Trails & Routes

Quite simply Benton County offers some of the best bicycle, pedestrian, and trails in the state–and in the country.  That’s according to MoBikeFed, the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking and Walking, who have visited our trails system and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

We have the Truman Lake Mountain Bike & Hiking Park, the award winning Riverfront Trails that are connected on both sides of the river by the Joe Dice Swinging Bridge.  The Butterfield Stage Experience passes through Benton County, and the downloadable routes take you on a back road adventure from town to town.

The Riverfront Trails

Enjoy the great outdoors in beautiful Warsaw, MO!! You can hike or bike to Bledsoe Ferry, Truman Dam, Shawnee Bend and beyond.  Enjoy the gorgeous views of water and wildlife on over ten miles of family-friendly flat trails.

The Warsaw Riverfront and trail system has continued to grow by leaps and bounds the last several years! The unique trail system that runs along the Osage Arm of Lake of the Ozarks/Lake of the Ozarks and links 3 major parks, creating a linear park along this scenic waterfront area that has beautiful views of the Ozark Hills, bluffs, lakes, and greenways!!

Twelve miles of waterfront trails that are great for walking, running, and bicycling! Along these trails, you will find many species of waterfowl, bald eagles, deer, turkey, and more. There are areas to picnic, bird watch, or work on your nature photography! Throughout the unique trail system there are a 9 hole disc golf course, horseshoe pits, numerous picnic and play areas, an amphitheater, festival areas, a gazebo, boat launch areas, boat slips, Sports Complex, and Truman Lake Dam. There are also many peaceful areas to simply relax and enjoy the scenery.

Additionally, the historic Joe Dice Suspension Bridge is an added historical and cultural feature. The swinging bridge was a transportation route for horses and automobiles (single lane) at one point but today is used for bicyclists and pedestrians and serves as a major link for the trail system and is the only link from one side of the waterfront to the other. The bridge is on the National Historic Registry.

This map will show you the distances and locations of each trail. If you have not visited lately, you are missing out on a great getaway!! Come visit and feel free to have fun!!!!

The Butterfield stage Experience

Bike packing, day-tripping, and overnight stays. 

Want to go exploring “off the beaten path”?  The MO Bike Federation has created a website to find these historical routes and mapping (including GPS maps) linking Benton County to other major trail systems.

The Butterfield Overland Stage Trail operated from 1858 through 1861, carrying mail and passengers from Tipton, Missouri, to San Francisco, California. The trip was 22 days long and ran each direction twice per week.  During the Civil War, the trail was used as a military trail by both Union and Confederate Armies. Approximately 160 years later, the 250-mile route through Missouri has become the Butterfield Stage Experience. Known for its unique history and beautiful scenery, the Butterfield Stage Experience allows riders of all kinds to enjoy the back-road gravel riding at it’s finest.

You will fall in love with this section of the Butterfield Overland Stage route. With the addition of the Butterfield connection to the Rock Island and the Katy Trail in Windsor,  Missouri,  these fabulous backcountry gravel roads entice us to explore Benton county and the hidden gems of our area. Each community has its own unique history, all connected to the Butterfield Overland Stage Route.  When you connect to Warsaw, even more outdoor adventure awaits.

The Butterfield Stage Experience is a new mostly gravel bicycle touring route consisting of county gravel roads and multi-use trails using/paralleling the historic Butterfield Stage Route in Missouri.Currently, over 250 miles in length, the route is a low-traffic trail-like experience that leads you straight to the heart of rural Missouri and visits many of the historic Butterfield Stage sites and monuments across the state. The route is accessible to most who enjoy natural-surface routes like the Katy Trail and Rock Island Trail–and are ready to take the next step towards adventure.

The route is mostly on well-maintained county gravel roads and multi-use trails, with a few mountain bike trail routes and occasional paved sections as needed for connectivity.​

Great for day trips, weekend getaways, or a few days of bike camping or backpacking.

Connect to the Katy, Rock Island, and Frisco Highline Trails.​

Go explore Missouri in a whole new way and be sure and check out the Warsaw, Lincoln and Cole Camp connections.

Click here for more information on the Butterfield Stage Experience on MObikefed.org.

The Butterfield 60 was the first event held on a portion of the Butterfield Stage Experience.  Riders raced from Warsaw to Lincoln to Cole Camp, then back to Warsaw.