About the Area
Bluffwoods Conservation Area is located just nine miles south of St. Joseph in the Missouri River loess hills in southwestern Buchanan County. Bluffwoods was acquired in the mid-1970s for the purpose of providing a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities and to maintain a portion of the last remaining oak-hickory forested areas in northwest Missouri. Bluffwoods has a variety of habitats that attract an equal variety of wildlife. Oldfields, grassland, and remnant dry loess prairie compliment the rich oak-hickory forest that dominates the area. A key feature of this area is the system of well-manicured trails that crisscross these habitats. The Forest Nature Trail can be accessed from parking lot E, and is subdivided into three short connected loops-the Prairie Trail, the Meadow Trail, and the Bluff Trail. The Prairie and Meadow Trails lead through forest and woodland before looping back on themselves. Steep bluffs adjacent to the Missouri River valley provide numerous vantage points for scenic views of your surroundings. Scenic Overlooks are accessible from lot C, and the other from the Lone Pines Trail. The Maple Falls Trail and the Lone Pine Trail can be accessed from lot A. There are two wet weather springs and a waterfall along the Maple Falls Trail loop. These trails really lend a sense of adventure and variety to the area, and make it quite accessible for hikers and birders alike. This area is a good place to look for woodpeckers, warblers, and flycatchers. Swainson’s Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, and Osprey can also be spotted on the area. Fox and White-crowned Sparrows also make frequent use of the area’s grassland during the winter months.
Directions From St. Joseph, take Highway 59 south 8 miles, then east on Bethel Road 0.60 mile to area entrance.
Dining and lodging accommodations can be found in St. Joseph to the north. St. Joe has some fun activities for the family after a morning of birding, including nine museums: the Patee House Museum, the Glore Psychiatric Museum, and the Pony Express Museum. Take in a show at the Missouri Theatre, or go antiquing in the Jesse James Antique Mall. If you are heading south, you will pass through the Kansas City metro area. Kansas City will, of course, have an extensive selection of tourist attractions, hotels, and restaurants.
Lake Contrary is to the north along the Missouri River, offering a great view of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. South along Hwy 59 is Lewis and Clark State Park, which is a great place to bird as well as learn about local history.