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Best Mountain Hikes in Missouri

The directory currently contains 18 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Missouri. Their average mapped distance is 63.0 km and average recorded ascent is 236 m (774 ft); the longest route in the set is 385 km.

This subset represents 24% of the 74 quality-checked routes in Missouri. Its average distance is 63.0 km, compared with 18.3 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 236 m (774 ft), versus 116 m (381 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 8 routes (44%) are rated easy, 5 (28%) are rated hard or expert, and 10 (56%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

1.9 km

Shawnee Trace Nature Trail - Blue Loop

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

8 m

Shawnee Trace Nature Trail - Blue Loop

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

2 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Callaway nuclear power plant, Missouri
Expert

ADT - Missouri - L - Seg 2

Missouri · United States

Distance
240 km
/ 149 mi
Elevation gain
237 m
Typical duration
57 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Cedar Creek Trail

Missouri · United States

Distance
53.4 km
/ 33.2 mi
Elevation gain
550 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • River
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Katy Trail State Park

Missouri · United States

Distance
385 km
/ 239 mi
Elevation gain
377 m
Typical duration
91 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Ozark Trail

Missouri · United States

Distance
371 km
/ 231 mi
Elevation gain
1,656 m
Typical duration
90 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Easy

Eleanor

Missouri · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
28 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Moderate

Slim Jim

Missouri · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
158 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Moderate

Lower Rock Ledges Loop

Missouri · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
116 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Moderate

Rock Ledges

Missouri · United States

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
138 m
Typical duration
1 hr 46 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Easy

Upper Rock Ledges Loop

Missouri · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
51 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
ADT - Missouri - L - Seg 2Missouri240 km237 m57 hrExpertApril to October
Cedar Creek TrailMissouri53.4 km550 m13 hrExpertApril to October
Katy Trail State ParkMissouri385 km377 m91 hrExpertApril to October
Hercules Glade Wilderness LoopMissouri34.3 km597 m8 hr 37 minExpertApril to October
Ozark TrailMissouri371 km1,656 m90 hrExpertApril to October
Shawnee Trace Nature Trail - Blue LoopMissouri1.9 km8 m24 minEasyApril to October
Shawnee Trace Nature Trail - Green LoopMissouri1.2 km15 m17 minEasyApril to October
Shawnee Trace Nature Trail - Red TrailMissouri1.0 km0 m12 minEasyApril to October
Carl L. Chinnery Nature TrailMissouri4.3 km67 m59 minEasyApril to October
Monkey Mountain Nature Reserve SouthwestMissouri5.3 km113 m1 hr 17 minModerateApril to October

ADT - Missouri - L - Seg 2, Cedar Creek Trail, Katy Trail State Park currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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