Trail Riding in Northwest Missouri Parks and Missouri Conservation Areas:
Charlie Heath Memorial Conservation Area: (unknown trail miles) (Luray, MO) – View on Google Maps. Mostly forest land with some open meadows, this park has equestrian trails throughout the entire 1600 acres of land. The Fox River meanders through the property. Multi-use hike / bike / equestrian trails. Read more at and view map (PDF) at Trail Riding at Charlie Heath Memorial – Missouri Conservation Area.
Crowder State Park: (8.60 trail miles) (Trenton, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. At Crowder State Park, the Thompson River Trail on the open low-lying floodplain of the Thompson River, is open to trail riding. Read more about this Missouri Park at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Parks – Crowder.
Daniel Boone Conservation Area: (6.8 trail miles) (Jonesburg, MO) – View on Google Maps. Multi-use hike / bike / equestrian trails run through rugged valleys, hills and woodlands. Multiple primitive camping sites available. Read more and view trail map (PDF) at Trail Riding – Daniel Boone – Missouri Conservation Area.
Deer Ridge Conservation Area: (20 trail miles) (Williamstown, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Has a campground with easy access to almost 20 miles of multi-use hike / bike / equestrian trails. Mostly wooded with a large lake, fishing, gun range, and more. Read more and find a trail map (PDF) at Trail Riding – Deer Ridge – Missouri Conservation Area.
Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area: (unknown trail miles) (Fabius Township, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. From website:”Equestrian use is allowed on roads open to vehicular traffic. Horses must stay on roads open to vehicular traffic or on multi-use trails posted as open to horses. Groups of 10 or more people using horses on a department area must obtain a special use permit from the area manager. The area manager can be contacted at the phone number listed in the area details section for this department area. This department area also has multi-use trails open to equestrian use.
On multi-use trails designated as open to equestrian use, horses and horseback riding is prohibited during all portions of the firearms deer hunting season and during the spring turkey hunting seasons.” Read more and find a trail map (PDF) at Henry Sever Lake – Missouri Conservation Area.
Katy Trail State Park: (14.00 trail miles) (Sedalia to Clinton, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. From Sedalia to Clinton, MO trail is over 40 miles – Horses are permitted on the section of Katy Trail State Park between the State Fairgrounds at Sedalia and Clinton on the Rock Island Trail: Windsor to Chilhowee trail. Trails are reported to be well maintained and easy (old railroad paths – packed gravel footing). Read more about this Missouri park at Trail Riding – Missouri Parks – Katy Trail.
Knob Noster State Park: (7.50 trail miles) (Knob Noster, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. Knob Noster State Park has an equestrian trail riding system that includes the McAdoo Trail Yellow Loop. Read more about this Missouri park at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Parks – Knob Noster.
Watkins Mill State Park: (4.00 trail miles) (Lawson, Missouri) – View on Google Maps. This trail traverses oak-hickory forest on the west side and stands of red cedar on the east side. A center trail on the north end is a more open, grassy area that follows a ridge on a gentle slope down to a creek. It intersects the east trail, and then a little farther on, the west side of the trail. Watch for loose rocks and steep slopes when approaching the two creek crossings.
Some trail areas may be rutted, particularly on the extreme northwest and northeast sections. Trail conditions will be muddy after moderate rain and snowfall. In addition, the trail has a white connector and a blue connector that can be used to shorten or extend your hike or trail ride. Read more about this Missouri park at Horseback Riding Trails – Missouri Parks – Watkins Mill.
