Hiking & Trail Running

Hannah M., M1

Missouri offers many gorgeous parks and trails. Castlewood State Park and Lewis and Clark Trail, with river views and limestone bluffs, are great for short hikes or runs close to the city. Chubb Trail offers more challenging terrain in West Tyson Park, traveling alongside the Meramec River. If you’re willing to drive a couple hours outside the city, you can find beautiful hikes in Shawnee National Forest along sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, caves, and rock formations. Most accessible and just as beautiful, however, Forest Park is directly west of the medical campus, with both biking and gravel paths interspersed with museums, lakes, a zoo, and much more.