The MKT trail is open from 6am-11pm, do not attempt this geocache outside of these hours.
The MKT Nature and Fitness trail, 8.9 miles in length, stretches from Flat Branch Park in downtown Columbia all the way to Hindman Junction, just outside McBaine where it joins the Katy Trail.
The MKT trail was once part of the MK&T railroad network, being the link from McBaine to Columbia. Back in 1977, the railroad was decommissioned and in 1978, the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department applied for and received federal funding to convert the railroad into a trail. The trail was developed in three phases. The first phase opened in 1982 between Stadium Boulevard to Scott’s Boulevard with the second opening in 1983 and adding the section between Stadium Boulevard and Stewart road. The third phase, between Stewart road and Fourth and Cherry streets in downtown Columbia, opened in 1991.
The 4.2 mile section between Scott Boulevard and Hindman Junction was managed by Boone county and in 2020, the City of Columbia took over maintenance of this section too.
I cycle the MKT trail weekly and am excited to place a cache on the trail at a location that acknowledges the former railroad, almost at the trail's halfway point. The remains of a bridge over here serve as a monument and commemorate the original bridge, built in 1899, that lay over the Hinkson Creek just north east of here. Be sure to read the signboard that details the history.
The cache should be an easy find. Please exercise stealth and check that the coast is clear before finding and returning the cache to its hiding spot. It can get quite busy here with walkers, runners and cyclists coming past.
Original cache contents: Rubber duck, 2x toy soldiers, 2x toy gold coins, 3x buttons, golf ball, toy football, koozie & logbook with pen and pencil. Please remember to trade with something of equal or higher value if you would like to trade swag.
This geocache was placed in accordance with the Columbia Parks & Recreation Department's geocache guidelines.