Love to Hike? Missouri named "Best Trails State"

What a great way to enjoy Memorial Day weekend with a hike!

American Trails, a national nonprofit organization, has named Missouri as the "Best Trails State". This national award is presented every 2 years to the state that has made the most improvements in their state's trails.

 Missouri has 230 trails throughout the state for all to enjoy! These trails are for walkers, hikers and even bikes to enjoy. The great news is that 18 million guests visited Missouri State Parks in 2012, after a 10 year decline in park attendance.

Does that indicate people are wanting to enjoy the simple things in life such as taking a walk along a lake trail, hiking for exercise and family outings, or extreme mountain biking for the thrill seekers? It probably is a combination of all of the above, and more.

Spending time outdoors is good for the mind and the body. The large increase in trail use indicates that people are enjoying the outdoor experience in greater numbers.

Missouri has almost 1,000 miles for trails and 500 miles of the trails are National Recreation Trails. Some of the significant trails include: Lewis and Clark, Trail of Tears, Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Pony Express, and more.

The Branson area has a number of mountain bike trails to enjoy. The easiest trail is the City Biking Trail. The  White River Trail at Table Rock State Park is 10.25 miles and is considered an intermediate trail.

There are walking trails along Table Rock Lake Dam and Dewey Short Visitor Center. Take a stroll along the lake to view the dam up close. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the shaded areas along Table Rock Lake. Don't forget your swimsuits on those warm summer days to jump in the lake and cool off after your hike.

Put on your walking or hiking shoes and hit the trails!

Author: Carolyn Crispin