Augie Trail at Lake Jacomo

On the Augie Trail, you’ll experience deep forest, numerous rock outcroppings, steep ascents and descents, views of the lake from 100 feet above and quiet coves that rarely get visitors. It rivals trails in the Ozarks you might drive three hours to reach. The Augie, built and maintained by the Urban Trail Company, is a public trail open to mountain bikers and hikers. Please do not use the trail when it’s muddy. The Urban Trail Company’s website provides update on closures. Please check them if weather has been wet.
There are few markers, but the trail is in remarkably good shape and is simple to follow. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. The hardest part is finding where to start. The map below will help with that.
This trail was designed with mountain biking in mind. Still, there’s nothing here to dissuade walkers. The only minor issue is that it’s a single-track dirt trail. That means you can’t walk shoulder to shoulder, but must trek in single file.

Length The Augie trail is divided into four sections: 4 miles, 2.75 miles, 3.75 and 3 miles. That means if you traveled the entire length, it would equal 13.5 miles. Of course there’s no need to tackle the entire trail in a day. In fact, that’s not practical except for the most ambitious of hikers.
- Augie 1 begins on Liggett Road and there is no place to park at the actual start of the trail. You can park at the Lake Vista Trailhead to the west, then walk or bike. When school is not in session, the trail can also be accessed at the Liggett Trail Education Center (3575 SW Liggett Rd, Blue Springs, Mo., 64015). If you don’t care about starting at the beginning, you can begin south on Liggett Cove Road. Augie 1 begins in a forested plateau and descends to a valley wall of limestone cliffs and boulders.
- Augie 2 follows the bluffs above the lake and winds through ravines and streambeds.
- Augie 3 follows a limestone rim along the lake before meandering through a forested plateau and plunging into a valley.
- Augie 4 leads through a forested plateau, including a few groves of Douglas Fir Trees. It continues to near the Native Hoofed Animal Refuge before looping back to the area near Sailboat cove.

Conditions This is a single-track dirt path that ranges from an easy walk in the woods to a scramble up rocky hillsides – and everything in between. It’s well maintained, but there are few signs. That means you’ll need to rely on a map and compass (cell service is spotty). It’s also remote. So take safety precautions and make sure you can reach others if you twist an ankle.
Kid Friendly? “Big kids” who love nature can handle this hike, with parental oversight. Since this area is wild, there are plenty of natural hazards found in nature (cliffs, water, weather).
Address This trail cuts through the northeast section of Lake Jacomo, with it’s northernmost trail head on Liggett Road. Note that the actual trail heads often do not correspond with parking, so you’ll need to check the map and find out where to park. Then you can make your way to the trail.