Hiking

Join a naturalist on a guided 2.6-mile hike through Valley View Glades Natural Area in Hillsboro, Missouri. Hikes will be held during all four seasons in 2025, and we will discuss the changes happening on this beautiful and diverse trail throughout the year! Keep an eye out for more dates to come! Please note: this is a rugged, natural-surface trail that may not be suitable for beginner hikers. For this reason, all participants should be 16 years old or older. Make sure to bring water, dress for the weather, and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes!

Please make sure to register all participants ahead of time.

Put on your hiking shoes and join us for a guided hike of Deer Run Trail at Rock Bridge State Park (Boone County); 3.25 miles – easy. Meet at Runge Nature Center or the trailhead. Some transportation is provided, but carpooling may be necessary. Hike leaders will contact participants before the hike to give directions if needed. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, and pack a lunch/snack. Registration required. Ages 18+

Hiking is an enjoyable outdoor activity for all ages. Time spent outdoors can improve health and wellness, as well as encourage kids to think and care about the environment. This virtual program will cover the basics of hiking with kids of all ages – from babies and toddlers to tweens and teens. We’ll highlight a few a few St. Louis-area trails that are especially great for kids!

Participants will receive the virtual program link at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. Please ensure your MDC account includes an accurate email address so that you can receive this link.

Join a naturalist for a winter guided hike at Powder Valley! This hike will take place on our Hickory Ridge Trail, which winds through 1.2 miles of hilly, oak-hickory forest. Please note: The trail is paved, but can still be rough and is very steep. Bring water, dress for the weather, and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes!

Please make sure to register all participants ahead of time, including children.

Join a naturalist for a winter guided hike at Powder Valley! This hike will take place on our Hickory Ridge Trail, which winds through 1.2 miles of hilly, oak-hickory forest. Please note: The trail is paved, but can still be rough and is very steep. Bring water, dress for the weather, and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes!

Please make sure to register all participants ahead of time, including children.

Join us for our monthly stroll along the trails of Powder Valley to enjoy the seasonal wonders of nature. What wonderful plants, animals and scenery will we encounter? We will discuss all the new wonders we discover in this particular time of year. Dress for the weather.

Are all your workouts the same? Are you tired of running the same roads over and over again? Join us on a trail run at Trail of Tears State Park along the east loop of Peewah Trail. As you cover diverse terrain, enjoy beautiful scenery while also bringing your workouts to the next level. This running club will generally occur the first Tuesday of each month at a variety of different conservation areas. This activity may be rigorous – moderate fitness level required. Trail surfaces may include gravel, asphalt, and dirt. A welcome email will be sent out closer to the date containing pertinent details.

Meet at the second parking lot for Peewah Trail (east loop) at Trail of Tears State Park. If transportation from the nature center is necessary, please reach out to the instructor.

Young Conservation Area is one the largest local areas at 1,300 acres. Join an MDC naturalist on a guided hike on the areas Taconic Loop. This 2.5-mile loop winds along LaBarque Creek, through restored forest and woodland natural communities.

Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear.

Discover Dresser Island, a winter wildlife haven. We will hike 5 miles (with an option for 2 miles) along the Mississippi River in search of a variety of wildlife including eagles, pelicans, waterfowl, muskrats, deer, and many others. We will participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count during the hike. Please remember to dress for the weather, bring water and a lunch, and a camera and binoculars if desired.

Join an MDC naturalist on a 1.5-mile trek through Engelmann Woods Natural Area. This area is a rich forest community on the edge of Franklin and St. Louis County. This area provides an excellent hiking trail that conveys trekkers through both the higher ridges and low-laying creek beds of the area.