The Dogwood Trail is a roughly 2.5 mile lolli-pop loop hiking trail that runs along the banks of Mark Twain Lake and through the mature oak-hickory woodland of Mark Twain State Park in Missouri.

The fun, but tongue-twisty task of speaking “Cuivre River” won’t be the only enjoyment on this 7.4 mile hike as the Cuivre River South Loop Trail offers unobstructed bluff views and a rugged Ozark mountain feel that’s rare in the predominantly agricultural landscape of northern Missouri.

This week I head to Sam A. Baker State Park in Missouri to hike the Shut-Ins Trail to the top of Mudlick Mountain (1,313 feet). It’s the end of October and the Missouri fall colors were in full effect on this midwest hiking trail. Along the trail there is one beautiful Missouri bluff view, three historic stone camping shelters, and an active fire tower atop Mudlick Mountain.

Hike to some of the best Missouri bluff views on the Lewis and Clark Trail in Weldon Spring Conservation Area. With its proximity to St. Louis and multiple amazing bluff views of the Missouri River, the Lewis and Clark Trail is one of the best St. Louis day hikes.

Hiking the West Ridge Trail in Weston Bend State Park in northwest Missouri, about an hour north of Kansas City. This 2.4 mile loop trail is actually a combination of three trails (Harpst Trail, West Ridge Trail, and the Paved Trail) and offers some pretty beautiful bluff views of the Missouri River.

I recently headed to northwest Missouri to hike the Loess Bluffs Trail and drive the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour. Loess Bluff Trail is a short 1 mile loop trail offering panoramic views of the National Wildlife Refuge below, and host to thousands of migratory birds.

Enjoyed the beautiful fall colors in Missouri on this 10.3 mile hike from the Council Bluff Lake boat launch to the summit of Johnson Mountain (1660 feet). Council Bluff Lake Trail is in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri about 2 hours south of St. Louis.

I think I’ve hiked the most dramatic landscape in Missouri, the Devils Honeycomb Trail in the Hughes Mountain Natural Area. A Missouri geologic wonder formed from the ancient Missouri volcanoes that formed the St. Francois Mountains created these amazing rhyolite rock formations known as the Devils Honeycomb. One of the best Missouri day hikes.

The River Scene Trail at Castlewood State Park is the Missouri hiking trail with the best bluff views, even in Summer. And the fact that it is a hike close to Saint Louis is amazing.

I wanted to hike to a cave in Missouri so I headed to Cave Spring Trail in southeast Missouri. The trail begins at Devil’s Well and follows a 5 mile loop, with an offshoot to Cave Spring along the Current River.

Kid-friendly and ADA accessible Elephant Rocks State Park is the perfect Missouri State Park day trip. This wheelchair accessible MO state park offers lots of outdoor family activities from the picnic and playground areas to the giant elephant rocks to crawl around on and squeeze through.

Here’s my list of the Top 5 Missouri Hiking Trails with the best views. What do you think? Did I miss one? Let me know where to hike in Missouri and I’ll check it out.

White Oaks Trail might not be the best trail at Hawn State Park but it forces you to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the small. Little wildflowers line White Oaks Trail and make this lollipop loop trail an introspective Missouri hiking trail.

I’m back at my favorite Missouri state park solo hiking Pickle Creek Trail in Hawn State Park. This is a lovely little Missouri hiking trail following Pickle Creek. AllTrails has it marked at 1.6 miles out and back, but I cross the creek and create a nice little loop trail.

I went chasing waterfalls at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park just outside Middle Brook, Missouri. I waited for a day after it rained for my solo hike on the Johnson’s Shut-Ins Trail hoping to see some great waterfalls and I wasn’t disappointed.

I switch things up a bit in this YouTube video and explore one of St. Louis County’s biggest parks, Queeny Park. This was really more of a nature walk with the trail being half paved and half rock, but I was lucky enough to catch the Dogwood Trail with all the dogwood trees in full bloom.

Today I head an hour west of St. Louis to Klondike Park in St. Charles County Missouri to hike Hogsback Trail which is a 1.5 mile loop trail I was hoping would have good cliff views… it did not.

Bison and elk and deer, oh my! Who knew there were bison in St. Louis?! That’s what you’ll find at St. Louis County’s Lone Elk Park. If you’re want to see wildlife in St. Louis, Lone Elk Park is for you, and it’s completely free!

I’m back in Missouri for a 13.3 mile solo hike of Bell Mountain in Mark Twain National Forest, about 2 hours south of St. Louis. This Missouri hiking trail is a lollipop trail to the 1703ft summit of Bell Mountain, which is Missouri’s 4th tallest mountain.

Today I hike 11 miles on the Zombie Trail which is a hike close to St. Louis in Glencoe, Missouri. This was a beautiful and fun Missouri winter hike featuring a stunning ice waterfall. If you’re looking for a fun 10 mile St. Louis day hike the Zombie Trail is for you!