ThreeBestRated.com
BEST RATED COLUMBIA, MO HIKING TRAILS

3 Best Hiking Trails in Columbia, MO

Expert-recommended Top 3 Hiking Trails in Columbia, Missouri. All of our hiking trails actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

Stephens Lake Park - Columbia, MO Hiking Trails
Stephens Lake Park - Columbia, MO Hiking Trails
Stephens Lake Park - Columbia, MO Hiking Trails
CALL EMAIL

STEPHENS LAKE PARK

(4.7 Score)
2001 East Broadway,
Columbia, MO 65201 Directions

Since 2001

Specialty:

✓ Picnics ✓ Cycling Lanes ✓ Hiking ✓ Kid-Friendly hikes ✓ Dog-Friendly ✓ Golf Course ✓ Special Events

“2026 Update: Stephens Lake Park features a lakefront boardwalk, walking trails, playgrounds, picnic shelters, and free WiFi access. It includes an arboretum spread across approximately 116 acres with collections of native Missouri plants, oak and maple trees, and other botanical displays. The park also has an 11-acre lake used for fishing and swimming, along with open play areas and an amphitheater used for community events and outdoor performances. Additional features include shelters that can be reserved, a swimming beach, spraygrounds, art installations, waterfalls, and landscaped gardens such as rain gardens and memorial spaces. The park is also used for seasonal recreation, festivals, and community gatherings, with permits required for special events or reserved areas.”

Reviews   |   Write a Review

Price:

Birthday Packages
Two-Hour Room Rental Only
From $37
Up to $50
Garden Plots Rental (Per Plot)$36

Contact:

(573) 874-7460

Mon-Fri: 8am - 5pm
Sat & Sun: Closed

TBR® Inspection Report:

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - Columbia, MO Hiking Trails
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - Columbia, MO Hiking Trails
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - Columbia, MO Hiking Trails
Best Hiking Trails in Columbia MO - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park video
10+ YEARS IN TBR
CALL EMAIL

ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK

(4.6 Score)
5901 South Highway 163,
Columbia, MO 65203 Directions

Since 1967

Specialty:

✓ Orienteering Area and Fishing ✓ Deer Run Trail and Horseback Riding ✓ Group Tours and Educational Experiences ✓ Sinkholes ✓ Rock Bridge ✓ Picnic Areas ✓ Wild Area Trail System ✓ Biking ✓ Playground ✓ Bicycling ✓ Picnics ✓ Kid-friendly Hikes ✓ Dog-friendly ✓ Camping ✓ Bird Watching

"Rock Bridge Memorial State Park spans 2,272 acres and offers trails for hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers. The park offers a variety of activities and features, including group tours and educational programs, shelters, an orienteering area, and fishing spots. Visitors can also enjoy the Deer Run Trail, a horseback riding rock bridge, picnic areas, a wild area trail system, biking paths, a playground, and areas for bicycling. On the Rock Bridge trail, visitors can also see a large cave system. This nature space also features wheelchair-accessible facilities like a wheelchair-accessible parking lot, picnic tables, public restrooms, barbecue grills, and kid-friendly hikes for visitors' comfort.

2026 Update: Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is known for its hiking and biking trails, including routes suitable for families and children. It features a notable cave system with natural elements such as a rock bridge, sinkholes, a spring, and an underground stream located at Devil’s Icebox. Visitors can also explore Connor’s Cave from its entrance for a view of the underground environment. It includes trails within the Gans Creek Wild Area that provide a quieter outdoor experience. A designated camping area is available for group use, primarily reserved for nonprofit organizations and youth groups, and includes basic facilities such as tent space, fire rings, a vault toilet, and picnic tables."

Reviews | Play Video | Write a Review

Contact:

(573) 449-7402

Mon-Fri: 9am - 4pm
Sat & Sun: Closed

TBR® Inspection Report:

Finger Lakes State Park - Columbia, MO Hiking Trails
Finger Lakes State Park - Columbia, MO Hiking Trails
Finger Lakes State Park - Columbia, MO Hiking Trails
Best Hiking Trails in Columbia MO - Finger Lakes State Park video
10+ YEARS IN TBR
CALL EMAIL

FINGER LAKES STATE PARK

(4.6 Score)
1505 Peabody Road,
Columbia, MO 65202 Directions

Since 1973

Specialty:

✓ Kayaking ✓ Showers ✓ Pull-Thru Sites ✓ Kid-Friendly ✓ Playground ✓ Canoeing ✓ Water and Metal Detecting ✓ Swimming ✓ Mountain Biking ✓ Fishing ✓ Tent Camping ✓ Recreational Trails ✓ Campground ✓ Picnicking ✓ Cycling Lanes ✓ Kid-Friendly Hikes ✓ Dog Friendly

"Finger Lakes State Park has a total area of 1,138 acres of land that ensures plenty of wooded areas. The park features two easy hiking trails that are great for families, kids, and friends. On the trails, you can experience elevation gains ranging from 9 to 170 feet. The park has more than 70 miles of off-road motorcycle trails. The hiking trails offer a diverse range of activities such as canoeing, fishing, swimming, and scuba diving. Visitors can enjoy various amenities such as wheelchair-accessible parking, picnic tables, barbecue grills, public restrooms, and kid-friendly hikes for the comfort of visitors.

2026 Update: Finger Lakes State Park features a trail system designed for ATVs and off-road motorcycles, along with areas for camping, boating, hiking, and fishing. Located on a former coal mining site, it includes varied terrain with rolling hills and a motocross track. The park also offers designated trails such as the 3.8-mile Kelley Branch Mountain Bike Trail and a 4.5-mile water trail. Camping facilities include basic sites as well as 30-amp and 50-amp electric hookups, with stay limits of up to 15 days within a 30-day period. Pet access is allowed with restrictions, including a maximum of two dogs per campsite, which must be supervised and kept on leashes not exceeding 10 feet. A discount is available for eligible visitors based on specific criteria. Individuals with disabilities may qualify by providing valid documentation such as a state-issued disability hang tag or license plate, a federal access pass, or official verification from relevant government or medical authorities. Senior citizen discounts are available for individuals aged 65 years or older with valid proof of age, such as a driver’s license or state identification card. A military discount is also offered to retired, veteran, and active-duty military personnel upon verification of service status."

Reviews | Play Video | Write a Review

Price:

Camping Fee Per Night $2
Making A Reservation
Web $6.50
Call Center $8
Changing A Reservation Fee:
General Campers $5.25
Group Tent Area Customers $10
Canceling A Reservation $10

Contact:

(573) 443-5315

Call for Hours

TBR® Inspection Report:

Video

Write a Review for Finger Lakes State Park

Our Review Process:

  • All reviews matter:We publish both positive and negative reviews to provide a balanced perspective.
  • No censorship: Businesses cannot pay to remove or modify negative reviews.
  • Verification process: All reviews are checked for authenticity and compliance with our community guidelines before publication.
  • Fair representation: We display reviews of all ratings (1–5 stars) to help users make informed decisions.
  • Independence: We are not affiliated with the businesses we review and receive no compensation for favorable ratings.

Your honest opinion helps others make better choices. Whether your experience was excellent, average, or disappointing, we want to hear from you. For more details, check Community Review Guidelines.

Contact Business

STEPHENS LAKE PARK REVIEWS

This is a beautiful park in downtown Columbia. Great walking trails, multiple playgrounds, bathroom facilities, pavilions that cross the lake, waterfall, plenty of seating along trails for those who need to take breaks, as well as an open public beach. Highly recommend. Playground with climbing equipment Playground with lemonade stand feature - this is a wonderful book if you haven’t read it. A true story about a little kid who raised money for cancer that they were afflicted with. Lake shore with stone edge. Home to water Fyle as well as beavers. Gorgeous landscape especially nice on a semi cloudy day. Canada geese with goslings

It's a great place to get exercise walking the concrete trails, or let the kids play on the playground, or even finding a great grassy spot to lay down a blanket for a picnic or getting some sun. ???? There's even a free book stand at the west entrance for anyone looking to find a book to read

The dogs love it, and yoga in the park is the best! Fishing and swimming, the walking trails...right in the middle of town and across from the Behavioral Health Crisis Center in case there's an emergency.

These reviews are provided for information purposes and to help you make informed decisions.

To share your experience, click here or send it to reviews@threebestrated.com.

We will display both positive and negative reviews. All submitted reviews are published after verification for authenticity and compliance with our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Community Review Guidelines.

ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK REVIEWS

Rock Bridge State Park is one of my favorite Missouri trials because of the views and accessibility. This park is wonderful for people of all ages; especially for families! We love exploring the Devil's Icebox Cave and the Sinkhole short trail. There are parts on the trail that are easily accessible by following the wood-planked walkway, but there are also "off the beaten path" trails and spots to ride your bike. Rock Bridge State Park is absolutely beautiful and is a "Must Visit" outdoor spot in Columbia, MO!

Awesome state park, Devils Icebox trail is a must. It was so cool and refreshing on a hot summer day when we went. The rock bridge was fun to play under as well, the kids really enjoyed it!

Beautiful State Park with really nice trails. Many of them have wood walkways.

FINGER LAKES STATE PARK REVIEWS

Havent been here in 20 years. I have to say they have done a great job with the park. Lots of new improvements and added amenities to the entire park. The trails were great. Everything from fast and fun, to technical and challenging, and of course if you want mud you can find it easy enough. The motocross track hadn't been prepped in a while, but was still rideable, and the jump faces were all pretty good. We will be bringing our boys again for sure.

We go here a couple times a year. we love to camp and ride ATVs there. camping areas are very nice. showers and bathrooms are clean, except for a few dumbasses that like to go in there and wash all the mud off of their riding gear and clog up the drains.

Beautiful little spot outside of Columbia. I went when there was snow on the ground and the lake was frozen but I would love to go back and see it in the spring/summer.

TBR® Inspection Score Report

STEPHENS LAKE PARK Total Inspection Points: 112/120
Business Hours: 8
Reviews Study: 8
Current Evaluation: 9
Experience: 9
Reviews Accuracy of 2.9K: 9
Social Media: 9
Business Images: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Pricing: 10
Website Source: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK Total Inspection Points: 111/120
Legitimate Ratings: 8
Reviews Accuracy of 2.0K: 8
Social Media: 8
Business Images: 9
Contact Info: 9
Exact Services: 9
Business Hours: 10
Experience: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Pricing: 10
Video: 10
Website Source: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

FINGER LAKES STATE PARK Total Inspection Points: 110/120
Page Maintenance: 7
Reviews Accuracy of 1.5K: 7
Exact Services: 8
Social Media: 8
Business Images: 10
Experience: 10
Special Packages: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Pricing: 10
Specialization: 10
Video: 10
Website Source: 10