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Easy Hiking Trails in Missouri

The directory currently contains 39 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Missouri. Their average mapped distance is 2.3 km and average recorded ascent is 31 m (102 ft); the longest route in the set is 5.7 km.

This subset represents 53% of the 74 quality-checked routes in Missouri. Its average distance is 2.3 km, compared with 18.3 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 31 m (102 ft), versus 116 m (381 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is rated easy by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. The rating does not verify surface, exposure or current hazards. Within this set, 39 routes (100%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 16 (41%) 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

1.0 km

Shawnee Trace Nature Trail - Red Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Shawnee Trace Nature Trail - Red Trail

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

Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
30 m
Typical duration
23 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
38 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
12 min
  • Alpine meadow
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
8 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
10 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

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

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Typical duration
17 min
Looking Northwest up the railroad tracks, Weston Bend State Park, Missouri
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
1 hr 4 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
64 m
Typical duration
28 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

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

Missouri · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
75 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • River
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Forest
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
31 m
Typical duration
15 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
20 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Typical duration
20 min
  • River
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
108 m
Typical duration
1 hr
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
5.7 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
138 m
Typical duration
1 hr 24 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
6 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
14 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
8 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
10 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
1 hr 5 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
14 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
18 m
Typical duration
15 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Typical duration
32 min
Easy

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
17 min

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
Central Park TrailMissouri1.7 km30 m23 minEasyApril to October
Riparian TrailMissouri2.8 km32 m38 minEasyApril 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
Skunk Prairie TrailMissouri1.0 km0 m12 minEasyApril to October
Carl L. Chinnery Nature TrailMissouri4.3 km67 m59 minEasyApril to October
Shaw Nature Reserve Unnamed Hiking TrailsMissouri1.3 km159 m30 minEasyApril to October
Dog Park TrailMissouri0.6 km9 m8 minEasyApril to October
Open Play TrailMissouri0.7 km13 m10 minEasyApril to October

Central Park Trail, Riparian Trail, Shawnee Trace Nature Trail - Green Loop 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.

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