Spring brings more local hiking and biking opportunities
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The coming of spring brings expanded opportunities for hikers and bikers on the trails in and around St. Joseph.
Jeff Atkins, the newly appointed director of the St. Joseph Parks Department, said hiking and biking trails around St. Joseph have garnered national attention. He said that while most trails are accessible all year long, weather can be a deterrent.
Now that temperatures are bringing many outside, Atkins said that assessing your physical preparedness is important before hitting the trail.
“Keep in mind first and foremost they’ve been shut in all winter,” Atkins said. “So it could be that their muscles may not be as ready to go as their minds are when the weather gets warm. So, take it easy at first.”
Beyond that, Atkins said to find trails that are clear and dry, since the weather is just beginning to warm up.
“We have so many miles of paved hike and bike trails throughout the system, there are plenty of areas to walk, even if some of the off-road trails are a bit wet or slick,” Atkins said.
He said that within the month most of the trails should be dry, which will provide even more opportunities for off-road hiking and biking.
The bike trails at River Bluffs in particular are gaining a national reputation. Atkins shared a story about an air guard unit that flew in from another country and brought their mountain bikes because they had heard about the new trails.
“In the Midwest region, we’re kind of the go-between point between the trails down in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, where they’re huge, and people up north where they’re traveling back and forth,” Atkins said. “We’re a good stopover point, and they’ll stop and spend a day or two on our trails.”
Atkins said that mountain bikers, like hikers, should investigate the trails closely, especially this time of year, before trying them. He said that most of the bikers who come to the trails treat the trails with respect, keep them clean and communicate well with other bikers about any issues that arise.
For more information on all of the hiking and biking opportunities in St. Joseph, visit www.stjosephmo.gov.
