Columbia Beyond the College: Rocky Rises and Crystalline Streams Await
Three Creeks Conservation Area near Columbia, Mo.
Get off the interstate and explore 200-foot limestone bluffs, rocky spires and natural bridges only two hours from Kansas City.
By Roy Harryman
Publisher
Columbia, Mo., is synonymous with all things MU. It’s a pilgrimage site of sorts for graduates, almost graduates and people who love the college and sports scene.
But there’s also a natural side of the Columbia area that rivals the Ozarks in its scenic beauty. In addition, all the trails listed here are within one hour of the city, making it one of the state’s most concentrated series of hiking opportunities.
These destinations include:
The KATY Trail
A state park
A national forest
Missouri Conservation Areas
Private reserves open to the public
Three recommendations (and more)
Since there are numerous trails to explore, we’ll begin by suggesting three and also listing others that are worthy of your effort.
Prairie Garden Trust
Prairie Garden Trust preserves a naturally diverse area about 40 minutes southeast of Columbia near New Bloomfield. This 240-acre park is privately owned and can be visited by appointment-only from April 1-Oct. 31. It offers more than 10 miles of natural surface trails beside ponds, through prairie and forest and below a rocky bluff rising above Hillers Creek. We love this place!
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and Gans Creek Natural Area
This park, bordering Columbia, is one of the state’s busiest. Water has carved sinkholes, cliffs and the park’s namesake natural bridge in this rocky, forested environment. If you want a less-traveled part of the park, the Gans Creek Natural Area offers a stunning six-mile loop.
KATY Trail at Rocheport/Diana Bend Conservation Area
This is one of the most popular parts of the KATY Trail, but there’s still plenty of room for everyone. Hop on the trail in Rocheport and you can walk through an 1892 rail tunnel which runs underneath Diana Bend Conservation Area. You can then walk up a steep stairwell to the top for a stunning view. If you head the other direction (south) you’ll quickly meet the Missouri River and spectacular limestone bluffs.
But wait, there’s more! Each of the locations below are worthy of exploration in and of themselves and are within about 30 minutes of Columbia.
Carpe diem!
Runners up