Explore the best rated trails in Joplin, MO. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Ruby Jack Trail and Razorback Regional Greenway. With more than 9 trails covering 78 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The southern terminus of the Frisco Greenway Trail is tucked into an unassuming neighborhood in Joplin. From there, the gravel trail winds northward along the former St. Louis–San Francisco Railway,...
The Watco Trail, named for the short-line railroad operator headquartered in Pittsburg, stretches diagonally through the Kansas city just west of downtown. The trail is open on a portion of the former...
The Wishing Springs Trail is a crucial link between two popular trails in Bentonville's extensive system. In the south, the trail begins at a junction with the North Bentonville Trail, which branches...
The North Bentonville Trail forms an arc around—you guessed it—the northern part of Bentonville, a growing city in northwest Arkansas. The scenic trail winds through woodlands and along a trickling...
The Blowing Springs Greenway is a 3-mile paved trail in Bella Vista that connects Metfield Park to Blowing Springs Park. The trail is smooth and 10 feet-wide, making it suitable for bikes,...
Completed in 2015, the Razorback Regional Greenway spans a large portion of Northwest Arkansas, connecting the bustling hubs of Bentonville and Fayetteville with the growing suburban communities of...
Thom Station Trail sits on an old Frisco railbed in the town of Carl Junction, just 15 minutes north of Joplin, Missouri. It’s a relatively short trail, 2.8 miles roundtrip. The southern half of the...
The Bella Vista Lake Trail forms a loop around Bella Vista Lake in the park of the same name, located along Bentonville's northern edge. Along with this popular paved fitness trail, the park contains...
Completed in 2015, the Razorback Regional Greenway spans a large portion of Northwest Arkansas, connecting the bustling hubs of Bentonville and Fayetteville with the growing suburban communities of...
The Bella Vista Lake Trail forms a loop around Bella Vista Lake in the park of the same name, located along Bentonville's northern edge. Along with this popular paved fitness trail, the park contains...
Thom Station Trail sits on an old Frisco railbed in the town of Carl Junction, just 15 minutes north of Joplin, Missouri. It’s a relatively short trail, 2.8 miles roundtrip. The southern half of the...
The Ruby Jack Trail runs for 16 miles between Carthage, MO, and the Kansas state line. The trail links the towns of Carthage, Oronogo, and Carl Junction, traversing farmland, wetland, and woodland....
The Wishing Springs Trail is a crucial link between two popular trails in Bentonville's extensive system. In the south, the trail begins at a junction with the North Bentonville Trail, which branches...
The southern terminus of the Frisco Greenway Trail is tucked into an unassuming neighborhood in Joplin. From there, the gravel trail winds northward along the former St. Louis–San Francisco Railway,...
The Watco Trail, named for the short-line railroad operator headquartered in Pittsburg, stretches diagonally through the Kansas city just west of downtown. The trail is open on a portion of the former...
The North Bentonville Trail forms an arc around—you guessed it—the northern part of Bentonville, a growing city in northwest Arkansas. The scenic trail winds through woodlands and along a trickling...
The Blowing Springs Greenway is a 3-mile paved trail in Bella Vista that connects Metfield Park to Blowing Springs Park. The trail is smooth and 10 feet-wide, making it suitable for bikes,...
The Watco Trail, named for the short-line railroad operator headquartered in Pittsburg, stretches diagonally through the Kansas city just west of downtown. The trail is open on a portion of the former...
The southern terminus of the Frisco Greenway Trail is tucked into an unassuming neighborhood in Joplin. From there, the gravel trail winds northward along the former St. Louis–San Francisco Railway,...
The Ruby Jack Trail runs for 16 miles between Carthage, MO, and the Kansas state line. The trail links the towns of Carthage, Oronogo, and Carl Junction, traversing farmland, wetland, and woodland....
The Wishing Springs Trail is a crucial link between two popular trails in Bentonville's extensive system. In the south, the trail begins at a junction with the North Bentonville Trail, which branches...
Completed in 2015, the Razorback Regional Greenway spans a large portion of Northwest Arkansas, connecting the bustling hubs of Bentonville and Fayetteville with the growing suburban communities of...
The North Bentonville Trail forms an arc around—you guessed it—the northern part of Bentonville, a growing city in northwest Arkansas. The scenic trail winds through woodlands and along a trickling...
The Blowing Springs Greenway is a 3-mile paved trail in Bella Vista that connects Metfield Park to Blowing Springs Park. The trail is smooth and 10 feet-wide, making it suitable for bikes,...
Thom Station Trail sits on an old Frisco railbed in the town of Carl Junction, just 15 minutes north of Joplin, Missouri. It’s a relatively short trail, 2.8 miles roundtrip. The southern half of the...
The Bella Vista Lake Trail forms a loop around Bella Vista Lake in the park of the same name, located along Bentonville's northern edge. Along with this popular paved fitness trail, the park contains...
Not as clean and well kept as other trails. There’s a lot of trash left by those overnighting near trails. However, good safe crossings and interesting to weave through Fayetteville. I started at finished at Walker Park, which has a children’s splash park-an added cooling bonus on a hot day!
I started at Horsebarn trailhead 7/14/2022 headed toward Fayetteville. Beautiful ride! This is what I wanted to do the last 2 days from Bella Vista and Bentonville but could not due to construction. Signage was great! I had to detour in Springdale but the detour signs were spot on and I was back on the trail soon. The scenery was nice. I recommend riding from Horsebarn trailhead.
Section of trail closed due to construction for a bypass in April 2022
Started from Horsebarn Trailhead and headed south. Trail was pretty easy to follow and signs were at all junctions where one had multiple choices. It was a bit hilly in spots though. We rode as far as Springdale (Phat Tire Bikes) due to the headwinds that day (03/22). Surface is in very good condition. The trail crosses some roads, but also "goes under" many of them, especially the busy ones. Definitely a gem.
There is so much new road and building construction along RRG that the trail has become hazardous to travel. Multiple areas where the trail is torn out, sometimes with dead end, sometimes with routing bike traffic into the street along with vehicle, truck traffic.
This includes all areas north of Fayetteville (Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and Bella Vista).
Safe riding has been reduced to only 10 miles at south end of the RRG trail.
Did this trail today from Bella Vista Lake to Rogers (Bass Pro). Beautiful day! Great trails - loves it. It’s under construction right now so I would park farther south to avoid that, but otherwise it was great!! They’ve done a great job with these trails - highly recommend.
A friend suggested riding in Joplin so searched TrailLink to see what we could find. Took a friend, his wife and son up from NW Arkansas on October 10 to explore. The trail reminded us of the Katy Trail with the gravel surface so that started the day just right. With the notes from your site and our GPS navigation, found the trailhead pretty easily. Early morning coolness made this a fun adventure overall. The two things that my riding partners both suggested would make this easier for others would be to see about more signage around the end of the trail about 4 plus miles in as the trail just kind of stopped with out much to identify if we should keep going or turn around. Some nice pedestrians told us we were at the end and were so nice that it really helped us to finish on a positive note then turn around. There was one major street crossing that did not have any lights or devices to have traffic stop for slower riders or children. We had an 8 year old with us so that was a safety concern thta could be easily added. We may be spoiled by all the work in NW Arkansas trails for the local Greenway. Overall, a great morning start before heading over to the Ruby Jack trail.
A friend suggested riding in Joplin so hopped on TrailLink to see what we could find. Ruby Jack sounded interesting and it did not disappoint! Put in at Carl Junction on October 10 and rode to Carthage for about a 25 mile round trip. Cool morning temps helped make this a great trail to explore. I highly recommend giving this a look and have already recommended it to several friends. Just a little over an hour from NW Arkansas so easily reached and lots of food options for post ride nutrition!!! Since I was solo, did not go much past the rough patch going west. Will explore that more in the future!
My daughter and I stayed in Rogers. Day 1 we hiked 8 miles on the Pigeon Roost Trail. Day 2 we drove to the Ozark Botanical Gardens with our bikes. After a tour of the gardens we rode our bikes around Lake Fayetteville and then headed south. We picnicked at Wilson Park and then headed back. Approximately 20 miles of biking was enough after a long day of hiking; however I can’t wait to go back and do more. I’ve ridden several trails and this one ranks up there. Beautiful and well maintained!
Well mantener and friendly people along the trail - walking, running, and biking.
I live in Rogers, AR so I am biased with this review. If you’re a visitor or a resident, the paved trail system (especially the Razorback Greenway Trail) in Benton and Washington Counties (Rogers, Bentonville, Lowell, Springdale, and Fayetteville) are the best I have ever rode. I have used paved trails in several other states, but the ones in NWA are the BEST. Hands down! The maintenance is meticulous. I find the signage helpful and easy to follow. There are many places with water fountains to refill your water bottles as public restrooms. I can’t say enough good things about the trails in Northwest Arkansas
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Map Search
