AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Camp Branch Park

Smithville Lake–Backbone Trail, 4 sights

10.4 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 3 hr 31 min

Smithville Lake–Backbone Trail, 4 sights is a 10.4-mile out-and-back in Camp Branch Park near Paradise, MO. The route reaches Smithville Lake. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi869 – 925 ft11.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bonebender Trail 39.41155, -94.52361
Nearest town Paradise, MO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Smithville Lake–Backbone Trail, 4 sights

10.4 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 3 hr 31 min

Elevation 869–924 ft

Out & Back · Camp Branch Park

Trailhead: Bonebender Trail · 39.41155, -94.52361

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:20 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bonebender Trail, heading N.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto Campground Trail, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftBear right onto Bonebender Trail, heading NE.
  4. 0.5 miPass Smithville Lake.
  5. 250 ftSharp right, heading N.
  6. 2.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  8. 0.9 miTurn right onto Stan's Loop, heading E.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Backbone Trail, heading E.
  10. 150 ftBear right onto Stan's Loop, heading NE.
  11. 50 ftTurn left onto Backbone Trail, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Stan's Loop, heading N.
  13. 50 ftBear right onto Backbone Trail, heading N.
  14. 0.1 miBear right onto Stan's Southside, heading NE.
  15. 100 ftContinue straight onto Backbone Trail, heading NE.
  16. 100 ftBear left onto Stan's Southside, heading NE.
  17. 450 ftTurn left onto Backbone Trail, heading E.
  18. 50 ftSharp right onto Stan's Southside, heading NE.
  19. 0.1 miSharp right onto Stan's Connector, heading NE.
  20. 0.2 miSharp right onto Harter Way, heading NW.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left onto Paradise Alley, heading N.
  22. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Backbone Trail, heading NE.
  23. 250 ftReach Smithville Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 250 ftContinue straight onto Paradise Alley, heading NW.
  25. 0.1 miTurn right onto Harter Way, heading SW.
  26. 0.2 miSharp left onto Stan's Connector, heading N.
  27. 0.2 miSharp left onto Stan's Southside, heading NE.
  28. 0.1 miSharp left onto Backbone Trail, heading SE.
  29. 50 ftTurn right onto Stan's Southside, heading E.
  30. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  31. 450 ftBear right onto Backbone Trail, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Stan's Southside, heading S.
  33. 100 ftBear left onto Backbone Trail, heading S.
  34. 0.1 miBear left onto Stan's Loop, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftContinue straight onto Backbone Trail, heading SE.
  36. 50 ftTurn right onto Stan's Loop, heading S.
  37. 50 ftBear left onto Backbone Trail, heading S.
  38. 150 ftContinue straight onto Stan's Loop, heading SE.
  39. 50 ftTurn left onto Backbone Trail, heading SE.
  40. 0.4 miSharp left onto Bonebender Trail, heading SW.
  41. 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  42. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  43. 3.2 miBear left onto Campground Trail, heading W.
  44. 100 ftContinue straight onto Bonebender Trail, heading W.
  45. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/smithville-lake-backbone-trail-out-back-4-sights-17-km

Trail surface

79% paved15% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 7:20 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 6:57 PM for the 7:20 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:38 PM — 9 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Paradise, Missouri