Places to Go: Corkwood CA

Corkwood CA

Natural treasures for discerning eyes

At first glance, Corkwood Conservation Area (CA) may seem underwhelming, but to those with an eye for forestry or geology, it’s a treasure in a tiny chest.

Located on 434 acres in Butler County, Corkwood CA is an oasis of bottomland forest surrounded by farm fields that were once part of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley forested wetlands. As one of the area’s few remaining remnants of bottomland forest, it hosts a wide variety of trees, including the area’s namesake, corkwood.

Because corkwood is rare in Missouri, MDC is managing the area to increase the small, shrublike tree’s presence, said MDC Forester Jonathan Vallance.

“We’ve seen a decline in it over the years, so we’re trying to get some more established and set it back to the natural state,” Vallance said.

Also from the area’s past are its “sand dunes.” Far from the desert imagery one might envision, the sand in these dunes lies underneath.

“They basically look like hills or little mounds,” he said. “To the right person, it’s very interesting, but for the general public just going out there to see nature, they’re probably not even going to notice.”