Places to Go: Hidden Hollow CA

Hidden Hollow Conservation Area

A quiet place to get away

A well-known discount airline once ran television commercials asking viewers, “wanna get away?” If the answer is “yes,” but travel of that extent is a bit much, maybe northeast Missouri’s Hidden Hollow Conservation Area (CA) is closer to the right “get away” for you.

“It’s pretty quiet, I would say, during the summer months,” said Wildlife Biologist Andrea Schuetz. “There’s a lot of hiking opportunities, if you want to get off the beaten path, and a great population of wildlife.”

Located on 1,360 acres in Macon County, Hidden Hollow CA is a popular spot for deer and turkey seasons, but it offers plenty of summer solitude for campers, backpackers, and birders. And while there are designated camping areas adjacent to each of the area’s three parking lots, campers are not limited to those locations, Schuetz said.

“There is walk-in camping available, so you can backpack in and camp where you’d like outside of firearm season,” she said.

MDC maintains nearly 9 miles of mowed service roads, giving hikers and determined bikers plenty of opportunity to get around the area. A keen eye may also find the area’s namesake “hidden hollow,” which is the result of an unnamed intermittent stream that runs through the area.