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Thousand Hills State Park
660-665-6995

Trails

Thousand Hills Trail
Thousand Hills Trail was developed as a cooperative project of the Community Betterment Association of Kirksville, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The trail traverses both Big Creek Conservation Area and Thousand Hills State Park and passes through one of the few remaining bigtooth aspen stands in the state. The western portion of the trail follows the shoreline of Forest Lake and offers good opportunities for viewing waterfowl and other wildlife. The trail is approximately five miles long and is signed in a clockwise direction with red arrows. It is open to foot and bicycle traffic only; no equestrian or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use is allowed.

Directions to Thousand Hills Trailhead

1. Take Hwy. 157 out of Thousand Hills State Park to Hwy. 6.
2. Take a right turn onto Hwy. 6.
3. Turn right onto Potter Avenue (although there is no sign at this junction, there is a small reflector on a stop sign post. Potter Avenue is the first right turn you can make once on Hwy. 6 east).
4. Turn right onto Osteopathy Street (pass Casey’s Store on the right, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine hospital on left).
5. Turn right onto Michigan Street.
6. Make a left turn onto Boundary Avenue (Route H).
7. Turn right onto County Road 226 at the sign for for Big Creek Conservation Area (sign is on the left side).
8. Continue until the end of the road. Sign will read “Big Creek Conservation Area.” The sign at the trailhead parking lot reads “Thousand Hills Trail.”

Red Bud, Oak and Hickory Trails
Located in the developed section of the park, in close proximity to the marina and dining lodge, are three short recreational trails. The trails, Red Bud, Oak and Hickory, are used for hiking only.

Craig's Cove Loop Trail
In addition to Thousand Hills Trail, there are two other trails that are exceptional for mountain biking. Craig’s Cove Loop, the shortest of the three trails, is a three-mile loop trail located on the west side of Forest Lake. This trail is suited perfectly for beginners and average riders.
View comments from hikers of this trail during 2007

Mountain Biking/Hiking Trail
A new six-mile connector trail linking Craig’s Cove Loop to Thousand Hills Trail follows the south end of Forest Lake and is considered to be the most difficult of the three mountain biking/hiking trails.

There is a primitive campsite along this section of trail. Campers must register at the park office.