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Hiking Trails Under 5 km in Missouri

The directory currently contains 50 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Missouri. Their average mapped distance is 2.2 km and average recorded ascent is 38 m (125 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.8 km.

This subset represents 68% of the 74 quality-checked routes in Missouri. Its average distance is 2.2 km, compared with 18.3 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 38 m (125 ft), versus 116 m (381 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 37 routes (74%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 21 (42%) 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

Central Park Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Riparian Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Skunk Prairie Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Dog Park Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Open Play Trail

Missouri · United States

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

The Arterie

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
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
Easy

Beaver Bayou Trail

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

Weston Bluffs Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Governor Bates Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Bluff Overlook Trail

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
63 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Pa-Huska Nature Trail

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • River
Moderate

River Bluff Nature Trail

Missouri · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • River
Easy

Goddard River Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Civil War Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Old Hamburg Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Owl Creek Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Blue Loop

Missouri · United States

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

B Range Targets

Missouri · United States

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

Butterfly Trail paved

Missouri · United States

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

Butterfly Trail unpaved

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
21 min
Easy

C Range Targets

Missouri · United States

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

Hollow Stump Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Pawpaw Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Paved Bicycle Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Wildflower Trail

Missouri · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
18 min
Easy

Fox Run Trail

Missouri · United States

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

Hooper House Trail

Missouri · United States

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

White Oak Trail

Missouri · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
13 min
Moderate

Yellow Loop

Missouri · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
83 m
Typical duration
46 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
Table Rock Lakeshore TrailMissouri4.0 km26 m52 minModerateApril 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

Central Park Trail, Table Rock Lakeshore Trail, Riparian Trail 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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