MKT Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The backbone of Columbia’s ever-expanding trail system is the popular 8.9-mile MKT Trail. This 10-foot-wide, crushed limestone surfaced trail built on the old rail-bed of the MKT railroad begins in downtown Columbia in Flat Branch Park and connects with the 250-mile cross-state Katy Trail.

The MKT Trail routes through beautiful landscapes, including wooded hillsides and attractive rock formations, with various trailside attractions along the way. Three trailheads offer parking, restrooms, and picnic areas. The MKT Trail derives its name from its predecessor—the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway.