Cosmo Park
Park
508 acres14.7 mi of trail
Rhett's Run TrailCosmo Park TrailOld Quarry Road Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Sanborn Field and Soil Erosion Plots · Photo: Iwtwb8 · CC BY-SA 3.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Columbia
Columbia has 92 miles of mapped trails, 1.3 for every square mile of land
The biggest trail networks: Cosmo Park (14.7 mi), Gans Creek Recreation Area (7.3 mi), Grindstone Nature Area (5 mi). 89% of residents live within a half mile of a park. 3,344 acres are parks and preserves, 26 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 83% of U.S. towns · #14 of 247 in Missouri. What drives it
Conserved land
4%
1,709 acres · of 67.8 sq mi of land
Trails
92 mi
1.3 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,344 ac
26 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
89%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
148 mi
80 mi lanes · 58 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
27
4 beaches · 3 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Columbia?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Columbia have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Columbia is ahead of 83% of U.S. towns, #14 of 247 in Missouri. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; trail miles rank highest, conserved land lowest.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Columbia’s overall grade.
Conserved land4% of the land · typical MO town 2% · U.S. 4%BTrails1.3 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (92 mi) · MO 0.3 · U.S. 0.4APark land26 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,344 acres) · MO 11 · U.S. 13B+Parks close to home89% of residents within a half mile of a park · MO 74% · U.S. 72%B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 83%
LessMore
Missouri towns of 2,500+ (247)Ahead of 95%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Columbia ranks #163 on Outdoors.
Few Missouri towns conserve much land (a typical one, 2%; the U.S., 4%), so Columbia’s 4% is ahead of 76% of Missouri towns, while its trails per square mile lead 94% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Cosmo Park, with 14.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Gans Creek Recreation Area
Park
316 acres7.3 mi of trail
Discovery Ridge TrailGans Creek Cross Country Course
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Grindstone Nature Area
Park
240 acres5 mi of trail
Ridgeline TrailLost Hill TrailSpring House TrailConnector Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary
Managed by Columbia Parks and Recreation
187 acres1.8 mi of trail
Nature TrailPrairie Education Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
A. Perry Philips Park
Park
133 acres1.7 mi of trail
Phillips Lake Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Hinkson Woods Conservation Area
Managed by Missouri Department of Conservation
73 acres1.3 mi of trail
Hinkson Woods Conservation Area Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Albert-Oakland Park
Managed by City of Columbia
79 acres1.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 75 parks & preserves
Cosmo Park508 acres · 14.7 mi of trail
DirectionsGans Creek Recreation Area316 acres · 7.3 mi of trail
DirectionsGrindstone Nature Area240 acres · 5 mi of trail
DirectionsForum Nature Area107 acres · 2 mi of trail
DirectionsBonnie View Nature Sanctuary187 acres · 1.8 mi of trail · Columbia Parks and Recreation
DirectionsA. Perry Philips Park133 acres · 1.7 mi of trail
DirectionsHinkson Woods Conservation Area73 acres · 1.3 mi of trail · Missouri Department of Conservation
DirectionsAlbert-Oakland Park79 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsTwin Lakes Recreation Area70 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsIndian Hills Park39 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsCosmo-Bethel Park36 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsNifong Park60 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsColumbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary22 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsStephens Lake Park121 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsKiwanis Park21 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsNorma Sutherland Smith Park49 acres · 0.8 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsClary-Shy Community Park19 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsWaters-Moss Memorial Wildlife Area113 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsThomas E "Country" Atkins Jr. Memorial Park77 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Columbia Parks and Recreation
DirectionsC.M. Albert Memorial Park22 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsMagnolia Falls Park16 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsColumbia Agriculture Park7 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsRock Quarry Park19 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsLongview Park12 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
Shelter Gardens7 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsCapen Park34 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsClyde Wilson Memorial Park11 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsLouisville Park9 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
Douglass Park7 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsFairview Park27 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsSmithton Park12 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Oakwood Hills Park10 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Valley View Park8 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsMartin Luther King, Jr. Memorial at Battle Garden8 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsWoodridge Park7 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsVineyards Lake Park28 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsAmerican Legion Park16 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsAuburn Hills Park14 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Columbia Parks and Recreation
Eastport Park12 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Columbia Parks and Recreation
Cascades Park11 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · City of Columbia
Again Street Park10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsHighpointe Park7 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · City of Columbia
Brown Station Park5 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · City of Columbia
Peace Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsWestwinds Park4 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
Francis Quadrangle3 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsKuhlman Court3 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsGrasslands Park8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsProctor Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Shepard Boulevard Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Smiley Lane Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Barberry Park5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Columbia
DirectionsRothwell Park5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
McKee Street Park5 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Lange Park3 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Garth Nature Area52 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMKT Scott Blvd Access15 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBear Creek Park11 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Columbia
Dublin Park6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Columbia
Flat Branch Park4 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsRock Bridge Park3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Columbia Parks and Recreation
DirectionsMel Carnahan Quadrangle2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsParkade Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Worley Street Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Field Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsMolly Bowden Memorial Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Columbia Parks and Recreation
John W. Alspaugh Park201 acres · Columbia Parks and Recreation
Strawn Park126 acres
DirectionsBattle Park31 acres · City of Columbia
Directions3M Flat Branch-Hinkson Creek Wetlands30 acres · City of Columbia
DirectionsJay Dix Station22 acres
DirectionsLions-Stephens Park7 acres
DirectionsGarden City Greenspace1 acres
Sterling W. Wyatt Park1 acres
DirectionsDowntown Optimist Park1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
1,709 conserved acres
4% of Columbia’s land. Who manages Columbia’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city1,702 ac
Not recorded6 ac
Local Park · 958 acLocal Conservation Area · 739 acState Other or Unknown · 6 acLocal Other or Unknown · 5 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gans Creek Recreation Area Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 299 | Open |
| Mkt Nature And Fitness Trail Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 188 | Open |
| Strawn Park Local Park | Town or city | 128 | Open |
| Forum Nature Area Local Park | Town or city | 105 | Open |
| Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary Local Park | Town or city | 94 | Open |
| Atkins Park Local Park | Town or city | 77 | Open |
| Albert-Oakland Park Local Park | Town or city | 57 | Open |
| Gates Property Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 56 | Open |
| Garth Nature Area Local Park | Town or city | 51 | Open |
| Smith Park Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 49 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
202 places to go in Columbia
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Columbia
European Wax Center
DirectionsStephens Lake Park BeachIn Stephens Lake Park
DirectionsPlus 2 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Playgrounds in Columbia
Burger King indoor playground
DirectionsEastport Park PlaygroundIn Eastport Park
DirectionsHarry L. Gentry PlaygroundIn Nifong Park
DirectionsRothwell Park PlaygroundIn Rothwell Park
DirectionsSteinberg PlaygroundIn Cosmo Park
DirectionsTiger Bounce
DirectionsTot LotIn Cosmo Park
DirectionsTot LotIn Worley Street Park
Directions1 more playground
ValleyView Park PlaygroundIn Valley View Park
Directions166 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Columbia
Garth Dog ParkIn Garth Nature Area
DirectionsSummer Large Dogs AreaIn Twin Lakes Recreation Area
DirectionsSummer Large Dogs AreaIn Twin Lakes Recreation Area
DirectionsSummer Small Dogs AreaIn Twin Lakes Recreation Area
DirectionsWinter All Dogs AreaIn Twin Lakes Recreation Area
DirectionsPlus 6 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Columbia
A. Perry Philips Boat RampIn A. Perry Philips Park
DirectionsCanoe LaunchIn Stephens Lake Park
DirectionsPlus 1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Waterfalls in Columbia
8 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Scenic views in Columbia
3M Wetlands OverlookIn 3M Flat Branch-Hinkson Creek Wetlands
DirectionsOverlookIn 3M Flat Branch-Hinkson Creek Wetlands
DirectionsPlus 1 scenic view without a name on the map.
Peaks in Columbia
Sled HillIn Stephens Lake Park
DirectionsPicnic areas in Columbia
Reservable Picnic AreaIn Stephens Lake Park
DirectionsRothwell Park Picnic AreaIn Rothwell Park
DirectionsDisc golf in Columbia
2 disc golf without a name on the map.
Community gardens in Columbia
Kilgore's Community Garden
DirectionsPlus 1 community garden without a name on the map.
Trails & water
24 named trails and 27 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 15.0 miUnpaved · 18.3 mi
Rhett's Run Trail5.3 mi
Discovery Ridge Trail4.1 mi
Gans Creek Cross Country Course2.1 mi
Phillips Lake Trail1.5 mi
Cosmo Park Trail1.2 mi
Ridgeline Trail1.1 mi
Nature Trail0.9 mi
Woodpecker Hollow Trail0.7 mi
Hinkson Woods Conservation Area Trail0.7 mi
Lost Hill Trail0.4 mi
14 more trails
Oakwood Hills Park Trail
0.4 miPrairie Education Trail
0.4 miSpur
0.4 miHinkson Trail
0.3 miPaxton's Passage
0.3 miFairview Connector
0.3 miAuburn Hills Trail
0.3 miLoop Trail
0.3 miSpring House Trail
0.2 miMKT Connector
0.2 miOld Quarry Road Trail
0.2 miConnector Trail
0.2 miMKT Connector Trail
0.1 miWoodpecker Hollow Trail Connector
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Antimi LakeBrushwood LakeoxbowCCMO LakelakeCedar LakelakeFairview LakelakeHulen LakeIrrigation LakelakeKaty LakelakeLake CyrenelakeLanny Barton Memorial Koi PondpondLiddell DamlakeLower Municipal Golf Course LakereservoirMBSpondMills LakeMores LakelakeNickell LakeNifong LakepondOld MissouriPerry Phillips LakereservoirQuarry LakeSapp LakelakeStephens LakelakeSwan LakelakeTippy-Top PondBear CreekHinkson CreekPerche Creek
Biking & sports
148 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
80 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
58 mi
off-road bike paths
9.7 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
133Golf
112Basketball
90Tennis
51Baseball
42Soccer
26Pickleball
16Football
12Beach volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →41 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 11 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Francis Quadrangle Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1973
About itSanford F. Conley HouseBuilding · listed 1973
About itSenior HallBuilding · listed 1977
About itGreenwoodBuilding · listed 1979
About itMissouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad DepotBuilding · listed 1979
About itMaplewoodBuilding · listed 1979
About itMissouri TheaterBuilding · listed 1979
About itWabash Railroad Station and Freight HouseBuilding · listed 1979
About itTiger HotelBuilding · listed 1980
About itDouglass, Fred, SchoolBuilding · listed 1980
About itJohn W. Boone HouseBuilding · listed 1980
About it29 more on the History page.
When to get out
The walking year in Columbia
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.7 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 14.6 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.4 |
| High (°F) | 39 | 44 | 56 | 67 | 76 | 84 | 88 | 87 | 79 | 68 | 54 | 43 |
| Rain (in) | 2.0 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 2.2 |
January is the driest month (2.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 88 °F). 5.0 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 88 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Columbia →
Questions about parks and trails in Columbia
Where can I hike in Columbia?
The longest trail networks: Cosmo Park, 14.7 miles; Gans Creek Recreation Area, 7.3 miles; Grindstone Nature Area, 5 miles; Forum Nature Area, 2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Columbia is conserved land?
4% of its land, against a typical 2% for a Missouri town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Columbia’s trails?
Cosmo Park and Gans Creek Recreation Area don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Columbia?
148 miles of bike routes are on the map: 80 of painted or protected lanes, 58 of off-road paths and 9.7 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Columbia?
15,652 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Columbia or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,344 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Columbia have?
Ahead of 83% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #14 of 247 in Missouri. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Columbia neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →