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Flat & Fast Running Trails in Missouri

Missouri has 74 trails with flat, fast terrain in this directory, across 45 cities and towns — Independence, Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis and 41 more. Gentle grades for tempo efforts, goal-pace long runs and steady miles.

Labels come from each trail's own listing, its website and runners' reviews. Conditions change with the weather and the season, and gates and lights follow the park's own hours, so check a recent review before you drive out.

Every one in Missouri

Use the filters to narrow these by surface, loop, distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and parking.

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Bennett Spring State Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 4,143 reviews

Lebanon, MO

Scenic

Serious trout fishing in a stocked stream, plus camping, hiking, canoeing & a rustic dining lodge.

Castlewood State Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 3,762 reviews

Ballwin, MO

3 miPavedScenicDog-friendly

A leisure destination for St. Louisans in the early 1900s, now popular for hiking & mountain biking.

Grand Falls

4.7 ★★★★★ 2,895 reviews

Joplin, MO

Scenic

Scenic waterfall cascading off a 163-ft.-wide ledge, plus creek pools for swimming & fishing.

St. Francois State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,848 reviews

Bonne Terre, MO

LoopNatural surfaceLitScenic

Spacious natural area with forested hiking & horse trails, river access, campgrounds & picnic sites.

Table Rock Lakeshore Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,165 reviews

Branson, MO

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Peaceful trail alongside the lake with picnic spots and benches.

Knob Noster State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,051 reviews

Knob Noster, MO

MixedShadedDog-friendly

A creek meanders through this wooded park offering camping, hiking, riding, fishing & boating.

Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 751 reviews

Ironton, MO

MixedScenic

Route 66 State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 768 reviews

Eureka, MO

PavedScenic

Nature Trail At Unity Village

4.7 ★★★★★ 600 reviews

Unity Village, MO

5 miLoopMixedLit

Peaceful nature trail featuring a natural bridge and a lake.

Lake Wappapello State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 581 reviews

Williamsville, MO

LoopCrushed gravelScenic

Large park with trails for hiking & biking, a lake for boat rentals & fishing, plus campsites.

Two Rivers Mountain Bike Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 503 reviews

Highlandville, MO

Natural surfaceScenic

Public park with picnic tables, trails for hiking, biking, and sledding, and a disc-golf course.

LaBenite Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 534 reviews

Independence, MO

Scenic

Scenic park bordering the Missouri River featuring hiking trails and picnic tables.

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.

Emmenegger Nature Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 456 reviews

St. Louis, MO

2 miLoopPavedShaded

A river meanders through woodlands on this placid, 93-acre retreat featuring hiking & picnicking.

River Scene Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 364 reviews

Ballwin, MO

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Kids-friendly state park featuring scenic trails and playgrounds.

Valley Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 370 reviews

Grandview, MO

Shaded

Neighborhood park with a playground featuring swings, slides, and a climbing rope.

Line Creek Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 351 reviews

Kansas City, MO

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Kid-friendly, shaded, paved creek-side park known for its hiking trails and train rides, plus playgrounds.

Schroeder Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 354 reviews

Manchester, MO

PavedScenic

Park featuring disc golf and a swimming pool, plus tennis and volleyball courts.

Amity Woods Nature Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 356 reviews

Kansas City, MO

1 miLoopMixedShaded

Kid-friendly park featuring a wide paved trail and offshoots with wood chips, plus benches.

Lewis and Clark Trailhead Weldon Spring Conservation Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 292 reviews

Defiance, MO

8 miLoopMixedScenic

Scenic nature preserve featuring 5- and 8-mile wooded trails with river views and cliff overlooks.

Rocky Top Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 279 reviews

Osage Beach, MO

LoopNatural surfaceShadedLit

Hiking trail through forest and by a lake offering scenic views.

Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 265 reviews

Miami, MO

BoardwalkScenic

Well-groomed state park featuring trails and a campground, as well as a lake and playground.

Landahl Mountain Bike Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 258 reviews

Independence, MO

Natural surface

Park with a network of trails for hiking and mountain biking.

Kritser Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 278 reviews

Raytown, MO

PavedDog-friendly

Park featuring trails for hiking and jogging as well as playgrounds, lawns, baseball fields and swings.

Al Foster Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 233 reviews

Wildwood, MO

MixedShadedScenic

Flat, easy path along the river at this outdoor spot featuring a narrow-gauge train ride for kids.

Rock Island 98th Street (Vale) Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 231 reviews

Kansas City, MO

10 miMixedShadedScenic

Well-maintained trail featuring a tunnel, plus shaded areas for running and walking.

Katy Trail - North Jefferson City Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 233 reviews

Holts Summit, MO

Scenic

Section of 238-mi. state park trail along a former railroad, popular with cyclists, hikers & riders.

Meramec Greenway Trailhead: Arnold's Grove

4.7 ★★★★★ 230 reviews

Valley Park, MO

MixedShadedScenic

Paved trail network beside the Meramec River and lake featuring picnic tables, trees and parking.

River's Edge Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 236 reviews

Chesterfield, MO

LoopMixedShadedScenic

Park offering a pond and river views, plus trails, benches, and a public restroom.

Bear Creek Trail - N Creasy Springs Road Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 218 reviews

Columbia, MO

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

Public park with scenic hiking and biking trails, a boardwalk, and turtles.

Frisco Highline Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 202 reviews

Springfield, MO

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Kid-friendly, flat hiking and biking trail running from Springfield to Bolivar.

Ozark Rivers Audubon - Nature Center

4.7 ★★★★★ 201 reviews

Rolla, MO

LoopScenic

Naturalistic preserve dedicated to community education & native habitat preservation.

Sunset Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 205 reviews

Branson, MO

MixedShadedLitScenic

Flat, well-maintained park featuring a disk golf course and a lake.

Rock Island Spur Pleasant Hill Trailhead

4.4 ★★★★☆ 203 reviews

Pleasant Hill, MO

Crushed gravel

Tree-shaded biking trail with parking and a public restroom.

Bangert Island

4.2 ★★★★☆ 183 reviews

St Charles, MO

LoopNatural surfaceShadedScenic

Trail that winds through wooded areas and parkland, with mountain biking possibilities.

Katy Trail - McBaine Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 157 reviews

Columbia, MO

MixedScenic

Laid-back trail and bike path for outdoor recreation, featuring water fountains and river views.

Meramec Greenway Trailhead: Lower Meramec Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 155 reviews

St. Louis, MO

2 miPavedShadedScenic

Paved, dog-friendly hiking trail with scenic river views and benches.

Nature Trails

4.7 ★★★★★ 146 reviews

Branson, MO

LoopMixedScenic

Hiking area with kid-friendly paths and a tower offering scenic views.

Blue River Parkway Trailhead in Minor Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 146 reviews

Kansas City, MO

Natural surfaceShadedScenic

Park featuring trails for hiking and mountain biking, along with tennis and basketball courts.

Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area

4.4 ★★★★☆ 151 reviews

Hazelwood, MO

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

Former seminary retreat with wetlands, woods & fields for hiking, bird-watching, fishing & hunting.

Osage Trails Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 143 reviews

Lee's Summit, MO

PavedDog-friendly

Spacious park featuring a playground as well as a walking / running path.

Al Foster Trail at Sherman Beach Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 142 reviews

Wildwood, MO

5.5 miMixedScenicDog-friendly

Nature preserve featuring hiking and biking trails, and wooded areas.

MKT Trail - Scott Boulevard Access

4.7 ★★★★★ 138 reviews

Columbia, MO

Playground featuring a train motif alongside a basketball court and soccer field.

Frisco Greenway Trail Head -Joplin

4.5 ★★★★★ 135 reviews

Joplin, MO

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Popular greenway for walking, biking and running, with wildlife sightings.

Saint Joseph Riverwalk - South Entrance

4.1 ★★★★☆ 145 reviews

St Joseph, MO

PavedScenic

Paved, scenic riverside trail winding past historical markers, wildlife refuges and casinos.

Little Blue Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 129 reviews

Independence, MO

MixedScenic

Park featuring a trail for hikers, bikers, and runners.

Lime Kiln Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 116 reviews

Glencoe, MO

3 miLoopNatural surface

Peaceful hiking area with a 3-mile loop trail featuring a creek, elevation, and rocky parts.

Lower Meramec Park,Trails, & Lake

4.5 ★★★★★ 120 reviews

St. Louis, MO

1 miPavedShadedScenic

Paved trail (about 2 miles each way) for hiking and biking alongside the Meramec River.

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.

Katy Trail - Hartsburg Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 109 reviews

Hartsburg, MO

Scenic

Public park with a picnic area, restroom, and trailhead, plus a pumpkin festival.

Little Blue Trace County Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 115 reviews

Independence, MO

MixedScenic

Scenic path winding through parks, with picnic tables, for hikers and cyclists.

Heatherbrook Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 108 reviews

St Charles, MO

Crushed gravelScenic

Compact green space featuring picnic tables, a playground, a pond and a pavilion with a barbecue grill.

Clark's Hill/Norton State Historic Site

4.5 ★★★★★ 107 reviews

Jefferson City, MO

Natural surfaceScenic

Historic hill where Lewis & Clark once camped in 1804 featuring Indian mounds & a trail.

Missouri Riverfront Trail Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 90 reviews

Riverside, MO

1 miMixedScenicDog-friendly

Hiking trail for walking or biking between English Landing Park and Riverside Park.

Rock Island Trailhead Hartman Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 80 reviews

Lee's Summit, MO

MixedScenic

Popular, scenic trail, plus a playground and a baseball field.

Grotpeter Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 83 reviews

Ballwin, MO

1.1 miLoopMixedScenic

Hike-and-bike spot with views of woods and rivers, plus dog-friendly policies.

Greentree Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 76 reviews

Kirkwood, MO

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Spacious, riverside, greenway park for walking, biking, and boating.

Missouri Greenway Trailhead: Monarch Chesterfield Levee Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 77 reviews

Chesterfield, MO

PavedScenic

Kid-friendly paved hiking area that's good for biking and set behind a shopping center.

Little Blue Trace Trail - Ripley Junction

4.5 ★★★★★ 76 reviews

Independence, MO

Scenic

Park featuring kid-friendly hiking trails, as well as picnic tables.

Little Blue Trace Trailhead North endpoint

4.6 ★★★★★ 70 reviews

Independence, MO

Mixed

Park with walking and biking trails, some paved and some gravel.

Frisco Greenway Trail - St. Louis Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 63 reviews

Joplin, MO

Crushed gravelShaded

Gravel pathways, great for bicycling and walking, in a tranquil wooded area.

Ward Branch Greenway Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 61 reviews

Springfield, MO

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Scenic green space with trails for walking, running and biking along a creek.

Strawberry Creek Nature Area

4.2 ★★★★☆ 63 reviews

Arnold, MO

Trail-filled park featuring novice-level hikes, a creek, and benches, plus picnic tables.

Frisco Highline Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 59 reviews

Bolivar, MO

37.6 miMixedScenicDog-friendly

Cabin Fever Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 51 reviews

Smithville, MO

PavedShadedScenic

Paved, lakeside trail for biking and walking, with scenic views and picnic areas.

Teszars Woods Conservation Area

3.8 ★★★★☆ 64 reviews

Arnold, MO

PavedDog-friendly

Nature preserve featuring rabbits and kid-friendly hiking trails.

Prairie Creek Greenway Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 42 reviews

Platte City, MO

LoopPavedScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring 4.3 mi. of paved trails with hills through neighborhoods and green spaces.

Meramec Greenway: Krumm Road Trailhead

4.9 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

St. Louis, MO

PavedShaded

Paved pathway for walking and biking, plus an earthen trail through the woods.

Trolley Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 32 reviews

Kansas City, MO

Fee Fee Greenway

4.7 ★★★★★ 29 reviews

Maryland Heights, MO

Mixed

Spring Branch Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 28 reviews

Imperial, MO

ScenicDog-friendly

Gravois Greenway Trailhead: Backstoppers Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 28 reviews

St. Louis, MO

Paved

Paved Bicycle Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 19 reviews

Park Hills, MO

LoopPaved

Joachim Loop Trail

3.8 ★★★★☆ 19 reviews

Herculaneum, MO

LoopNatural surfaceDog-friendly

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