Missouri Life June 2023

CoMo

Stephens Lake Park is a favorite destination for fishing, swimming, winter sports, leisurely strolls and some of the city’s most popular festivals. The 116-acre park is designed with

family entertainment in mind. It includes an 11-acre lake, playgrounds and spraygrounds, a swimming beach, a large sculpture, waterfalls, walking trails and one of Columbia’s premier sledding hills. In addition to a wide variety of tree species on the grounds, the park is home to the Hindman Discovery Garden. That garden features four themed areas—Plant Communities, Grow to Know Your World, Council Ring, and Art and Science of Horticulture. The park’s educational offerings also include demonstration rain gardens and a children’s grove. Open 6 AM to 11 PM daily • CoMo.gov/parks/stephens-lake-park • 2001 E. Broadway • Columbia Rock Bridge Memorial State Park , as the name suggests, features a rock bridge that was formed when a portion of a cave collapsed. But that’s just part of the story of this ecologically diverse park. With its complex cave system, the park is a haven for adventurers who appreciate Missouri’s reputation as “the cave state.” There are also streams, forests and restored prairie to explore on eight different trails that traverse the 2,273 acre park. Park staff coordinates tours, orienteering courses, and other events throughout the year to help visitors get in touch with the unspoiled natural world that exists just a few miles south of Columbia. Open year round, sunrise to sunset • MoStateParks.com/park/rock-bridge-memorial-state-park • 5901 S. Highway 163 • Columbia • 573-449-7402 The MKT Trail runs from Columbia’s Flat Branch Park to the intersection of the State of Missouri’s Katy Trail State Park near McBaine and is widely regarded as one of the best urban trails in the nation. This multiuse trail welcomes cyclists, runners and walkers to experience the feel of unspoiled nature as it threads through the heart of the city and beyond for 8.9 miles. The 10-foot-wide trail sits on the abandoned railbed of the MKT railroad. Fitness stations, bicycle repair stations, water fountains and restrooms are located along the trail for the comfort and convenience of the thousands of outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy this popular Columbia attraction. Open year-round (some amenities are closed during cold-weather months) • CoMo.gov/trails/mkt-nature-and-fitness-trail Grindstone Nature Area is 199 acres of outdoor adventures just waiting to be discovered. Be sure to bring along your best dog pal because the entire park is an off-leash area. As you walk through the park on Grindstone Nature Trail, you’ll enjoy views of bluffs, Grindstone Creek, and colorful fields of wildflowers. The site is rich in history and a portion of the park is listed on the National Register for Historic Places because it was once home to now-extinct animals and early native tribes. There’s still a historic silo and spring house on the property. There’s a bike repair station in the park, as well as a picnic shelter. And if you’re eager for a longer hike, Grindstone Nature Area serves as the trailhead for Grindstone Creek Trail and Hinkson Creek Trail. Open 6 AM to 11 PM • CoMo.gov/parks/grindstone-nature-area • 2011 Old Highway 63 S. • Columbia meetcomo.com

Photos Courtesy of Columbia CVB