Designated a National Natural Landscape in 1974, the Trail Through Time in Pickle Springs Natural Area might be Missouri’s most scenic 2 mile hiking trail.

My trio of Kansas City hikes concludes with a trip to Fleming Park beside Lake Jacomo to hike the Rock Ledges Loop Trails, two trails that form a 3.1 mile hike atop and below a ledge of lovely rock formations.

Old Kate and White Tail Loop trail circle throughout Parkville Nature Sanctuary past a waterfall, across a boardwalk standing tall over Alloe Creek, and up to the highest point in the sanctuary. This short 2.6 mile combination loop trail takes hikers past all the nature, wildlife, and history Parkville Nature Sanctuary has to offer.

Probably one of the most visually stunning continuous sections of trail in Missouri, the hike from Millstream Gardens to Silver Mines Recreation Area offers breathtaking views of Tiemann Shut-Ins along the St. Francis River and the beautiful granite and felsite rock formations of Silver Mines.

Closing out my trip to Rock Bridge Memorial State Park I'm hiking Deer Run Trail, which is a 3.8 mile loop trail along the northern boarder of the park. The highlight of Deer Run Trail is the section that runs along side Little Bonne Femme Creek about half way into the hike.

High Ridge Trail is a beautiful trail along one of the highest ridge lines of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park in Columbia, Missouri. The trail winds through native grasslands offering scenic views of the surrounding hills.

I'm still at Mark Twain State Park in Missouri, but this time I'm hiking Post Oak Trail and White Oak Trail which is a 2.7 mile loop trail that runs along the shoreline of Mark Twain Lake.

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.

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.

Hike to Missouri’s tallest mountain, Missouri’s tallest waterfall, and the Devil’s Toll Gate all in one 5 mile hike. If there was one hike to showcase all the beauty the Missouri outdoors has to offer, Mina Sauk Falls to Devil’s Toll Gate is probably it.

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.

Located about an hour south of St. Louis in Washington State Park, Rockywood Trail is a roughly 6 mile loop trail featuring beautiful Missouri bluff views overlooking the Big River, the oak and hickory forest of the Washington State Park Hardwood Natural Area, and classic Missouri glades.

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.

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.

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.