Fall Day Trip Series: Central Missouri
The Pinnacles, 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
When summer’s burning heat starts to give way to fall, we Midwesterners are ready to hit the trails.
Temperatures are cooler, bugs are less-plentiful (though still “bugging”) and leaves begin their autumn fade.
Although the Kansas City area itself has plenty of outdoor options, we’re dedicating some space here to local day and/or weekend trips. We’ve been pent up with the heat, right? Now we can make up for lost time.
Destination No. 1: Central Missouri
Only two hours from KC, Mid-Missouri holds natural charms in its hills, rivers and rugged karst topography. All of the trails listed here are within 30 minutes of Columbia. To help you prioritize, we’ve listed our top three first, then runners up. But all are worth exploring and are only a few miles from each other.
Our top 3 picks
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
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.