Hiking, Biking & Beaches

Mountain biking — where to ride & the code

Off the pavement, Missouri has real singletrack — natural-surface trail just wide enough for one bike. The two things to get right are where you're allowed to ride and how you treat the dirt, especially when it's wet.

Where to ride

Where to ride: Mark Twain National Forest (the Berryman loop, Council Bluff, and Wolf Creek, plus several Ozark Trail sections — check the section pages); near St. Louis (Castlewood, Greensfelder, Chubb, and Lost Valley, many built by GORC); and state parks and conservation areas with designated bike trails. Not every trail allows bikes — check first.

Many of those forest loops connect to or share tread with the Ozark Trail, which is managed section by section — hiking is the baseline, and bikes are allowed on some sections but not all, so check the section page before you load up.

The rule that protects the trail

The mud rule cuts two ways

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.

The mountain-biker's code

The mountain-biker's code: don't ride a muddy trail — if you're leaving ruts, turn around and come back another day; yield to hikers and horses; control your speed; stay on the trail; and carry what you need to fix a flat.

Riding an e-bike on dirt?

E-bikes on dirt are often treated as motorized — check before you ride.

That's the fastest-moving rule in this hub. For the classes, the law, and where electric-assist is allowed, see the e-bikes page.

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: Not every trail allows bikes — check the land manager before you ride, since natural-surface singletrack is often non-motorized and access varies section by section. If you're leaving ruts, the trail is too wet: turn around.

Page feedback

See something off, missing, or unclear?

Send a quick note if a source, local detail, or answer needs a closer look, or if the page leaves you with a question.

Send a note