Cedar Creek Trail - Smith Creek Loop

Cedar Creek Trail - Smith Creek Loop is a loop hike in the Cedar Creek Section of the Mark Twain National Forest (Callaway County, Missouri). The route is mapped as an easy long-distance hiking loop with about 5.56 km (≈5.8 mi) total distance.

The trail runs along a network of dirt track/paths and is marked for foot travel; it is also mapped as open to horses and bicycles. The mapped surface is dirt/grade-3 track, with a few short-grade undulations reflected in the route’s modest elevation change.

This loop is built around repeated creek/low-area travel: expect multiple smaller water crossings and at least one major crossing tied to Cedar Creek/Rutherford Bridge area. Plan for sections where you may need to manage wet feet if water is up.

The loop passes rocky outcroppings and mossy ravines as it winds through forest country. It also includes sections that lead to a View of Cedar Creek from the trail’s bluff area.

The mapped loop is typically completed in about 3 hours (route-time estimates around 3–3.5 hours are commonly reported). Time it so you’re finished before late-day daylight fades in the wooded corridor.

Seasonally, late fall through early spring is a reliable window for this loop; foliage drop helps in bluff areas and it avoids summer tick/poison-ivy pressure described for the larger Cedar Creek system. Summer can mean more insects and wetter ground, which matters given the creek crossings.

During hunting season the route is in prime hunting land, so wear high-visibility gear and follow current hunting-date rules for the Mark Twain National Forest area before you go.

More information: Hiking With Ginger: Down by the River - COMO Magazine, Cedar Creek Trail - Smith Creek Loop | Callaway County - Hiiker, Cedar Creek Trail - Pine Ridge Loop | Callaway County - Hiiker