Fall is the perfect time to explore Missouri on foot. At autumn’s peak, brilliant foliage adds another layer of beauty to the state’s diverse landscape. Late in the season, trails crunchy with leaves offer views often hidden in the summer by a canopy of trees. From short walks on well-groomed paths to rugged hikes through the wilderness, colorful adventures await throughout the Show-Me State.
Mountain Climbing
Hughes Mountain is home to one of Missouri’s geologic wonders, an unusual formation of ancient volcanic rock known locally as Devil’s Honeycomb. The 1.5-billion-year-old rock is some of the oldest exposed stone in the United States. A three-quarter mile hike (one way) will guide you to the mountaintop and a breathtaking view. The Hughes Mountain Natural Area is located near Potosi, about 70 miles southwest of St. Louis.
A series of scenic trails running throughout Taum Sauk Mountain State Park provide sweeping views of Missouri’s Arcadia Valley. The Mina Sauk Falls Trail leads to the highest point and tallest waterfall in the state. A short accessible trail ends at the top of Taum Sauk Mountain, 1,772 feet above sea level. Beyond this point, a rocky 3-mile path (one way) passes along the brink of Mina Sauk Falls. The wet-weather waterfall, best viewed after a rain, cascades 132 feet over a series of rock ledges into Taum Sauk Creek.
Autumn Water Views
The Missouri River Trail at Weston Bend State Park, located about 30 miles north of Kansas City, provides an up-close look at the longest river in the United States. The three-tenths of a mile trail (one-way) is an easy hike, although there are drop-offs at a few points along the path. The park offers several other trails as well as a scenic overlook – accessible to people with disabilities – that features one of the state’s most expansive views of the “Big Muddy.”
Head to Allred Lake Natural Area, near Missouri’s bootheel, to explore a swamp filled with a variety of trees, including bald cypress more than 500 years old. The trail is an easy quarter-mile hike (one way) where you can see the cypress trees’ bald knees emerging from the water. The route ends at a boardwalk – a good spot to look for wood ducks, green herons and barred owls.
Nature’s Construction
At Ha Ha Tonka State Park, located at the Lake of the Ozarks, the rugged Colosseum Trail winds six-tenths of a mile through a sink hole and beneath a natural bridge. The massive 100-foot high stone arch was formed when the cave system around it collapsed. Other trails throughout the park provide views of a variety of geologic features including sheer rock bluffs, glades and Missouri’s 12th largest spring, as well as the remains of a 1905 European-style “castle.”
The 7.4 mile Natural Tunnel Trail at Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon travels through a natural rock tunnel nearly 300 feet long. On the way to the tunnel, the moderate-rated trail traverses many different habitats including bottomland and upland forests, tall bluffs, sunny glades, and streams. The park is home to several other trails and the fourth largest spring in the state.
Where the “Buffalo” and “Elephants” Roam
Tallgrass prairies once covered more than a third of Missouri, but today, less than 1% remains. Much of that land is preserved at Prairie State Park in the southwestern part of the state near Mindenmines. On the 1.5-mile Grayfeather Trail, discover the view early settlers had on their trip west and see American bison grazing on the native grasses.
You won’t see living, breathing elephants at Elephant Rocks State Park, located near Pilot Knob, but you will find a group of billion-year-old pachyderm-sized pink granite boulders standing end to end like a train of circus elephants. The area can easily be viewed from the mile-long Braille Trail, designed especially for people with visual or physical disabilities. A short spur off the trail goes to the top of the granite outcrop where you can explore a maze of giant rocks.
Fall Cityscapes
If rugged hikes are not your speed, urban hikes are just as nice in Missouri. Enjoy a stroll through City Garden on your way to Gateway Arch National Park. The garden features 20 different tree species combined with sculptures from around the world. Forest Park’s 1,300 acres feature beautiful landscapes sprinkled with forests, lakes and streams and more making it a great choice for a fall urban hike.
In Kansas City, visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Visitors can enjoy art outdoors in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park while strolling among the meandering.
For more information about autumn color in the Show-Me State including peak times visit Missouri Department of Conservation. Find a hike that’s your speed a Missouri state park.