7 Most Scenic Small Towns In Missouri For Nature Lovers
Missouri’s storied history flows from its rivers and stretches across its open fields and deep forests. Before it became a state in 1821, the land was a meeting ground for Native American tribes and early explorers. In the present day, its natural surroundings play a big part in everyday life. Small towns fit seamlessly into this landscape as they have always been here, offering quiet streets and long trails that pull you right into the wild. If you are ready to see where nature and history meet, start by reading about these seven most scenic small towns in Missouri for nature lovers.
Rocheport
The Missouri River runs south of Rocheport, and the cliffs along its edge rise steeply. Near the town, between the cliffs and the river, lays the popular Katy Trail State Park, and one of the most photographed stretches of the trail in the state. Limestone walls climb straight up from one side, and the river opens wide on the other. In the morning, fog hangs low and softens everything in view. Les Bourgeois Vineyards is one of the most well-known landmarks in town, and its A-frame house, shaped like a steep triangle, perches up high. From its deck, you can see far over the nearby river and hills.
After a short drive from the vineyard into town, head back to the Katy Trail. From there, you can access the Moniteau Bluffs, where the cliffs are high and the soil beams bright from the sun, giving you a great location for photos. Also from the Katy Trail, you can reach the Rocheport Tunnel. Built in the 1890s for the railroad, it cuts straight through the rock face. Inside, water drips from the ceiling after rain, and the stone stays cool inside, even in summer.
Arrow Rock
Arrow Rock was once a vital waypoint on the Santa Fe Trail in the 19th century. Now, though, it sits off the main roads, giving the town a quiet, untouched quality. Its buildings feel rustic, built with wood and brick, and tall trees stretch out into the sky. If you feel hungry, visit the J. Huston Tavern on Main Street. Since 1834, it has been serving food, and its historic value makes it an important heritage location in town.
Once you have visited the tavern, take a look at the rest of the Arrow Rock State Historic Site. Here you will find more iconic brick buildings to enjoy, as well as places like a cosy campground. You can also wander down trails to take in all the fresh air of the nearby woods. East of town, the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is great to explore, with its old river channels and low woods. The trails are unpaved and quiet, and you can spend time here without hearing anything but birds in the air and wind through the trees.
Ste. Genevieve
Just west of the Mississippi River, the floodplain stretches out in flat sections of field, creek, and low woods. Ste. Genevieve, with its collection of brick buildings, sits along the edge of this land, behind a levee that keeps the river in check. The town has all sorts of options to get you outdoors and moving. A trail runs along the top of the levee and is used for walking, sometimes biking, and offers a view across the water. The river moves slowly here, and the sound of insects carries in the summer.
To the southwest, Hawn State Park draws hikers year-round. In the park, Pickle Creek Trail follows the water through stone outcrops and narrow valleys. The footing can be uneven in places, making for some challenging parts, but the trail stays shaded even in the heat. Closer to town, the Ste. Genevieve-Modoc Ferry still runs across the river. It gives a simple way to cross into Illinois or just enjoy a slow ride over the water, and most days you can find only a few other vehicles waiting to load.
Parkville
Just north of Kansas City, Parkville lies along the Missouri River, close enough to feel suburban but bordered by woods and steep hills. In town, English Landing Park runs beside the river and stretches long and flat. There are paths to enjoy and a place to launch boats at the distant edge. During weekday mornings, you can spot people running, others taking dogs for walks, and from time to time, a train goes by on the nearby rails.
The Park University campus sits on a rise overlooking the town. Many of the buildings are crafted with beautiful stone, built into the hillside, and shaded by old trees. Mackay Hall, with its pointed towers, is the most recognizable. It stands above the rest and can be seen from below. The Parkville Nature Sanctuary is close to the university and is a great escape into nature. The trails there are narrow and lead through woods and across footbridges, following small creeks and patches of limestone. One of the most notable trails in the sanctuary is the Old Kate Trail, where the tree canopy keeps things cool even when it gets hot out.
Marshfield
Marshfield is located in the Ozarks, with main streets like Washington Street and Hubble Drive running through town. This small town's link to outer space can be spotted in the middle of town outside the courthouse, where a copy of the Hubble Space Telescope stands tall at a quarter of the original's size, a tribute to their home-born alum Edwin Hubble. Nature is always close at hand in Marshfield. Hidden Waters Nature Park is located on Historic Route 66 and lends out walking trails, ponds to explore, and waterfalls to admire. Many of the park's springs feed into the upper watershed for the Niangua River.
It never hurts to learn while you explore nature, and the park is also home to the Historic Callaway Cabin, an 1853 pioneer home relocated to its new home in Hidden Waters. After that, if you want to get on the water, the Niangua River is perfect for canoeing and fishing with its clear waters. Only around 30 minutes north of town, Sand Spring Resort and Bennett Spring State Park give access to the river and places to fish, making it easy to spend a day surrounded by the clear waters and rolling forested hills of the Ozarks.
Hermann
Hermann is another town close to the Missouri River, shaped by its bends and curves. When you get here, head for a walk or bike ride. The famous Katy Trail runs along the old rail line north of town and is used daily, mostly by walkers and cyclists from nearby. The section near Hermann has access to river views and shade when it gets hot. If you want to get further outdoors, the Grand Bluffs Conservation Area is only a 15 minute drive from town. There, you can try a short walking trail that leads to a wooden platform overlooking the river valley. From the top, you get a clear view of the river bend and the farm fields spreading out below.
After that, try Hermann Riverfront Park, which is right off Highway 19. It has open grassy areas and a small, wooded section with benches along the edge of the water. The town keeps it maintained, and it stays quiet most days. Next, only a short trip from the park will land you at Frene Creek, which carves through the town and has cool, shallow water and shade when summer comes.
Van Buren
Van Buren sits alongside the Current River, giving people a calm, country way of life near the Ozark Mountains. When you come into town, the historic Carter County Courthouse stands out with its rugged cobblestone exterior, a proud symbol of resilient community spirit. Nature really comes alive at Current River in all sorts of different ways, like people heading out with fishing poles or just wading through the shallows.
One of the biggest natural landmarks near town is Big Spring, only a 10-minute drive south. It is one of the largest springs in the country, pumping out an amazing 286 million gallons of water every day. Right in the same area, you can find the Big Spring Historic District. Built in the Great Depression, several stone structures remain that you can see and explore.
The town also acts as a gateway into the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The protected area is managed by the National Park Service and is the first unit of the National Park System created to protect a river system. The area contains trails weaving through forests and campgrounds to use to really soak in the surrounding nature.
Each of these Missouri towns rises from the nature it is surrounded by. You can walk trails where the river bends wide. You can sit by cold springs tucked into the hills. You can follow old paths through woods that never feel busy. In Missouri, the towns and the wild places are still tied together by the slow pull of the land. The most important thing is to get out there and explore and see all the best nature the Show-Me State has to offer.
