Where Joplin, MO, Locals Enjoy Cycling
From a tree-lined greenway that lives up to its colorful name to a new bike park to a variety of trails, events and group rides, Joplin, MO, provides plenty of places and spaces for those who enjoy cycling.
The cycling scene in Joplin, MO, has been steadily growing for more than a quarter of a century. Things truly got on track in 1998 with the opening of American Ramp Company (ARC), a bike park and skatepark design and construction business that has grown into an international enterprise. That was followed in 2006 by the opening of a 64-acre facility that began holding competitive BMX racing events.
“Between that park and our company being here, a lot of people have grown up in Joplin lately riding BMX,” ARC CEO John Hunter says. “And BMXers turn into mountain bikers, who turn into people who ride bikes on trails with their families. So, there is a deep bike scene in Joplin, MO, and now, this region is becoming more of a cycling destination.”
Regional Trails to Explore
The most visible evidence of Joplin, MO’s, affinity for cycling can be found along the 3.5-mile Frisco Greenway Trail and the 16-mile Ruby Jack Trail. Both are multiuse pathways for bikers, hikers and walkers. While Frisco Greenway sticks close to Joplin (ending in nearby Webb City), Ruby Jack runs from Carthage through Joplin and on to the Kansas state line, approximately 6 miles to the west.
“There is a lot of variety of scenery on both trails,” says Michael Atkinson, president of the Joplin Trails Coalition, a nonprofit that works to create and maintain multiuse trails in the region. “There are places where it’s heavily tree-covered, and others that look out on open plains. There are brooks and creeks with bridges to cross. It’s very beautiful.”
Atkinson says there is a long-term plan to connect the two trails. In addition, the new 1.5-mile Tin Cup Trail in southern Joplin links the St. John’s Trail near Mercy Park to the trails in McIndoe Park along Shoal Creek. The Tin Cup Trail also provides some sensational scenery, winding through woods and alongside Tin Cup Creek, with a suspension bridge along the way.
“These types of trails give people an easy way to get outside and exercise,” Atkinson says. “We are working very hard to provide that as an enjoyable option for the area.”
Cycling With Others in Joplin, MO
While cycling certainly can be a solo pursuit, many people prefer pedaling with a group. Joplin, MO, has that bit of cycling covered, as well, with regular rides and several special events.
The biggest annual ride is the Maple Leaf Bicycle Tour, held each October as a fundraiser for the Joplin Trails Coalition. This road ride begins at Kellogg Lake in Carthage, then extends from there for various lengths ranging from 15 miles all the way to 100 miles.
“We try to pick a terrain that’s suitable for all riders and then increase the length so there is something for everybody, from beginners and people with families to experienced long-distance cyclists,” Atkinson says.
Meanwhile, the Bike Walk Joplin (BWJ) organization works to improve cycling conditions in the city through the creation of dedicated bike lanes as well as sponsoring group rides on the last Friday of each month.
“Those rides have really been growing in popularity,” BWJ board member Christina Williams says. “It’s a social ride with everyone getting together and riding as a group. There’s safety in numbers, and it’s more fun.”
Earlier this year, BWJ partnered with Crazy Llama Coffee for the first Tour de Llama event, a 15-mile ride through Joplin and along the Frisco Greenway that attracted more than 100 participants.
“It was a big social gathering where cyclists could get together and have a slow roll through town,” Atkinson says.
Cycling Ramps Up in the Area
More cycling possibilities are on the way in Joplin, MO, thanks in part to the ARC. Ten years ago, the company crafted the Ewert Skate Park for BMX riders and skateboarders, which Hunter calls, “one of the most popular recreational facilities in the Joplin parks system.” Now, ARC is close to completing the 95-acre Dover Outdoor Recreation Area (DORA) in Dover Park.
DORA will offer opportunities for cyclists of all skill levels, with nearly 10 miles of trails, a BMX pump track, a skills course, gravity-fed downhill trails, and a children’s bicycle playground.
“It’s going to be a world-class bike park that will be able to host national and potentially international events while also giving people a fun, safe place to enjoy the sport,” Hunter says.
And if Joplin, MO’s, past embrace of the cycling scene is any indication, there will be numerous people who take advantage of this new biking option.
“Cycling in Joplin just keeps growing,” Atkinson says. “Any time we have a workday on our trails, there are just so many volunteers who show up. The people here are very supportive of cycling and want to see it grow and get even better.”
This article is sponsored by Choose Joplin, which is actively supported by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Joplin.