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M-K-T Trail Plaza

4.8 ★★★★★ 32 Google reviews · Running trail in Columbia, Missouri · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from M-K-T Trail Plaza's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicRestrooms

What runners say about M-K-T Trail Plaza

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (32 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Very clean trails and a beautiful park!”

Great multipurpose trail. We use it primarily as park of our half marathon training regimen and long distance biking adventures. People are friendly on the trails and dogs are welcome! The trail is wide and passing can be done easily

★★★★★ — Technicavox , Feb 2020

There's not another trail in Missouri that I've ever come across that can even come close to the MKT if you like wide open straight and long trails rather than mud or off-road in general

★★★★★ — Joshua , Aug 2023

Beautiful area. Awesome trail. Bathrooms in Columbia are poorly kept. Like nasty! All of them! At any Columbia park...nasty bathrooms! The trail is very nice.

★★★★☆ — Jeff , Jul 2023

Very clean trails and a beautiful park! Great for walking or bike rides!

★★★★★ — Isabella , May 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 32 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“Very clean trails and a beautiful park!”

More trails like this →

🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Bathrooms in Columbia are poorly kept.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at M-K-T Trail Plaza

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitecomo.gov
  • Phone+1 573-874-7460

Hours

Monday 6 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10 pm
Thursday 6 am–10 pm
Friday 6 am–10 pm
Saturday 6 am–10 pm
Sunday 6 am–10 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find M-K-T Trail Plaza

501 S Providence Rd, Columbia, MO 65203

Get directions

Running trails near Columbia

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

MKT Nature and Fitness Trail

4.9 ★★★★★ 109 reviews

Columbia, MO

4.2 miMixedScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring a public restroom and walking and biking trails.

under a mile away

Capen Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 393 reviews

Columbia, MO

MixedScenicDog-friendly

31.9-acre park featuring hiking trails, a creek & rocky bluffs with scenic overlooks.

1.3 miles away

Grindstone Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Columbia, MO

30 miPavedDog-friendly

1.8 miles away

Grindstone Nature Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 475 reviews

Columbia, MO

MixedScenicDog-friendly

199-acre park featuring nature trails & scenic overlooks, plus picnicking & a leash-free dog area.

1.8 miles away

3M Flat Branch-Hinkson Creek Wetlands

4.8 ★★★★★ 50 reviews

Columbia, MO

LoopScenicDog-friendly

Well-maintained trail popular for jogging, walking and bicycling, with frequent wildlife sightings.

1.9 miles away

Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area (Cosmo Park)

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,803 reviews

Columbia, MO

PavedShadedLitDog-friendly

Columbia's largest park, with ball fields, tennis courts, a golf course, trails & fishing ponds.

2.3 miles away

All running trails in Columbia, MO →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.