Missouri’s Rock Island Trail
Rock Island Trail State Park at Pleasant Hill | Photo courtesy Missouri State Parks
The people of Missouri are leading the charge for the Rock Island Trail State Park, anticipating the incredible impact the trail, when realized, could have along the 144-mile corridor. This video shines a light on how the communities are making it happen, with a goal to revitalize towns, spur new business and commerce, create safe off-road routes to destinations in dozens of towns along the route, and establish a new statewide tourism identity.
Spanning from Windsor on the western end of Missouri to Beaufort in the east, the 144-mile developing section of Rock Island Trail State Park will eventually connect nearly two dozen communities.
Notably, a separate 47-mile section of the old railroad corridor—stretching from Pleasant Hill, on the outskirts of Kansas City, to the western end of the undeveloped 144-mile section at Windsor—was converted to a rail-trail in 2016. There at Windsor, the completed and developing segments also connect with another cross-state route, the iconic Katy Trail State Park, which loosely parallels the Rock Island to the north for nearly 240 miles to the outskirts of St. Louis.
When complete, the connected pair would form a trail loop of almost 450 miles—something unique not only to the country, but to the world—and the excitement for how this outdoor tourism duo could bring new economic opportunities to the area, in the short and long term, is palpable.
RTC Member Chrysa Niewald Interview
What I Do: I am a retired high school educator and older-adult group exercise leader. My hobbies include bicycling, hiking, traveling and quilting. I am also the secretary and a board member for Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park (FORIT), which I co-founded to promote the development of the Rock Island Trail.
Why I started using trails: Initially, I started riding the Katy Trail because it was a novelty. It was also a safe place for us to take our children cycling when they were young. We live in a small rural community that lacks sidewalks and wide shoulders.
My favorite rail-trail: America has so many great trails, but the Katy is still my favorite—at least until the Rock Island Trail is completed.
How trails impact communities: I have seen so many rural small towns revived and benefit economically from trails in Missouri. Trails connect city folks with their country neighbors in a way that is beneficial to both. As a retired educator, I am excited about how trails can be used for safe routes to schools as well.
Why I support RTC: In 2009, I started researching rail-trails to help me understand the process of converting an inactive rail corridor into a rail-trail. Eventually, we reached out to the fantastic RTC staff. Eric Oberg and many others have been with us every step of the way—from answering legal questions to promoting the project, to seeing the creation of the Rock Island Trail State Park in 2023. They continue to support us as we pursue trail building. I love RTC!
