Category: Missouri State

Katy Trail State Park
Katy Trail State Park, “…built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or Katy), is 240 miles long and runs between Clinton and Machens with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots along the way. The section of trail between Cooper County and St. Charles County has been designated as an official segment of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Katy Trail is also part of the American Discovery Trail, has been designated as a Millennium Legacy Trail and was added to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame in 2008.”
Here is the Park website.  Phone 573-449-7402  
The Katy trail is a 237 mile rails-to-trails path more than half of which follows the Missouri River.   From visitmo.com: “The hard-packed, crushed limestone surface is fairly level and constant as it meanders through the countryside. With more than 30 trailheads along its length, the Katy is very easy to reach, offering trips of varying distance. The trail is handicap-accessible.”    For details on the trail and trailheads see the pdf on Accessibility Information .

Ha Ha  Tonka State Park
Geology and history combine to make this fascinating park with “sinkholes, caves, a huge natural bridge, sheer bluffs and Missouri’s 12^th largest spring. The ruins of a turn-of-the-century stone castle overlook these wonders and offer impressive views of the Lake of the Ozarks and Ha Ha Tonka Spring.”
Here is the Park website.   Phone 573-346-2986  Trail Map  Park Map
From the Accessibility Information page:
Oak Woodland Interpretive Trail is a 430 foot self-guiding interpretive trail, paved “….. in an effort to allow more users the opportunity to experience a typical Missouri woodland landscape. …. Some users may need assistance as some slopes may be excessive.”

Sam A. Baker State Park
Sam A. Baker State Park’s 5,323 acres are in the the ancient St. Francois Mountains where there are some of the oldest exposures of igneous rock in North America. The natural landscape and cool waters of the St. Francis River and Big Creek,  have something for everyone.
Here is the Park website.  Phone 573- 856-4411  Park Map    
From the Accessibility Information page:
“The asphalt paved hiking/bicycling trail is a 1.5-mile scenic route that runs from the park store to Campground 1. The route has little slope except for a short length near the store that measures 7 percent. If this is a problem, the trail can be accessed at the visitor center.”

Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park
Just minutes from St. Louis, Babler Memorial State Park offeres  hiking and equestrian trails that “…wind their way through the park’s narrow coves, deep sheltered valleys and towering forests.”
Phone (636) 458-3813  Map   Here is the Park website.
From the Accessibility Information page:
?  “Two miles of trail are paved, however, the trail contains slopes that may be prohibitive to some users.”

All Missouri State Parks can be found on their searchable webpage.  You can plug in amenities you wish to find.  Each state park’s website has a link to a pdf page of Accessibility Information.
Accessibility Information for Missouri Parks and Historic sites.

Big Oak Tree State Park
Big Oak Tree State Park preserves forest and marsh as the first explorers saw it. “Towering hickory trees and oaks form a canopy that averages more than 120 feet in height…” “The trees and wetlands make the park a prime place for wildlife. ”
Here is the Park website.    Phone 573-649-3149   Map     Trail Map
There is a self-guided boardwalk 0.7 mile one way.   Its surface is good traction for wheel chairs, but makes use of a cane a little wobbly.
Bottomland Trail is a 1 1/2 mile loop.  Its dirt surface is all right for wheelchairs in dry times, but not when wet.
Cypress Trail is a 0.75 mile loop.  Like Bottomland Trail, it is only good for wheelchairs when dry.

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, near Columbia, “…contains a wide diversity of natural and cultural resources to explore. Some of Missouri’s finest examples of karst topography, restored grasslands, forests and streams rest within park boundaries.”
Here is the Park website.   Phone 573-449-7402   Map    Trail Map
From the Accessibility Information Page:
“The portion of the Springbrook trail, in the sidebar of the Devil’s Icebox kiosk up to the bridge, is accessible over natural turf. Devil’s Icebox trail is partially accessible from trailhead to the rock bridge.”

Elephant Rocks State Park
This park, near Belleview, contains giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants.  They were formed from 1.5 billion year old granite.  “Many of the elephant rocks lie within the seven-acre Elephant Rocks Natural Area, which is recognized for its outstanding geologic value.”
Here is the Park’s website.   Phone 573-546-3454  Map   Trail Map
Reviewed on  Trip Advisor  Accessibility
The one mile Interpretive Braille Trail  is “asphalt and has varying slopes and conditions. The most excessive slopes are at 9.3 percent for 37 feet and 10.2 percent for 20 feet. At some points, the trail pinches down to 28 inches wide, due to the rock formations.  Along the trail are interpretive stations with Braille text.”  The trail was “…especially designed for people with visual and physical disabilities.”

Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
Taum Sauk Mountain State Park’s 7,500 acres “…include the highest point in the state. Located in the St. Francois Mountains, the park’s wooded areas and rocky glades provide a beautiful, solitary experience for hikers”

Here is the Park website.   Phone 573-546-2450  Map    Trail Map  
Accessibility information
High Point Trail – a  “paved trail … approximately 1,030 feet long with resting places spaced along the way and no excessive slopes.”      “From the parking area, a short walk along a wheelchair-accessible trail leads to the top of Taum Sauk Mountain and the highest point in the state at 1,772 feet above sea level. Beyond this point, the trail becomes rocky and rugged and is not considered accessible to wheelchairs.”

Disabled-Accessible Outdoors  – a pdf document by the Missouri Dept. of Conservation