The best walks and hikes in Warren County

Watch out for horse poop

Known locally as “Devil’s Boot Cave,” this natural overhang carved in sandstone resembles the shape of a boot and stretches roughly 25 feet deep and wide, near Marthasville. Once used as a pioneer shelter and noted by local schools for nature trips, the site offers a little geological curiosity beside the trail—a hands-on reminder of Missouri’s limestone landscape and early frontier life. Great for a quick stop and photo op!

Shortly after turning onto Case Road, cyclists enter the 3,520-acre Daniel Boone Conservation Area — part of Missouri’s preserved forestland celebrated for wooded hills, glades, four fishable ponds, and trails that wind through rugged valleys and wildlife habitat, perfect for birding, nature photography, or stretching legs before the climb While the Katy Trail has been smooth and flat up to this point, once you turn onto Case Road and enter the conservation area, expect a steady climb that eventually reaches a challenging maximum grade of about 12% (you may want to walk your bike at this part) This ascent leads you up to the campground within the Conservation Area—so pace yourself, shift into a lower gear, and take short breaks if needed before reaching the ridge and the peaceful campsites above.

Located just off Missouri Highway 94, this shaded picnic table sits near the Missouri River, offering soothing glimpses and soft river sounds as you ride by. While MO‑94 is nearby, traffic is light and quiet, making this a pleasantly serene break spot. The nearby riverbank and surrounding woods add to the peaceful ambiance—an easy mid-ride breather before you continue into the dramatic bluffs ahead.

Named by German settlers after Germany’s Rhine River, Rhineland is a small village relocated uphill after the devastating 1993 Missouri flood. With roughly 140 residents today, it maintains quiet charm and historical character. Notable nearby is the Heinrich Gloe House, an 1850s log home now listed on the National Register. The small trailhead provides basic amenities. While there are no major resupply stops here, Rhineland offers a peaceful, culturally rooted pause between McKittrick and Hermann.

This small town offers a convenient trailhead with parking, restrooms, and a bike repair station. Just off the trail, Loutre Market serves hot deli food, snacks, drinks, and trail essentials—making it a great resupply stop. The restored McKittrick Farmers Mercantile building now offers loft-style lodging steps from the trail. With both charm and function, McKittrick is a worthwhile pause on your ride east.

Between mile markers 93.2 and 89.0, the Katy Trail offers some of its most breathtaking views of the Missouri River. This section features sweeping vistas of the river, dramatic limestone bluffs, and serene floodplain landscapes. The Missouri River, often called the "Big Muddy" due to its high silt content, is the longest river in North America, stretching over 2,300 miles from Montana to its confluence with the Mississippi River near St. Louis.

At 603 acres this park is the largest in St. Charles County with 10 miles of multi-use trails. The trails roll through a mix of woodlands and open fields with numerous rock outcroppings, ponds and historic sites.