About The Trail

When the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad abandoned and removed its tracks through Columbia in 1986, the city’s leadership at the time had the foresight to acquire the entire railroad right-of-way. Without their vision and action, the opportunity to develop this trail would have been lost forever.

The City of Columbia initiated the development of the trail in 2015, officially designating it the GM&O Railroad Heritage Trail. The trail serves a dual purpose:

• To preserve Columbia’s rich railroad history
• To create a linear park for biking and walking

The trail’s completion has progressed in phases as funding allows. Once fully complete, it will span over 3 miles—beginning at State Route 3 and South Main Street, continuing north to Quarry Road at State Route 3 (formerly Millstadt Junction), and extending to the intersection with the Union Pacific rail line beneath the Interstate 255 overpass (formerly Bixby Junction).

The development of the trail has been completed in multiple phases:

• Phase 1 (2015): Paved the section from Cherry Street to Rueck Street

• Phase 2 (2017): Extended the trail from Rueck Street to the Gedern subdivision

• Phase 3: Completed the segment from Cherry Street to the Metter/Ferkel Streets intersection

• Phase 4: Continued from Metter/Ferkel Streets south to State Route 3

• Phase 5 (Upcoming): Will complete the final section from Millstadt Junction to Ghent Road

Our goal has been to make this trail truly unique by commemorating its historic role as a railroad line that once connected the small town of Columbia to the outside world—long before automobiles and highways simplified travel. This vision was brought to life by reinstalling original features such as crossing signs, mileposts, trackside signals, and other railroad signage in their historic locations. As a result, walkers and bikers can experience the trail much like the train crews and passengers once did as they journeyed to and from St. Louis through Columbia.

To date, the City has relied exclusively on grant funding to support the development of the trail. Private donations are welcomed and play an important role in enhancing and expanding the trail. Contributions can be made on a tax-deductible basis through the Columbia PLAY Foundation.

For more information, click here or visit the Columbia PLAY Foundation Facebook page directly.

If you have memories or photos of the railroad during its time in operation through Columbia, we’d love to hear from you! Your stories and images help preserve the rich history of the trail and may be featured on this site. Please reach out to us at gmotrail@gmail.com. You can also use this email address for any questions, comments, or suggestions you may have.

This website will be regularly updated with the latest news on trail development and progress. We encourage you to check back often and take some time to explore the other pages to learn more about the trail’s history, features, and future plans.