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Conservation areas are excellent places to celebrate National Trails Day
Missourians can choose from dozens of areas with hundreds of miles of trails.
MDC
5/23/03
JEFFERSON CITY--When the sun rises on June 7, it is likely to find people peeking out of tents or setting off on day hikes at more than three dozen conservation areas (CAs) around the state. Celebrating National Trails Day with a short jaunt of half a mile or a 20-mile trek are among the many ways of enjoying land owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
This year's National Trails Day theme is "Healthy Trails, Healthy People," focusing attention on the health benefits of hiking. The Conservation Department notes that these benefits are available to Missourians at conservation areas in every part of the state.
"When people think of conservation areas they usually think of hunting and fishing," said Teresa Kight, recreation specialist for the Conservation Department. "They certainly are used for that, but CAs also are super places to hike, picnic, camp, take nature photographs or just poke around looking at bugs and wildflowers."
CAs have more than 650 miles of trails ranging from primitive earthen paths to paved, handicapped-accessible trails. Virtually no Missourian is more than a 45 minute drive from at least one such area.
CAs with excellent scenic hiking opportunities include:
--Ruth and Paul Henning CA, Taney County, 5.8 miles;
--Lon Sanders Canyon CA, Wayne County, 1 mile;
--Millstream Gardens CA, Madison County, 1 mile (disabled accessible);
--Fountain Grove CA, Linn and Chariton counties, 4 miles;
--Maple Woods CA, Clay County, 2 miles;
--Riverbreaks CA, Holt County, 10 miles;
--Deer Ridge CA, Lewis County, 13 miles;
--Woodson K. Woods Memorial CA, 30 miles.
Trails at Conservation Nature Centers (CNCs) are within easy driving distance of much of the state's population. Burr Oak Woods CNC in Blue Springs, Powder Valley CNC in Kirkwood, Runge CNC in Jefferson City and Springfield CNC in Springfield each has several trails for exploring a variety of habitats. Each of these areas has trails with varying degrees of accessibility to people with physical disabilities.
The Devil=s Honeycomb Trail at Hughes Mountain Natural Area near Potosi travels through woodlands and glades and around the summit of the igneous rock mountain. The rock outcroppings on the mountain are among the oldest exposed rocks in the United States. The Devil=s Honeycomb Trail is 1.5 miles long. No facilities are offered at the area and camping is prohibited.
The Danville Glades Trail lets hikers explore the largest high quality limestone glade complex north of the Missouri River. The trail is located at Danville CA near Warrenton. The three mile trail winds along narrow ridges and numerous creeks. Much of the trail is level, with a moderately steep slope at either end.
The Ironwood Hollow Foot Trail is a 1.8-mile natural-surface loop at Sugar Creek CA near Kirksville. The wide and well marked trail leads through white oak and oak hickory forests. Horses and bicycles are permitted on a separate, designated trail, which forms a loop of more than 10 miles around much of Sugar Creek CA.
Hikers can see wildlife ranging from white-tailed deer to waterfowl and turtles on trails at Mark Youngdahl CA. This area in the heart of St. Joseph features a two mile trail system. The .8 mile Ridge Trail leads to a picnic shelter and small pond. The Pond Trail winds .7 mile through woods and around the area=s largest pond.
The trail system at Otter Slough CA southwest of Dexter treats hikers to a mix of cypress swamp, open marsh and river sloughs. The Tupelo Trail is a 1.2-mile path that borders Beaver Lake on the south and Otter Lake, an old cypress-tupelo slough, on the north. Halfway along the trail route, you will find a spur trail to a deck that overlooks Otter Lake. Allow 45 minutes to walk the wood chip trail.
Tingler Prairie CA south of West Plains has three trails that offer views of a variety of habitats. The half-mile Wetland Trail circles Tingler Lake, a natural sinkhole pond. The Grassland Trail traverses the area=s rolling uplands for nearly 1.5 miles. Woodland Trail is a 1.2 mile natural surface path that winds along a creek.
Information about CAs with trails is available online at http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/atlas/. If you want trail information in book form, check out AConservation Trails: A Guide to Missouri Department of Conservation Hiking Trails.@ The 91-page booklet easily fits into a day pack and contains maps of hundreds of miles of trail at 40 CAs. The price is $4.
Another publication, Missouri=s Conservation Atlas, lists every CA in the state and includes information about hiking trails. This large-format book costs $16.
Both books are available at conservation nature centers and regional Conservation Department offices. They also can be ordered from The Nature Shop, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, by a toll-free phone call to 877/521-8632 or online at http://www.mdcnatureshop.com/.
- Jim Low -
Missourians can choose from dozens of areas with hundreds of miles of trails.
MDC
5/23/03
JEFFERSON CITY--When the sun rises on June 7, it is likely to find people peeking out of tents or setting off on day hikes at more than three dozen conservation areas (CAs) around the state. Celebrating National Trails Day with a short jaunt of half a mile or a 20-mile trek are among the many ways of enjoying land owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
This year's National Trails Day theme is "Healthy Trails, Healthy People," focusing attention on the health benefits of hiking. The Conservation Department notes that these benefits are available to Missourians at conservation areas in every part of the state.
"When people think of conservation areas they usually think of hunting and fishing," said Teresa Kight, recreation specialist for the Conservation Department. "They certainly are used for that, but CAs also are super places to hike, picnic, camp, take nature photographs or just poke around looking at bugs and wildflowers."
CAs have more than 650 miles of trails ranging from primitive earthen paths to paved, handicapped-accessible trails. Virtually no Missourian is more than a 45 minute drive from at least one such area.
CAs with excellent scenic hiking opportunities include:
--Ruth and Paul Henning CA, Taney County, 5.8 miles;
--Lon Sanders Canyon CA, Wayne County, 1 mile;
--Millstream Gardens CA, Madison County, 1 mile (disabled accessible);
--Fountain Grove CA, Linn and Chariton counties, 4 miles;
--Maple Woods CA, Clay County, 2 miles;
--Riverbreaks CA, Holt County, 10 miles;
--Deer Ridge CA, Lewis County, 13 miles;
--Woodson K. Woods Memorial CA, 30 miles.
Trails at Conservation Nature Centers (CNCs) are within easy driving distance of much of the state's population. Burr Oak Woods CNC in Blue Springs, Powder Valley CNC in Kirkwood, Runge CNC in Jefferson City and Springfield CNC in Springfield each has several trails for exploring a variety of habitats. Each of these areas has trails with varying degrees of accessibility to people with physical disabilities.
The Devil=s Honeycomb Trail at Hughes Mountain Natural Area near Potosi travels through woodlands and glades and around the summit of the igneous rock mountain. The rock outcroppings on the mountain are among the oldest exposed rocks in the United States. The Devil=s Honeycomb Trail is 1.5 miles long. No facilities are offered at the area and camping is prohibited.
The Danville Glades Trail lets hikers explore the largest high quality limestone glade complex north of the Missouri River. The trail is located at Danville CA near Warrenton. The three mile trail winds along narrow ridges and numerous creeks. Much of the trail is level, with a moderately steep slope at either end.
The Ironwood Hollow Foot Trail is a 1.8-mile natural-surface loop at Sugar Creek CA near Kirksville. The wide and well marked trail leads through white oak and oak hickory forests. Horses and bicycles are permitted on a separate, designated trail, which forms a loop of more than 10 miles around much of Sugar Creek CA.
Hikers can see wildlife ranging from white-tailed deer to waterfowl and turtles on trails at Mark Youngdahl CA. This area in the heart of St. Joseph features a two mile trail system. The .8 mile Ridge Trail leads to a picnic shelter and small pond. The Pond Trail winds .7 mile through woods and around the area=s largest pond.
The trail system at Otter Slough CA southwest of Dexter treats hikers to a mix of cypress swamp, open marsh and river sloughs. The Tupelo Trail is a 1.2-mile path that borders Beaver Lake on the south and Otter Lake, an old cypress-tupelo slough, on the north. Halfway along the trail route, you will find a spur trail to a deck that overlooks Otter Lake. Allow 45 minutes to walk the wood chip trail.
Tingler Prairie CA south of West Plains has three trails that offer views of a variety of habitats. The half-mile Wetland Trail circles Tingler Lake, a natural sinkhole pond. The Grassland Trail traverses the area=s rolling uplands for nearly 1.5 miles. Woodland Trail is a 1.2 mile natural surface path that winds along a creek.
Information about CAs with trails is available online at http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/atlas/. If you want trail information in book form, check out AConservation Trails: A Guide to Missouri Department of Conservation Hiking Trails.@ The 91-page booklet easily fits into a day pack and contains maps of hundreds of miles of trail at 40 CAs. The price is $4.
Another publication, Missouri=s Conservation Atlas, lists every CA in the state and includes information about hiking trails. This large-format book costs $16.
Both books are available at conservation nature centers and regional Conservation Department offices. They also can be ordered from The Nature Shop, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, by a toll-free phone call to 877/521-8632 or online at http://www.mdcnatureshop.com/.
- Jim Low -
