADA-accessible. Pups are allowed on the Missouri trail. Learn more about this kid-friendly hike in Missouri in our previous article.
Mastodon State Historic Site has two separate trails. The wildflower trail is only 0.6 miles and is gravel paved. It's pretty all year around but to get the full impact, you definitely have to follow this path in the springtime when the flowers are in full bloom. Regardless of which trail you follow, walk where Mastodons roamed over 12,000 years ago! Check out this easy Missouri hike in our previous article.
8. Greer Spring Trail - Mark Twain National Forest
Mark Twain National Forest, Birch Tree Township, MO 65438, USA
Visit Mark Twain National Forest to find Greer Springs Trail. This 1.8-mile trail features Missouri's second largest spring. It produces more than 222 million gallons of water each day. The path is dotted with picturesque footbridges and educational placards. Will you hike the trail to this beautiful Missouri spring?
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9. Powder Valley Nature Center Trail - St. Louis
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122, USA
Powder Valley Nature Center Trail is a paved 2.4-mile loop. On quiet days visitors can spot wildlife - from deer to turkey - without having to go outside of the St. Louis metro area. Carve out time to visit the indoor area of the nature center, which is home to an aquarium, a beehive, and more. Find out why this Missouri nature center is heaven on earth.
10. Graham Cave Loop - Montgomery City
Graham Cave State Park, 217 State Hwy TT, Danville, MO 63361, USA
Graham Cave Loop is 2.7 miles long and provides access to Graham Cave. Most of this area was inhabited by American Indians and remains virtually untouched by modern civilization. Read more about Graham Cave in our previous article.
Whether you’re new to hiking or a seasoned veteran these trails are worth the trip. Do you agree that these are some of the best hikes in Missouri? Let us know in the comments! Next time you’re up for more adventure, plan a visit to this gorgeous Missouri spring.
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Best Hikes In Missouri
Beth Price-Williams|August 11, 2022
What are some easy hikes in Missouri?
Some of the best hikes in Missouri are also the easiest. The one-mile Cave Spring Trail in Kansas City, for example, is a kid-friendly hike in Missouri that promises a ton of fun for kiddos (and adults!) of all ages, and it includes some fascinating stone structures. At less than a mile, the Old Kate Trail at Parkville Nature Sanctuary is perhaps best known for its gorgeous waterfall. If you love animals, you can’t go wrong with a trek along the three-mile Drover’s Trail, which meanders through Prairie State Park and offers up-close views of the resident wild buffalo. (Take your camera, and remember not to get too close!)
