Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Missouri with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 7,319 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Missouri straddles the Ozark Plateau in the south — clear-running rivers, sandstone bluffs, and dolomite karst — and the rolling glaciated plains in the north. Taum Sauk Mountain (1,772 ft) is the state high; vertical-gain rankings here flag Ozark Trail climbs and Elephant Rocks routes. Copperheads and rattlesnakes in the Ozarks, ticks across the state, and flash floods in narrow river canyons after thunderstorms.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 7,319 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Missouri — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Cedar Creek Trail - South Moon Loop
Cedar Creek Trail - South Moon Loop ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Ashland in Boone County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Cedar Creek Trail - South Moon Loop trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Jim Bridger Conservation Area Trail
Jim Bridger Conservation Area Trail ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Blue Springs in Jackson County. Expect ground surface on a expert-only grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Jim Bridger Conservation Area Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Ozark Trail - Eleven Point GREER
Ozark Trail - Eleven Point GREER ranks #3 for vertical gain, sitting near Alton in Oregon County. Expect dirt surface on a expert-only grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ozark Trail - Eleven Point GREER trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Piney Creek Wilderness Trail
Piney Creek Wilderness Trail ranks #4 for vertical gain, sitting near Cape Fair in Barry County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Missouri, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Piney Creek Wilderness Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Horseshoe Lake Hiking Trail
Horseshoe Lake Hiking Trail ranks #5 for vertical gain, sitting near Granite City in Madison County. Expect earth surface on a expert-only grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Horseshoe Lake Hiking Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Customline (Downhill Only)
Customline (Downhill Only) ranks #6 for vertical gain, sitting near Leawood in Jackson County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Customline (Downhill Only) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Shin-Ga-Wa-Sa Nature Trail
Shin-Ga-Wa-Sa Nature Trail ranks #7 for vertical gain, sitting near Grandview in Jackson County. Expect ground surface on a expert-only grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Shin-Ga-Wa-Sa Nature Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Tower Loop (Hollow) Trail
Tower Loop (Hollow) Trail ranks #8 for vertical gain, sitting near Cape Fair in Barry County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Tower Loop (Hollow) Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. River Bluff Nature Trail
River Bluff Nature Trail ranks #9 for vertical gain, sitting near Independence in Jackson County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Missouri, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the River Bluff Nature Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Jetpack - Downhill Only
Jetpack - Downhill Only ranks #10 for vertical gain, sitting near Leawood in Jackson County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Jetpack - Downhill Only trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Missouri trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Missouri. Spring and fall are best; summer is humid and tick-heavy; winter trails are quiet but ice-prone in shaded ravines. Copperheads and rattlesnakes in the Ozarks, ticks across the state, and flash floods in narrow river canyons after thunderstorms.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Missouri hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Missouri coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Missouri — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Missouri — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Missouri — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Missouri — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Missouri — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Missouri — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Missouri — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Missouri last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
