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 Bella Vista Lake Trail. With more than 8 trails covering 66 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 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 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 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...
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 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 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 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...
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 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...
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 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 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 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 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...
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...
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 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...
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....
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.
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
Excellent! Hats off to those who developed this trail! Started in Fayetteville and rode north to Crystal Bridges. Scenery is beautiful in south part. Only trouble I had was in Bentonville...there is construction going on and parts of the trail had detours (I got lost). I flagged down another biker and she guided me through Bentonville to Crystal Bridges (bikers are friendly people). Trail was an easy ride and very enjoyable. Would definitely recommend this.
Very impressive that this trail is kept up by volunteers. Very few loose gravel spots where a hybrid bike can get questionable. Not really much to see, but very few road crossings and you can safely ride from Carthage to Car Junction.
I biked this trail May 26, 2021. Except for about 100 feet of trail at mile point 4.2 (just carry your bike across the railroad tracks and bike to the north edge of the short unfinished section), this is a great trail from about mile point 2.5 all the way to the eastern end in Carthage.
The 2.5 mile section from the state line to near Carl Junction is (currently) only recommended for good bikers on mountain bikes (the gravel is thick in points and the trail is mostly un-cleared of brush).
I did the complete 16 mile trail on my hybrid bike, but I found the western-most 2.5 mile section a bit tricky.
I would recommend biking from the Carthage trailhead to Carl Junction and returning to Carthage. This gives you a nice 25 mile ride.
The Joplin Trails Coalition expects to have the entire 16-mile trail completed by sometime in 2022.
We ride the pavement which was in perfect shape and not overly crowded. But the paths on both sides of the trail were calling to us. Would be a great place to learn to mountain bike and also has access to a wide variety of trails.
The wife and I have just started walking, as a means of much needed exercise. I am a former powerlifter and she was once an athlete, in golden years past. We have been walking by Shoal Creek, a great walk, and it is nearer to our house, but once we walked this trail we both fell in love. Great walk. Even when it is busy, there are quiet moments to see nature and wildlife. Most people you pass say hello, nod, or let you pet their dog. That may just be the people of Joplin, but still it is an incredibly beautiful, friendly, and surprisingly strenuous walk. We are gonna do the whole thing soon, and once we do she says we are going to mountain bike the whole thing. What a great natural spot to escape to. Joplin is blessed with such beautiful natural settings.
This trail is great for a stroll or a quick bike ride. Beautiful scenery and you can start either off of Allan St or from Briarbrook.
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