My Columbia, Missouri canine charges enjoy visits to the MKT trail. Because their little feet only go so far, we typically trace 1.5 miles from one of the parking lots and back. That’s plenty of exercise.
Ted Jones and the City of Columbia, MO opened the nine mile Columbia Spur of the MKT, or “Katy” Trail almost 30 years ago. By 1999, organizers had expanded the nine mile greenway by 200 miles.
The CoMO stretch is still considered the best of the nations’ rails-to-trails projects.
Contemporary guardians maintain it’s community function with informational stops and public art. I enjoy a display describing the variety of minerals and fossils found in the area.
Blue tile pillars, arranged in a spiral to honor Martin Luther King Jr. are a visual oasis near the trail’s 3 mile mark. Other tributes and sculptures are scattered throughout.
There are no fences or wire separating the path from the shoulder of the trail, providing easy access to prime marking spots for the pets. I appreciate the firm limestone paving that has been worked into the soil. It gives my step considerable spring.
Though the trail is level and well manicured, hikers may enjoy the many side trails that charge up a hillside or down a wooded ravine.
Betsy (middle) rejoins the dog pack after a vet visit
Wooden bridges provide a change of texture for the animal’s tired paws and a shady canopy keeps them from getting overheated.
Folks walking the path are friendly and curious, so expect to stop for conversation if you’re not running or biking. If you are lucky puppy, someone may be armed with a pocket full of liver treats!
Local flora includes poison ivy. I get a brush of it on my left arm and look like I have an extremely localized case of chicken pox for two weeks. Also, since deer frequent the area, I check all trail recreators for ticks once we’ve returned home.
