Rock Bridge Memorial State Park south of Columbia, Missouri is a fantastic place to go for a walk or take a ride on your bike! Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is located along MO Route 163 in Boone County. You'll find all kinds of cool things on your adventure, including a large cave system, sink holes and underground streams.
Make sure you walk the half-mile boardwalk to pass the actual "Rock Bridge" and continue on down the stairs to Devil's Ice Box. Devil's Ice Box gives you a glimpse of the underground stream and you'll be able to feel the icy air that comes from it. During our recent visit, Devil's Ice Box Cave was closed to visitors to protect the bats, but you can still walk down to the entrance. We understand that the park staff does offer tours of some park caves for groups who make arrangements in advance. Our daughter visited Rock Bridge Memorial State Park as part of her middle school science class several years ago. She returned muddy and full of awesome stories about her visit.
For bicyclists, maps of the bike trails are available online at mostateparks.com or onsite to help you locate the best bike trails for your visit.
You can't camp at Rock Bridge unless you're a group with a special use pass. Nonetheless, a day trip is well worth the adventure you'll find at this park. There are several places to enjoy a family picnic, play, follow trails and learn with informational display boards about the park. For us, it was a bit of an impromptu visit. Starbucks coffee in hand and dog on leash, we headed out on a cool day in search of warm sunshine and a good walk. We found those things along with an incredibly scenic environment.
If traveling from out-of-town, plan to stay the night in Columbia. There is an RV park north of Interstate 70 near the old Boone County Fairgrounds that offers full hookups. Hotels of varying price ranges are also available throughout town for those traveling by car. If you're looking for lodging in the fall, plan ahead. Columbia is home to the University of Missouri and lots of Mizzou Tigers find their way back to town during home football game weekends. That means lodging can fill fast.
Columbia is a great place to shop, eat and play. The area has a great trail system, as well as a thriving downtown with many unique shops and superb local restaurants. From burgers to BBQ to ice cream to fine dining, there's a flavor for everyone all over town. Visitcolumbiamo.com to learn more about things to do and places to go while in Columbia, Mo. If you like to go for a walk in the park, be sure to start your area adventure just south of town at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. Find out more about the park at mostateparks.com.
Thanks for wandering with us. We'll catch you again next time.