Missouri Hiking Trails, Missouri Biking Trails & Backpacking Trails in MO
Come to Missouri for the Best Hiking Trails in the Midwest
See our Missouri Trails Guide

The Precambrian St. Francois Mountains were formed through volcanic and intrusive activity nearly 1.5 billion years ago.  By comparison, the Appalachians started forming about 460 million years ago and the Rockies a mere 70 million years ago.  When the Appalachian Mountains started forming, the St. Francois range was already twice as old as the Appalachians are today. This range is one of the oldest exposures of igneous rock in North America.  Geologists believe that the volcanic activity that formed this mountain range is also thought to be the geological cause of the uplift of the entire Ozark Plateau. It is believed that the peaks of the St. Francois Mountains may be the only area in the American Midwest never to have been submerged in the Paleozoic seas.  Around the peaks, in the areas that were submerged, fossilized coral and the remains of ancient reef complexes can be found.  These resulted in rich ore deposits of iron, lead, barite, zinc, silver, manganese, cobalt, and nickel, as well as granite and limestone.  In short, a hike or bike ride along trails in our region can make you feel pretty insignificant in the Earth's history.

Geo Map of St. Francois Mountain Region of the Missouri Ozark Plateau

Chief among trails in Missouri and the Midwest is the Ozark Trail which meanders through our richly beautiful region of the Missouri Ozarks.  In the 1970s work began on a vision to build a scenic and varied route in the Missouri Ozarks, from just outside St. Louis southwest to the Arkansas border, to eventually connect with the Ozark Highlands Trail, creating a 700-mile through-trail.  Governmental agencies, environmental groups and dedicated bands of volunteers have now completed over 350 miles of the Missouri section of the Ozark Trail.  Read more information about the Ozark Trail.

There are unlimited hiking and mountain biking opportunities in our region.  See the many recreational opportunities below and we think you will agree that this is the best place in Missouri to find hiking and biking trails.  Mountain Biking is permitted on all, or portions of, Council Bluff Trail and most sections of the Ozark Trail.  For more detailed information on the trails in our region, please see the following:

Guide - Missouri Hiking Trails and Biking Trails

The Ozark Trail Trace Creek Section Trail Middle Fork Section Trail Karkaghne Section Trail Blair Creek Section Trail Marble Creek Section Trail Taum Sauk Section Trail Hiking Trails Mark Twain National Forest Bell Mountain Wilderness Area and Trail Sutton Bluff Recreation Area Crane Lake Conservation Hiking Trails Marble Creek Recreation Hiking Trails Council Bluff Recreation Hiking Trails Silver Mines Recreation Area Hiking Trail Hiking Trails Missouri Wilderness & Conservation Areas Millstream Gardens Conservation Area and Tiemann Shut-ins Hiking Buford Mountain State Forest Hiking Trail Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area & Royal Gorge Hiking Grasshopper Hollow Hiking Logan Creek Conservation Hiking Trails Deer Run Conservation Area Hiking

Hiking Missouri State Parks Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Elephant Rocks State Park Johnson's Shut-ins State Park Lodging & Accommodations Near Missouri Hiking & Biking Trails Select from resorts, cabins, cottages, motels, hotels, bed and breakfast inns and campgrounds near these Missouri hiking and biking areas.