Park Information
Only the Pleasant Hill to Windsor section is open for public use at this time. This section includes the trailheads at Pleasant Hill, Medford, Chilhowee, Leeton and Windsor. Public use of the undeveloped section is prohibited.
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Welcome to Rock Island Trail State Park, where nonmotorized, accessible trail-related opportunities abound. The park is part of a larger rail-to-trail system within Missouri State Parks, connecting to Jackson County and Katy Trail State Park. Once completely developed, the park will become part of a trail network crossing the entire state of Missouri, linking Kansas City to St. Louis.
Spanning a section of the former corridor of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, Rock Island Trail State Park encompasses the former Rock Island Spur of Katy Trail State Park – 47.5 miles of developed trail extending from Pleasant Hill to Windsor, Missouri. An additional 144 miles of undeveloped corridor extends from Windsor to Beaufort, Missouri, and remains closed to the public until the trail is developed. Another 12.6-mile section of active rail line from Beaufort to Union is available to build on as a “rail with trail.”
With trailheads available at Pleasant Hill, Leeton, Chilhowee and Medford, and an access point at Windsor, the developed section stretches through the heart of west-central Missouri and provides an adventure for bicyclists, hikers and equestrian users seeking an avenue to enjoy nature, explore a part of rural Missouri history, and have an enjoyable recreational opportunity. Along the way, the trail leads users through small towns that once thrived along the corridor, and across lands once home to American Indians such as the Osage. Visitors will see prairielike landscapes, picturesque farm fields and dense woodlands, while crossing several streams and rivers.
