Run at Galloway Creek Greenway Trail
Galloway Creek Greenway Trail runs north-south in southeast Springfield. It was the first trail in Missouri to receive the honor of being designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2003! It begins at Pershing Middle School on Seminole Street, just east of Lone Pine Avenue, and heads south through historic Sequiota Park and Galloway Village, then to the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, concluding at the scenic James River bridge. The trail connects to the James River Greenway and James River Water Trail – both of which highlight the natural beauty of the Ozarks that runs right through Springfield.
Run at Fulbright Spring Greenway Trail
Fulbright Spring Greenway Trail is a gorgeous trail that begins at Ritter Springs Park and travels east underneath Highway 13 past David C. Murray Trailhead, Lost Hill Park, and ends at Truman Elementary School. It is currently 6.98 miles long. This trail was recently named a National Recreation Trail, marking our region’s fifth National Recreation Trail!
Run & Hike at Sac River Mountain Bike Trails
Sac River Mountain Bike Trails This 300-acre Springfield-Greene County city park offers over 14 miles of interconnecting single-track trail through the woods in northwest Springfield. Built by volunteers in 1996, it’s popular with mountain bikers from beginner to advanced, and for trail running and hiking too. The perimeter trail is about 2 miles, and a cell phone tower marks the northeast corner of the perimeter.
Run at Dirt 66 Trails at Fellows Lake
Dirt 66 Trails at Fellows Lake While Fellows Lake itself offers a plethora of activities in its beautiful setting, the trails here are the best our city has to offer for new mountain bikers. Much of the trail is considered beginner level, while some of the downhill is more intermediate. It’s easy to pick a section to ride, and come back another day for some new dirt!
Run at Ward Branch Greenway Trail
Ward Branch Greenway Trail is currently in two sections that are planned to eventually connect. One is segment connects Burrell Center Lake to Twin Oaks Park/substation on Republic Road and on to The Library Center. The other section has two miles that connects Wanda Gray Elementary School to River Bluff Cave Archeology Museum (across the road from Rivercut Golf Course). This section is also very wooded and scenic as it meanders back and forth along Ward Branch Creek.
Run at The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is unique among planned and existing trails in the region for its historical and cultural significance at both the local and national scale. As a segment of the cross-country Trail of Tears Historical Trail, the corridor documents the forced migration of thousands of Cherokee people from their homelands in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee to Indian Territory in present day Oklahoma. Existing segments of the trail in the region elaborate on this history through interpretive signage and, where possible, use a natural surface to preserve the character the Cherokee likely encountered nearly 180 years ago.
South Creek Greenway Trail
South Creek Greenway Trail runs east-west through the middle of Springfield and was designated as a National Recreation Trail by the National Park Service and American Trails in 2006. The trail starts at McDaniel Park Trailhead at National Avenue and Sunset Street and links to Nathanael Greene Park/Close Memorial Park, the Springfield Botanical Center, Sherwood Elementary School, Carver Middle School and many neighborhoods and destinations. The trail, via an on-street connection, also connects to Wilson’s Creek Greenway at Tal’s Trailhead.
Run at Jordan Creek Greenway Trail
Run at James River Greenway Trail
James River Greenway Trail has three one-mile segments. One segment connects the James River iron bridge north to the end of the former frontage road (Gasconade Avenue) that crosses over Highway 65 and connects to an on-street bicycle loop to and from Sequiota Park. The second segment of the trail is along the north bank of Lake Springfield Park, from the park entrance to the boathouse on the lake shore. The third segment is a one-mile trail section called the Trail of Honor, that meanders along the banks of the beautiful James River and the edge of the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery.
Frisco Highline Trail
The Frisco Highline Trail winds 35 miles through the scenic Ozarks and it connects Springfield to Bolivar, Missouri. The trail was designated a National Recreation Trail by the National Park Service and American Trails in 2004, is the Ozarks’ premier scenic rail-trail, and has a rich history.