The 115-acre Parkville Nature Sanctuary is a hidden jewel – a place where visitors can take a detour from busy city life and escape to nature.
Located off Missouri Highway 9 and 12th Street in Parkville, the wild area has been widely recognized by websites and publications as one of Missouri’s most scenic hiking destinations.
The nature sanctuary was born in 1989 when the Parkville Development Company donated the first 46 acres. In 1998, a cooperative agreement between the Missouri Department of Conservation, Park University and the City of Parkville added the 69-acre White Alloe Creek Conservation Area to the sanctuary.
Here, visitors can set out on the three miles of trails in the Jim Reed Trail System and explore waterfalls, a winding stream, an old-growth forest, prairie grasses, an array of wildflowers and butterfly gardens.
Hikers also can catch glimpses of deer, wild turkeys, bluebirds, a variety of songbirds and other wildlife. History is on display here, too. Hikers can relax in an old Girl Scout cabin that has been converted into a shelter and see other remnants of the land’s past.
The sanctuary doesn’t allow dogs, even if they are on a leash. One of the top prospects for our visitors is the opportunity to see deer, turkey and other wildlife in a quiet and reflective setting. Dogs have the potential of disturbing the sanctuary wildlife and could reduce the opportunities for our visitors’ enjoyment.
To learn more about the Parkville Nature Sanctuary, go to the city’s Facebook page and website.
The nature sanctuary is open from sunrise to sunset daily and lives up to its motto – “Saving the places people love – together.”
The nature sanctuary is open from sunrise to sunset daily and lives up to its motto – “Saving the places people love – together.”
Donate
Give a gift to enhance and conserve Sanctuary programs and lands.
