3 Best Hiking Trails in Columbia, MO

“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.”

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“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. Finger Lakes State Park also offers a challenging 2.75-mile Kelley Branch Mountain Bike Trail, a 4.5-mile water trail, basic and electric campsites, modern restrooms, and showers. 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.”

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“Capen Park is 31.9 acres, an ideal destination to experience a pleasant and relaxed time with friends and family. This is a 0.8-mile out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 118 feet. The trail is generally considered a moderately challenging route. The trail takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. The trailt also provides scenic hiking paths, a tranquil creek, and stunning rocky bluffs with picturesque overlooks. This is a perfect setting for memorable moments like proposals, with peaceful hidden areas along the trails and stunning views all around. Capen Park also features various amenities, including a wheelchair-accessible parking lot, kid-friendly hikes, and designated leash areas for pets.”

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