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A monthly publication about conservation in Missouri. Started in 1938, the printed magazine is free to residents of Missouri.
Kansas City, Mo. – Hiking is a great way to enjoy nature in a variety of settings. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages people to head outdoors on Saturday, June 6, for National Trails Day organized by the American Hiking Society. MDC invites visitors to enjoy the day by hiking on trails at conservation areas.
Users of MDC areas in western Missouri will find two types of trails for hiking. Some are footpaths through forest, woodlands, or grasslands. Yet also available for hiking are gravel or service roads normally closed to vehicle traffic. The types of habitats people can hike through varies, too.
For a taste of the Ozarks, visit the Big Buffalo Creek and Granny’s Acres conservation areas in Benton County. Big Buffalo Creek is a clear, cool stream nestled in the hills southeast of Cole Camp. One marked trail leads from the creek bottom through a fen that is a Missouri Natural Area, then uphill through forest and downhill on a service road. Granny’s Acres, south of Warsaw, has a long walk past a restored native grassland that leads to forested hills. In the forest, shady trails wind up and down the hills. Trail loop junctions are well marked with signs.
Head to southern Bates and northern Vernon counties for a hike to see wetlands and bottomland forest at the August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at the Four Rivers Conservation Area. The Marmaton, Marias des Cygnes, and Little Osage rivers join at the area for form the Osage River. Use service roads to hike in the area.
To see native grasslands, hike the service roads at the Wah’Kon-Tah Prairie Conservation Area. The area is managed in a partnership between MDC and The Nature Conservancy of Missouri. Both rare and common prairie plants are found on unplowed remnants and restored native grasslands. Visitors can hike off trail into the prairie, but take drinking water to stay hydrated on summer days and insect repellant. Shade is uncommon on the prairie but the wildflowers, swaying grasses, birds, butterflies, and broad vistas are worth the walk.
MDC has many more hiking options at conservation areas in rural Missouri. But some hiking trails are found close to home in the city. The Burr Oak Woods Nature Center and Conservation Area in Blue Springs has an extensive trail system through forest, woodlands, and restored native grasses. Some trails are paved and accessible for those with mobility challenges. Hikers enjoy the trail sections that cut through scenic limestone rock outcrops. Trails and service roads are walkable at the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area in Lee’s Summit. The area offers forest, fields, restored grasslands, lakes, and a marsh.
Hikers can also use trails at the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary in Liberty and the Parkville Nature Sanctuary in that city. MDC is a partner with those urban nature sanctuaries.
To find a conservation area near you, visit https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places, or download the free MO Outdoors app with area information, directions, and trail maps at https://mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mobile-apps/mo-outdoors. For more information on the American Hiking Society and National Trails Day, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z7i.
