Ridge Trail
- 0.6 mi
- round trip
- 85 ft
- climb
- 1,021 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- best months
Ridge Trail is a short, easy hike in Missouri, about 1.8 miles from Saint Joseph. The trail is an out-and-back route of about 1.1 miles, with a total elevation gain of 85 feet. The climb is front-loaded, peaking at 1,021 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.49 miles in, with a grade of about 4 percent. The trail is rated easy, and the route is short enough to fit into a half-hour outing. Bikes and horses are not allowed. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Saint Joseph show October highs around 68°F with lows near 43°F, while May runs about 76°F by day and 54°F at night. Marsh Trail and Pond Trail both start within a third of a mile, and Mace Creek, a canoeing spot, lies about 9 miles away.
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Marsh TrailHiking · Next door
- Trail BHiking · ~27 min drive
- Pond TrailHiking · Next door
- Trail AHiking · ~27 min drive
- Lone Pine Trail (Loop B)Hiking · ~21 min drive
- Maple Falls Trail (Loop A)Hiking · ~22 min drive
- Gosling Lake TrailHiking · ~35 min drive
- Independence TrailHiking · ~36 min drive
- Loess Bluff TrailHiking · ~52 min drive
- Callow TrailHiking · ~52 min drive
Best time to visit Ridge Trail
Best months: April–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
37° / 17°
5 wet
Feb
43° / 21°
5 wet
Mar
55° / 31°
8 wet
Apr
66° / 42°
10 wet
May
76° / 54°
12 wet
Jun
85° / 64°
11 wet
Jul
88° / 67°
10 wet
Aug
86° / 65°
9 wet
Sep
80° / 54°
9 wet
Oct
68° / 43°
8 wet
Nov
53° / 31°
6 wet
Dec
41° / 21°
5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at St Joseph Rosecrans Ap, MO, 5.9 mi away at 818 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
