Hinkson Creek Trail

Table of Contents

About Hinkson Creek Trail

Hinkson Creek Trail is the result of a unique partnership between the City of Columbia and the University of Missouri. The trail and two wide sidewalks (pedways) link Conley Road with the MKT Trail for a total distance of approximately 7.5 miles of off-road trail and sidewalk. The City of Columbia manages 5.25 miles, beginning at Conley Road. Trail users with a final destination of the MKT Trail will travel along a paved trail and then connect with a wide sidewalk on E. Walnut to the Perimeter Trail at Stephens Lake Park. From Stephens Lake Park, travel south continuing under both E. Broadway and S. Old Highway 63 where a connection to a wide sidewalk or travel along S. Old Hwy 63 will lead to Stadium Boulevard. Trail users can then travel under Stadium Boulevard and follow S. Hwy 63 or utilize the sidewalk to the Grindstone Nature Area. From this point, trail users will travel west along the trail (limestone surface) through Capen Park, and connect to the MU Hinkson Creek Recreation Area where the MU Rec Trail begins. The MU Rec Trail continues on 2.25 miles to the MKT Trail just west of the Stadium MKT Trailhead near the 6.75-mile marker.

Trailheads & connectors

Hinkson Creek Trail Map opens PDF file
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Hinkson Creek Trail MKT Nature and Fitness Trail Access

Trail Miles: 8.9 miles, limestone (4.7 miles – City of Columbia, 4.2 miles – Boone County)

Hinkson Creek Trail Greenbriar ConnectorLocation: opens in a new windowGreenbriar Connector

Trail Miles: 0.4 miles, concrete

The Greenbriar Connector is a 0.4-mile concrete trail that connects residents living near Green Meadows Rd. to the MU Recreation Trail/Hinkson Creek Trail near Epple Field and MU’s Green Tennis Center.  The Greenbriar Connector also provides opportunities for non-motorized transportation options to students attending Rock Bridge High School.
Design engineers navigated the steep slopes with a switchback route utilizing retaining walls and estate fencing through this lovely wooded area. Travel is downhill from the Green Meadows residential area to the MU Recreation Trail. A bench for resting and a bulbout lookout area is provided those traveling uphill as they approach the bridge that crosses Hinkson Creek to the Greenbriar Drive residential neighborhood.

The total project cost was $971,037, which included acquisition, engineering services, and construction. The project was administered by GetAbout Columbia, with funding provided by the Federal Highway’s Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program. After its completion, it was incorporated into the City’s trail system under the management of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Information not available

Hinkson Creek Trail Seven Oaks access

Hinkson Creek Trail Capen Park Access

Location: opens in a new window1600 Capen Park Dr.

Support Facilities: Parking

Location: opens in a new window2011 Old Highway 63 South

Support Facilities: Parking, Restroom, Drinking Fountain, Bike FIx-It Station

Support Facilities: None

Located at the intersection of Old Hwy. 63 and Stadium Blvd.

Location: opens in a new window1001 Old 63 South

Support Facilities: Parking

Information not available

Location: opens in a new window2001 E. Broadway

Support Facilities: Parking

Support Facilities: Parking, Restroom at Riechmann Pavilion, Drinking Fountain

Hinkson Creek Trail Rollins Street ConnectorTrail Miles: .50, concrete

Support Facilities: None

Connects the east side of the University of Missouri campus near the 1700 block of Rollins Street via a bridge over the Hinkson Creek to the cul-de-sac at Bluff Dale Dr.  Bluff Dale Dr. is a low-use residential street that connects to the 600 block of  Old Hwy 63 S.  From Bluff Dale Dr.,  northbound trail users can follow the Old Hwy 63 S. pedway (a wide sidewalk)  to Stephens Lake Park, including traveling under Old Hwy 63 S. and E. Broadway.  Individuals heading south from Bluff Dale Dr. can travel on the Old Hwy 63 S pedway to the Grindstone Nature Area, including traveling under Stadium Blvd on the Hinkson Creek Trail

Trail history

Grindstone Nature Area to Capen Park

This section of the trail was Phase I of the project administered by the City of Columbia. It is about one mile of 10-foot wide aggregate surfaced trail connecting the Grindstone Nature Area parking lot to Capen Park. This section of trail runs through the nature area and includes two bridges that are designed to rust and mimic the old railroad bridges along the Missouri River. Construction was completed by a private contractor and the trail was dedicated May 6, 2000.

Capen Park to University of Missouri – Hinkson Creek Recreation Area

This section was Phase II of the project administered by the City of Columbia and constructed by a private contractor. This mile-long section connects to the MU Recreation Trail at the Hinkson Creek Recreation Area.

MU Recreation Trail

Work on this phase was completed by the University of Missouri. This portion of the trail connects the Hinkson Recreation Area to the City’s MKT Trail near the 6.75-mile marker, between Forum Blvd. and Stadium Blvd. The trail takes visitors under Providence Rd., by Reactor Field, and past the University agricultural research fields. The university calls its portion of the trail the MU Recreation Trail. The distance from the bridge at the Hinkson Recreation Area to the MKT Trail is 2.25 miles on the university portion of the trail, making the trek from Grindstone Nature Area to the MKT Trail a total distance of 4.25 miles.

The university owns .6 miles of the trail extending west of the bridge over the Hinkson Creek running through the Hinkson Creek Recreation Area. This portion of the trail connects to a 3.0-mile trail at Providence Pl. The 3.0-mile portion of the MU Recreation Trail extends from the Student Recreation Center to the MKT Nature/Fitness Trail.

Main access points

  • Student Recreation Center (parking at Turner Avenue Garage or Hitt Street Visitor Parking)
  • Hearnes Center/Memorial Stadium
  • Epple Field
  • Hinkson Creek Recreation Area

There are restrooms and drinking fountains available at Stankowski Field and Epple Field. (These facilities are usually closed November through March.)

Maintenance concerns for this section of the trail should be referred to MU Campus Facilities @ 573-882-8211

Dedication Ceremony

Date: May 6, 2000

Mayor Darwin Hindman, City Manager Ray Beck, Director of Parks and Recreation Mike Hood, City Council members Rex Campbell, John Coffman, Chris Janku and John John, representatives from Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and other trail enthusiasts participate in the ribbon cutting at the Hinkson Creek Trail dedication ceremony.