Devil’s Icebox and Sinkhole Trail leads hikers through the park's most prominent features: Devil’s Icebox, Connor’s Cave, the many sinkholes that dot the park, and ultimately the namesake Rock Bridge. It’s not often a trail features two subterranean sections, but this trail does.

I head to Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Central Missouri to hike to the ruins of a 20th century Castle and get treated to classic Missouri glades and a beautiful bluff view of the Lake of the Ozarks on the Castle and Quarry Loop Trail.

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.

Today I’m hiking Swimming Deer Trail at St. Francois State Park just outside of Bonne Terre, Missouri about an hour south of St. Louis. Swimming Deer Trail may not offer the best bluff views in Missouri, but it is a Missouri hiking trail that offers several unobscured bluff views of the Big River.

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.

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’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.

Featuring a creek and two overlooks without much elevation gain Horseshoe Glad Trail is a perfect kid-friendly hike to add to your trip to Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park in Missouri!

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.

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!

The Whispering Pines South Loop is a roughly 6 miles extension of the trail. It’s a moderate mostly flat trail, an easy addition to add some miles to your hike. I recommend taking the Scenic Loop at the southernmost point of the South Loop as you’ll find beautiful rock outcroppings along Pickle Creek.

Awesome winter hike of Labarque Hills Trail in Don Robinson State Park featuring a frozen creek, icicles, and the beautiful Missouri outdoors.

I get out early and hike Lone Wolf Trail in Castlewood State Park. At 2.1 miles Lone Wolf is the shortest trail I’ve hiked at Castlewood, and while I was skeptical at first by the end I was won over and wishing it was longer. One again, Castlewood did not disappoint.

Hiking and trail running along the stunning cliff top views of the River Scene Trail in Castlewood State Park just outside St. Louis, Missouri.

Wild and woolly Sandstone Canyon Trail in Don Robinson State Park in Jefferson County, Missouri. Don Robinson State Park is an 800 acre park that lies within the LaBarque Creek Natural Area and was donated to Missouri State Parks in 2012 by St. Louis businessman Don Robinson.

Today Abby and I hike 4.2 miles on the Grotpeter Trail in Castlewood State Park in Ballwin, Missouri. Castlewood State Park is one of the most popular state parks in Missouri and the Grotpeter Trail Loop circles the entire park. This is the first trail we hit as we start exploring Missouri hiking trails; as far as St. Louis area hikes go, it wasn’t too shabby!