Hiking, Biking & Beaches

Trail etiquette & rules — share it kindly

Most Missouri trails are free and open, and they stay that way because people share them well. None of this is hard — it's mostly about yielding, leashing, packing out, and leaving what you find. Here's the whole code.

Who yields to whom

The yield triangle

The yield triangle: bikes yield to walkers and horses, and everyone yields to horses. Slow down for a horse, step to the downhill side, and speak calmly so it knows you're a person. Uphill traffic has the right of way. Keep right, pass on the left, and call out — 'on your left!'

Keep your dog leashed

Dogs stay leashed — MDC sets a 10-foot maximum, and state parks require a leash at all times, with no dogs in park buildings or on swim beaches. Pick up and pack out the waste (in the backcountry, bury it 100 feet from water and trails).

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace: pack out everything you bring in, and stay on the marked trail — don't cut switchbacks or make new paths.

The mud rule

The mud rule splits two ways: hikers stay on the trail and walk straight through the mud (going around it just widens the trail), while mountain bikers who are leaving ruts or mud tracks should turn around and ride another day.

Leave what you find

What you can — and can't — collect

Leave what you find. On most MDC conservation areas you may take nuts, berries, fruits, edible wild greens, and mushrooms for your own table; on Missouri Natural Areas, edible greens are off-limits, but nuts, berries, fruits, and mushrooms are fine unless the area restricts them; state parks are look-don't-take — no removing plants, rocks, animals, downed wood, or artifacts without written permission. (See the Foraging hub for the full rules.)

The full rules — which plants, which lands, and what counts as a restricted area — live on the Foraging hub.

No glass — where it applies

'No glass' isn't a blanket trail rule — it applies at beaches, swim areas, float streams, and anywhere it's posted.

Hours & access

Hours and access: MDC areas are usually open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with exceptions for activities like hunting, fishing, and camping); state parks have quiet hours around 10 p.m. and no entrance fee. Many trails are foot-traffic only unless they're marked for bikes or horses — check first.

Share with hunters

Share with hunters in season: wear blaze orange, make noise, and check the season. (See the Hunting hub.)

In hunting season

In fall and winter, many public lands are shared with hunters. Wear blaze orange, keep dogs leashed, stay on marked trails, and check area closures or managed-hunt dates before you go. (See the Hunting hub.)

Hunting season is the one time the courtesy turns into safety: a little blaze orange and a heads-up about managed-hunt dates keeps everyone comfortable. The Hunting hub has the seasons and the details.

Before you go

Official sources and current guidance

The agency that runs the trail or beach sets the local rules.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. Trail rules, e-bike access, and beach conditions change with the season and the manager — and out here, no one is watching out for you. Check before you go, carry water, and watch the kids.

This is a summary — not the law, a medical authority, or a guarantee of safety. Trail rules, e-bike access, and beach conditions change — check the managing agency before you go. In an emergency, call 911.

Heads up: This is the courtesy code, not the rulebook — the agency that runs the trail sets the actual rules, and they vary by place. When in doubt, check the area page before you go.

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