Points of Interest:
- Sand prairies are one of Missouri’s rarest natural communities.
- Enjoy blooms of sand milkweed, fringed puccoon, horsemint, and prickly pear cacti.
- Keep your eye out for a variety of grassland birds, including the uncommon vesper sparrow.
Natural Features Description:
This prairie was visited by renowned botanist Julian Steyermark during his work on the Flora of Missouri book. Sand prairies are extremely rare in Missouri and harbor a number of plants and animals adapted to the xeric conditions of these sand deposits. It is an interesting juxtaposition of these high and dry sand terraces above the Mississippi River floodplain. Surrounding the natural area are former crop fields that are actively being planted into sand prairie plant species to provide a greater amount of this habitat.
From the Highway 136/27 intersection east of Wayland, take Highway 27 north almost 4 miles, then head east on the road that turns to gravel. At just under a half mile the road forks. Take the right fork heading south. Go about a ¼ mile south and look for the natural area signs on the east side.
United States