Hiking

Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center turns 35 years old this year and to celebrate, the nature center is inviting the public to join the Passport to Powder Valley program. The program will encourage visitors to explore multiple aspects of the nature center and offer the opportunity to win a raffle basket of prizes.

The Passport to Powder Valley program launched Tuesday, July 14 and runs through Oct. 31. To participate, visitors can pick up a copy of the Passport to Powder Valley booklet at the nature center’s front desk. The booklet is designed to engage visitors with five fun activities that celebrate what makes Powder Valley Nature Center unique.

The five activities in the Passport to Powder Valley challenge include:

1. Birdwatching

2. Checking out one of the nature center’s nature-themed discovery backpacks

3. Meeting Powder Valley’s live “ambassador animals”

4. Attending a naturalist-led educational program

5. Exploring one of Powder Valley’s hiking trails

The passport booklet even includes a bonus coloring page. Full details on completing each activity are included in the booklet.

Every person who finishes each of the passport booklet’s activities will receive a special limited Powder Valley 35th anniversary sticker. They’ll also be entered in a raffle to win a grand prize basket, including:

- Tour tickets to the Endangered Wolf Sanctuary

- Membership and swag pack from Laumeier Sculpture Park

- Free admission tickets to either the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Butterfly House, or Shaw Nature Reserve

- The book A History of Kirkwood, Missouri, 1851-1965 by June Wilkinson Dahl, donated by the Kirkwood Historical Society

Step into history and nature at St. Louis’s historic Calvary Cemetery and its rare remnant prairie. This engaging program will explore the rural cemetery movement of the 19th century, which transformed burial grounds into serene, park-like green spaces that inspired early public parks. Discover the botanical motifs carved into gravestones and the stories they tell about memory, symbolism, and the natural world. Then, enjoy a one-mile guided hike through the cemetery’s prairie, where you’ll encounter native plants, seasonal blooms, and a variety of bird species that call this unique urban habitat home.

Celebrate fall with a hike! Meet one of the Burr Oak Woods naturalists at the Smoke & Davey Trailhead at Smithville Lake. Enjoy several stops along the way to hear about some of the local wildlife that call the area home and learn about the benefits of what a hike can do for you. The route is a loop and is about 2 miles long on a partially paved trail. The hike is moderate difficulty with some slight hills and occasionally uneven terrain. Wear good walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a water bottle. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.

Start your day off with movement and join us at Tower Grove Park for a walk before work! We’ll meet at the Roman Pavilion, and go on a short, 45-minute walk through the park, learning a little about the flora and fauna along the way. We’ll end promptly at 7:30am, so you can get to work on time!

Please register each participant individually

Walk Before Work Club Fall Dates (please sign up for each date you’d like to attend):

September 23rd

October 14th

October 28th

November 5th

November 18th

Explore the trails of Compton Hollow Conservation Area. Meet at the Nature Center and carpool to the area. Bring a snack, water, and wear comfortable hiking shoes. The hike is 3 miles and rated moderate in difficulty. Ages 18 and up. Registration required.

This 2-mile walk will traverse through the 132-acre Fairground Park. From its beginnings as the city’s grand fairgrounds and an early zoo to its more recent history, this walk will also highlight the park’s large lake, a habitat for ducks, geese, and herons; as well as turtles and other aquatic animals.

"A Walk in the Park" is a guided program series designed for all ages and abilities. Each session highlights a different park, exploring its unique natural features, seasonal plants, and local wildlife, while also showcasing the cultural and historical significance that makes each space special.

This 2-mile walk will traverse through Benton, Carnegie and Cherokee Parks and the Cherokee-Lemp Historic District as part of MDC's "Walk in the Park" series. The Benton Park neighborhood is home to historic homes and breweries, including Bluewood Brewing, a local brewery based at the historic Lemp Brewery stables.

"A Walk in the Park" is a guided program series designed for all ages and abilities. Each session highlights a different park, exploring its unique natural features, seasonal plants, and local wildlife, while also showcasing the cultural and historical significance that makes each space special.

Note: Participants may register and attend only one of Runge's monthly Wednesday or Saturday all-day hiking programs.

Hike through high- quality dolomite glades and beautiful, autumn woodlands on the Turkey Pen Hollow and Backpacking trail at Ha Ha Tonka State Park (Camden County); 5 miles, moderate. Meet at Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City or the trailhead. Some transportation is provided, but carpooling may be necessary. Hike leaders will contact participants via email before the hike to give directions and other information. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, and pack a lunch/snack. Note:?Registration closes on October 19 at 8 a.m. ?

Join a naturalist on a guided 2/3-mile hike through Powder Valley’s Broken Ridge Trail. Enjoy the falling leaves as you hike and learn about what the natural world is up to as the seasons change.

Please note: this trail is paved, but can be steep. Make sure to bring water, dress for the weather, and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes!

This 1.5-mile walk will traverse through Bellerive and Sister Marie Charles Parks along the banks of the Mississippi River. We'll listen for a variety of bird species—both seasonal visitors and year-round residents; as well as learn about the prairie restoration efforts underway by MDC and the City of St. Louis.

"A Walk in the Park" is a guided program series designed for all ages and abilities. Each session highlights a different park, exploring its unique natural features, seasonal plants, and local wildlife, while also showcasing the cultural and historical significance that makes each space special.