Rock Island Trail State Park (Missouri) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rock Island Spur of Katy Trail State Park
Location of the Rock Island Trail in red and the Katy Trail in blue
Length	47.5 mi (76.4 km)
Location	Missouri, United States
Trailheads	Windsor, Leeton, Chilhowee, Medford, Pleasant Hill
Use	Hiking, Cycling, Horseback
Elevation change	negligible
Difficulty	Easy
Season	All
Hazards	Severe weather Poison ivy Snakes
Website	Rock Island Spur

Rock Island Trail State Park, May 2016 (before the trail officially opened in December 2016)

The Rock Island Spur of Katy Trail State Park is a special kind of state park in Missouri, USA. It's a 47-mile (76 km) long trail for hiking and biking. This trail was once a railroad line. It opened on December 10, 2016.

This trail connects the Kansas City area to the 240 mi (390 km) Katy Trail State Park. The Katy Trail is the longest "rails-to-trails" path in the United States. The Rock Island Trail uses old railroad tracks from the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. It runs between Pleasant Hill and Windsor. In Windsor, it meets the Katy Trail.

There are plans to make the Rock Island Trail even longer. About 144 miles (232 km) of old railroad land might be added. This would extend the trail from Windsor all the way to Beaufort. If this happens, the Rock Island and Katy trails together would be about 450 miles (720 kilometres) long! This would create a huge network of trails for everyone to enjoy.

In May 2016, Jackson County, Missouri, bought 17.7 miles (28.5 km) of old railroad land. This section goes from the Truman Sports Complex into the southern part of Lee's Summit. Work on this part began in 2017, and the first half opened in 2018. There is still a small gap between Lee's Summit/Greenwood and Pleasant Hill. The exact path for this missing section is still being decided.

Exploring the Trail's Path

The Rock Island Spur begins in Windsor, Missouri. Its starting point is marked as mile 216.5. From Windsor, the trail heads northwest. It goes through Johnson County. The trail ends in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, at mile 262.9.

Trailhead Locations

Here are the main places where you can start or stop your journey on the trail: