\nState<\/a>
\nLocal<\/a>
\nPrivate<\/a>
\nMiscellaneous<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/a>Federal<\/h2>\nLoess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
\n<\/strong>Originally called “Squaw Creek”, the refuge provides “feeding and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge includes 7,440 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and forests along the eastern edge of the Missouri River floodplain.”\u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0660-442-3187\u00a0Brochure<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Here is the Refuge website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0
\n<\/strong>![\"Wheelchair](\"http:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/wheelchair_symbol_blue.png\")
<\/a>Mike Callow Memorial Trail<\/a>\u00a0is “one-half-mile, out-and-back paved trail…. [which] skirts the edge of the loess hill woodlands and extends to the foothills of the loess hill. \u00a0The trail starts at the visitor parking lot.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Mark Twain National Forest
\n<\/strong>Mark Twain NF encompasses 1.5 million acres.\u00a0 Sections of the Ozark Trail wind through the forest and there are more than 350 miles of perennial streams, suitable for floating canoeing and kayaking.
\nHere is the Forest website<\/a>.\u00a0 Phone 573-364-4621\u00a0 Call or write for copies of their brochures.\u00a0 Here is a brochure<\/a> from 2010.
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/a>Pine Lake Trail<\/a>\u00a0 in the Poplar Bluff Ranger District. \u00a0The trail “starts within the Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, and circles Pinewoods Lake. Three-quarters of a mile of this easy 1.3-mile trail has a concrete surface and is barrier-free; the rest of the trail has native surfacing. The entire trail is relatively flat, with no difficult sections. Circling the lake, the trail provides views of the lake, songbirds, and wildlife, and an abundance of wildflowers….”
\n![\"Hikerwithcane\"](\"http:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Hikerwithcane.png\")
<\/a>White Oak Trail<\/a>\u00a0is a 1 1\/2 mile loop from the Float Camp picnic area’s parking lot. \u00a0Very helpful staff member called me back and said that it is probably too steep for a wheelchair user alone, although someone could possibly push a chair around it. \u00a0There are some water bars that might be difficult to negotiate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
\n<\/strong>Mingo NWR encompasses 21,592 acres and lies in a basin formed in an ancient abandoned channel of the Mississippi River in southeast Missouri.
\nHere is the Refuge website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-222-3589
\n<\/a><\/strong>Swampwalk\u00a0Nature trail: \u00a0described in Wikipedia<\/a>: ” a one-mile (1.6-km) loop trail through the bottomland hardwood swamp. A self-guided pamphlet of the trail is available at the Boardwalk parking lot. The path is wheelchair accessible.” \u00a0The refuge’s website does not state that the boardwalk is wheelchair accessible, but says the trail “… meanders 0.8 miles through the bottomland hardwood forest. Observation decks at the Monopoly Overlook, Rockhouse Marsh, and Red Mill Drive, offer outstanding views of the Mingo Basin and its wildlife.”\u00a0 You might want to call ahead to be sure of the accessibility.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
Ozark National Scenic Riverways \u00a0<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>The Ozark National Scenic Riverways protects the river system\u00a0which includes the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers as well as hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails and historic sites.\u00a0 Phone\u00a0573-323-4236\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Trails<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Accessibility<\/a>
\nMap of Big Spring Trail System<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Website<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/strong><\/a>Lick Log Trail:\u00a0“1 mile loop trail—easy with no steep grades. \u00a0Trailhead is located off Fox Pen Road (County Road 205) about two miles north of Eminence on Route 19. ……\u00a0This hike offers a wide range of Ozark habitats from an upland forest of oak-pine to dolomite glades, Rhyolite glades, fens (wetlands), and igneous “shut-ins”—each with unique flora and fauna.”
\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Welch Spring Trail: 0.8 miles round trip,\u00a0off Hwy. K north of Akers. \u00a0Described as an “easy walk from the trailhead parking area north along a rock\/earth impoundment out to Welch Spring—which emits 78.2 million gallons of crystal clear water a day from a cave at the base of a limestone cliff.” \u00a0\u00a0Review by AllTrails
\n<\/a><\/a>Slough Trail:1.2 miles round trip. “An easy stroll that begins just north of the ‘Big Spring”. \u00a0The trail goes through a stand of cane and a riparian forest along the slough. \u00a0Described by Waymarking.com<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>State<\/h2>\nDisabled-Accessible Outdoors<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0– a pdf document by the Missouri Dept. of Conservation<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>All\u00a0Missouri State Parks<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0can be found on their\u00a0searchable webpage. \u00a0You can plug in amenities you wish to find. \u00a0Each state park’s website has a link to a pdf page of Accessibility Information.
\nAccessibility Information<\/strong><\/a> for Missouri Parks and Historic sites.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>Anita B. Gorman \u00a0Discovery Center\u00a0<\/strong>
\nAnita B. Gorman \u00a0Discovery Center, Kansas City, has native-plant gardens, including small versions of upland and lowland forests, prairies, and ponds. Specialty planting areas include butterfly, wildflower, and water gardens.
\nHere is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0\u00a0816-759-7300\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Map
\n<\/a><\/a>The 0.25 mile Wild Sidewalk winds\u00a0through the Grow Native Gardens.<\/p>\n<\/a>The 0.20 mile East-West sidewalk “connects with a number of Brush Creek Parkway sidewalks that meander up the Creek toward Kauffman Memorial Gardens and the Country Club Plaza.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area
\n<\/strong>“This 6,987-acre area contains 3,000 acres of forest in addition to grassland, cropland, old fields, prairie and wetlands. Facilities\/features: boat rentals, picnic areas and a pavilion, hiking trails, fishing jetties, fishing docks, staffed firearms range, archery range, viewing blinds, and a visitor center.”
\nThis brochure<\/a> is\u00a0 mostly about hunting and fishing.
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 636-441-4554
\n<\/a>There are eight trails ranging from 0.7 to 2.0 miles, all designated “easy”.<\/p>\n<\/a>Fallen Oak Nature trail is 0.7 miles and said to be “partially accessible” \u00a0Call for better information and to check their hours, which vary by season.
\nWikipedia<\/a> says, “There have been numerous improvements in the park to improve accessibility for wheelchair users. These include ramps, concrete fishing areas, and boardwalks around nature viewing areas.”
\nReviews on Yelp<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Big Oak Tree State Park
\n<\/strong>Big Oak Tree State Park preserves forest and marsh as the first explorers saw it. “Towering hickory trees and oaks form a canopy that averages more than 120 feet in height…” “The trees and wetlands make the park a prime place for wildlife. ”
\nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 Phone\u00a0573-649-3149 \u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Trail Map<\/a>
\n<\/a>There is a self-guided boardwalk 0.7 mile one way.\u00a0 \u00a0Its surface is good traction for wheel chairs, but makes use of a cane a little wobbly.
\n<\/a>Bottomland Trail is a 1 1\/2 mile loop.\u00a0 Its dirt surface is all right for wheelchairs in dry times, but not when wet.
\n<\/a>Cypress Trail is a 0.75 mile loop.\u00a0 Like Bottomland Trail, it is only good for wheelchairs when dry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Burr Oak Woods Nature Center\u00a0<\/strong>
\nBurr Oak Woods Nature Center, Kansas City occupies 1071 acres.\u00a0 There are interactive\u00a0exhibits and natural features including “steep forested hillsides along Burr Oak Creek …, large limestone boulders and outcrops, restored prairies and woodlands, and a trail complex.”
\n<\/strong>Brochure<\/a>\u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 816-228-3766
\n<\/a>Missouri Tree Trail \u00a0is a paved 3\/4 mile trail which passes by “a forest, prairie planting, woodland, and glade. \u00a0There is a bridge near the pond, an overlook\u00a0above the restored glade and several trees native to\u00a0Missouri are labeled along the trail.”
\n<\/a>?\u00a0The 1\/2 mile \u00a0J. Ernest Dunn Jr. Discovery Trail\u00a0 is paved and winds through the woods behind the\u00a0nature center. “Interpretive signage enables the hiker to\u00a0discover the forest natural community by learning cool\u00a0forest facts and by brushing up on tree identification skills. ”
\n<\/a>Habitat Trail 1.5 miles with loop option. \u00a0Gravel base surface<\/p>\n<\/a>Wildlife Habitat Trail \u00a01.5 miles “natural surface trail which highlights a hidden pond, restored woodland and glades. \u00a0Reviewed in\u00a0AllTrails.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center
\n<\/strong>This Nature Center, located within Cape Girardeaus North County Park, “showcases the rich cultural history and diverse natural resources of southeastern Missouri.”\u00a0 There are wildlife-viewing areas and two miles of nature trails that wind through rolling river hills with sinkholes, ravines, and deep hollows.\u00a0\u00a0Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-290-5218.
\n<\/a>The Ridgetop Trail, a quarter mile\u00a0part of the White Oak Trace trail system goes from the Visitor Center to a deck on Farckleberry Knob.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park
\n<\/strong>Just minutes from St. Louis, Babler Memorial State Park offeres\u00a0 hiking and equestrian\u00a0trails that “…wind their way through the park’s narrow coves, deep sheltered valleys and towering forests.”
\nPhone\u00a0(636) 458-3813\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Here is the Park website.<\/a>
\n<\/strong>From the Accessibility Information<\/a> page:
\n<\/a>?<\/strong> \u00a0“Two miles of trail are paved, however, the trail contains slopes that may be prohibitive to\u00a0some users.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Elephant Rocks State Park
\n<\/b>This park, near Belleview, contains\u00a0giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants.\u00a0 They were formed from 1.5 billion year old granite.\u00a0 “Many of the elephant rocks lie within the seven-acre Elephant Rocks Natural Area, which is recognized for its outstanding geologic value.”
\nHere is the Park’s website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-546-3454 \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Trail Map<\/a>
\n<\/b>Reviewed on \u00a0Trip Advisor<\/a>\u00a0 Accessibility<\/a>
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.accessiblenature.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/eyelogo-copy.png\")
<\/a><\/a>The one mile Interpretive Braille Trail \u00a0is “asphalt and has varying slopes and conditions. The most excessive\u00a0slopes are at 9.3 percent for 37 feet and 10.2 percent for 20 feet. At some points, the trail pinches\u00a0down to 28 inches wide, due to the rock formations.\u00a0\u00a0Along the trail are interpretive stations with Braille text.”\u00a0 The trail was “…especially designed for people with visual and physical disabilities.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Ha Ha \u00a0Tonka State Park
\n<\/strong>Geology and history combine to make this fascinating park with “sinkholes, caves, a huge\u00a0natural bridge<\/a>, sheer bluffs and Missouri\u2019s 12th<\/sup>\u00a0largest spring. The ruins of a turn-of-the-century stone\u00a0castle<\/a>\u00a0overlook these wonders and offer impressive views of the Lake of the Ozarks and Ha Ha Tonka Spring.”
\nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0573-346-2986\u00a0 Trail Map<\/a>\u00a0 Park Map<\/a>
\nFrom the Accessibility Information<\/a> page:
\n<\/a>Oak Woodland Interpretive Trail is a 430 foot self-guiding interpretive trail, paved “…..\u00a0in an effort to allow more users the opportunity to experience a typical\u00a0Missouri woodland landscape. ….\u00a0Some users may need assistance as some slopes may be excessive.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Katy Trail State<\/b> <\/b>Park<\/b>
\nKaty Trail State Park, “…built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or Katy), is 240 miles long and runs between Clinton and Machens with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots along the way. The section of trail between Cooper County and St. Charles County has been designated as an official segment of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Katy Trail is also part of the American Discovery Trail, has been designated as a Millennium Legacy Trail and was added to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame in 2008.”
\nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 Phone 573-449-7402 \u00a0
\n<\/b><\/a>The Katy trail is\u00a0a 237 mile rails-to-trails path more than half of which follows the Missouri River.\u00a0 \u00a0From visitmo.com<\/a>: “The hard-packed, crushed limestone surface is fairly level and constant as it meanders through the countryside. With more than 30 trailheads along its length, the Katy is very easy to reach, offering trips of varying distance. The trail is handicap-accessible.” \u00a0 \u00a0For details on the trail and trailheads see the pdf on Accessibility Information\u00a0<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Pershing State Park\u00a0<\/strong>
\nPershing State Park is preserves the wetland landscape once common in northern Missouri.\u00a0 Locust Creek “still shapes the landscape by forming oxbow lakes, sloughs, shrub swamps, marshes and wet prairie. Along the creek is a large bottomland forest of oak, hickory, cottonwood, sycamore and silver maple, which has been designated a\u00a0Missouri natural area.”\u00a0 Map<\/a>
\nPhone 660-963-2299\u00a0 \u00a0Here is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Accessibility Information<\/a>
\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>The 1.5 mile interpretive Locust Creek Wetland Boardwalk crosses Locust Creek and is “constructed to be accessible with benches at intervals for resting.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
\n<\/strong>Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is in 112 acres of oak-hickory forest. You can experience wildlife up close through a wildlife viewing window; living bee-hive; 3,000-gallon aquarium and exhibits.\u00a0 There are three trails, one of which has interpretive signs and is disabled accessible.
\nPhone 314-301-1500\u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Brochure<\/a> \u00a0 Map\u00a0<\/a>
\n<\/a>Tanglevine trail is a 0.3 mile interpretive loop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Prairie State Park
\n<\/strong>Visitors to the Prairie State Park see panoramic vistas of swaying grass and ever-changing wildflowers in this remnant of the original tallgrass prairie. They also may spot the\u00a0park\u2019s resident bison herd.
\nHere is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Phone\u00a0417-843-6711
\nFrom the Accessibility Information<\/a> page:
\n<\/a>“If you want to experience the solitude and vastness of the prairie, the trail head for Drover’s Trail\u00a0is located just outside the visitor center. The accessible portion of the sunny trail is quarter mile\u00a0long using the connector trail. This trail is relatively level or has minimal slopes with mown\u00a0prairie sod as a base. During wet weather, the sod may be too soft. Some users may need\u00a0assistance. ”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Rock Bridge Memorial State Park<\/strong>
\nRock Bridge Memorial State Park, near Columbia, “…contains a wide diversity of natural and cultural resources to explore. Some of Missouri\u2019s finest examples of karst topography, restored grasslands, forests and streams rest within park boundaries.”
\nHere is the Park website.<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-449-7402\u00a0 \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Trail Map
\nFrom the Accessibility Information Page<\/a>:
\n<\/a>“The portion of the Springbrook trail, in the sidebar of the Devil\u2019s Icebox kiosk up to the bridge, is\u00a0accessible over natural turf. Devil\u2019s Icebox trail is partially accessible from trailhead to the rock\u00a0bridge.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Runge Nature Center\u00a0<\/strong>
\nRunge Nature Center, Jefferson City “…features a visitor center with exhibits and live-animal displays, special events, trails, demonstrations, and diverse natural habitats.”\u00a0 There are 2.4 miles of trails.
\nHere is the Center’s website.<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0573-526-5544\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Brochure<\/a>
\n<\/a>Naturescape trail is 0.3 miles
\nThere are 4 other short trails designated “easy”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Sam A. Baker State Park
\n<\/strong>Sam A. Baker State Park’s 5,323 acres are in the the ancient St. Francois Mountains where there are some of the oldest exposures of igneous rock in North America.\u00a0The natural landscape and cool waters of the St. Francis River and Big Creek,\u00a0 have something for everyone.
\nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 Phone 573- 856-4411\u00a0 Park Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/strong>From the Accessibility Information<\/a> page:
\n<\/a>“The asphalt paved hiking\/bicycling trail is a 1.5-mile scenic route that runs from the park store to\u00a0Campground 1. The route has little slope except for a short length near the store that measures 7 percent. If this is a problem, the trail can be accessed at the visitor center.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Springfield Conservation Nature Center
\n<\/strong>Springfield Conservation Nature Center is “80 acres of Ozark forest, glade and prairie habitat.”\u00a0 There are creeks and frontage on Lake Springfield.\u00a0 More than 170 species of wildlife inhabit the area.
\nHere is the Center’s Website<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 417-888-4237\u00a0 Brochure<\/a>\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
\n<\/strong><\/a>Boardwalk trail is about 1\/3 mile, paved and goes downhill to the creek. \u00a0Like the Savannah Ridge trail, it does\u00a0not strictly adhere to ADA guidelines, but is enjoyed\u00a0by some local wheelchair users.
\n<\/a>Savanna Ridge trail is about 0.1 mile and does have some gradient. \u00a0See the note above for wheelchairs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
\n<\/strong>Taum Sauk Mountain State Park’s 7,500 acres “…include the\u00a0highest point\u00a0in the state. Located in the St. Francois Mountains, the park’s wooded areas and rocky glades\u00a0provide a beautiful, solitary experience for hikers”<\/p>\nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-546-2450 \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Trail Map\u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/strong>Accessibility information<\/a>
\n<\/a>High Point Trail – a\u00a0 “paved trail …\u00a0approximately 1,030 feet long with resting places spaced along the way and no excessive slopes.”\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 “From the parking area, a short walk along a wheelchair-accessible trail leads to the top of Taum Sauk Mountain and the highest point in the state at 1,772 feet above sea level. Beyond this point, the trail becomes rocky and rugged and is not considered accessible to wheelchairs.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>- \r\n
Twin Pines Conservation Education Center
<\/strong>Twin Pines’ 442.2 acres center just east of Winona\u00a0 “…offers opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, nature photography and other nature-related activities.”\u00a0 Trails through the area provides access to pine-oak woodland and several other forest types. Twin Pines CEC places a special emphasis on the history of the Ozarks\u2019 timber industry.\u00a0 There are four nature trails, one of them ADA compliant.
Informational card<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Phone\u00a0\u00a0573-325-1381\u00a0 Center website<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOne of the four trails is wheelchair accessible.\u00a0 Check with the Visitor Center for more information.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Local<\/h2>\nDent County
\n<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>Tiger Trail<\/a> is “behind the Upper Elementary School on Doss Road. \u00a0It has a nice surface, wide trails that meander through the brush, trees,\u00a0and [have] a few steep inclines but generally mild rises and dips, nice chat\/gravel for walking and wheelchairs that are sturdy. \u00a0Lots of cut offs and loops and can be very short or up to nearly 2 miles if you take the long way.” Contributed by Libby of the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Independence<\/strong>
\n<\/a>George Owens Nature Park<\/a>\u00a0 “provides 86 acres of beautiful forest, lakes, hiking trails and wildlife.” \u00a0Park naturalist Melanie\u00a0suggested the following:
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b>The Butterfly Trail:\u00a0 This trail is asphalt, \u00bc mile long and fairly level although there are some gentle inclines.\u00a0 The trail joins a paved road that leads to two fishing ponds.
\nFishing Ponds:\u00a0 The road and most areas surrounding the ponds are flat and fairly accessible, depending on the degree of disability.\u00a0 There is also a wheelchair-accessible dock on one of the ponds. While we limit traffic in the park, we allow vehicles with handicap plates or mirror hangers to drive to the ponds and park nearby.
\nThe Nature Center.\u00a0 The building is accessible along with restrooms and a water fountain; and there are dedicated parking spots in the lot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Salem
\n<\/a><\/strong>Salem Frisco RR Trail<\/a>\u00a0 “Starting at 3rd and Grand Avenue in Salem, the trail is an 8 foot wide asphalt path traveling north for 4,000 feet along the Old Burlington Northern Railroad bed. It ends at the old timber trestle over Spring Creek near the MFA Bulk Plant just off Hwy 19 on the north edge of Salem.” \u00a0As described by Libby of the Bonebrake Conservation Nature Center:\u00a0it is “a converted railroad bed about 3\/4 mi. long. \u00a0It starts at the edge of town and goes past some pasture and woods (and also the sewer treatment plant, but not stinky!). \u00a0Very flat, essentially chip and seal finish. \u00a0Very good for wheelchairs and walkers.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Private<\/h2>\nBonebrake Center of Nature and History\u00a0<\/strong>
\n<\/a>The Bonebrake Center provides “paths through natural settings of prairies and forest plantings, and beside ponds and a spring, to provide a place for people of all ages to stroll, learn and observe plants, animals, and birds.” \u00a0The paths are mown grass paths, some a little bumpy. \u00a0The executive director describes the gradient as mild, “but the surface is not conducive to wheelchairs or walkers.” \u00a0She enjoys walking there with a cane, going slowly to enjoy the aesthetics. \u00a0Call 573-729-3400\u00a0<\/i>for more information. Here is their website.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Camp Brim Shire<\/strong>
\n<\/a><\/a>Camp Brim Shire\u00a0near St. James, MO “…features a fully ADA accessible campus located conveniently off Interstate I-44 seven miles north of St. James, Missouri. Surrounded by oak and maple trees, campers enjoy scenic woodlands, a stocked lake, ponds and a nature trail.\u00a0In addition, there is a special 1\/3 mile paved trail for the blind, individuals confined to a wheel chair or seniors, offering them a safe trail experience.”\u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/li>Martha Lafite Thompson <\/strong>Nature<\/strong> Sanctuary
\n<\/strong>The Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Liberty MO provides opportunities for quiet reflection and reconnection with the natural world in a diversity of native plants and animals.\u00a0 There are over 12 trails, some of\u00a0 which may be easy.\u00a0 Call to find out.
\nHere is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 Phone\u00a0816-781-8598\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Brochure<\/a>
\n<\/a>Rush Creek Disabled-Accessible Asphalt Trail 1 mile<\/p>\n
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge Mark Twain National Forest Mingo National Wildlife Refuge <\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Ozark National Scenic Riverways \u00a0<\/strong> Disabled-Accessible Outdoors<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0– a pdf document by the Missouri Dept. of Conservation<\/p>\n All\u00a0Missouri State Parks<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0can be found on their\u00a0searchable webpage. \u00a0You can plug in amenities you wish to find. \u00a0Each state park’s website has a link to a pdf page of Accessibility Information. Anita B. Gorman \u00a0Discovery Center\u00a0<\/strong> August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area Big Oak Tree State Park Burr Oak Woods Nature Center\u00a0<\/strong> Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Elephant Rocks State Park Ha Ha \u00a0Tonka State Park Katy Trail State<\/b> <\/b>Park<\/b> Pershing State Park\u00a0<\/strong> Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center Prairie State Park Rock Bridge Memorial State Park<\/strong> Runge Nature Center\u00a0<\/strong> Sam A. Baker State Park Springfield Conservation Nature Center Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Here is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-546-2450 \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Trail Map\u00a0\u00a0 Twin Pines Conservation Education Center One of the four trails is wheelchair accessible.\u00a0 Check with the Visitor Center for more information.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n Dent County Independence<\/strong> Salem Bonebrake Center of Nature and History\u00a0<\/strong> Camp Brim Shire<\/strong> Martha Lafite Thompson <\/strong>Nature<\/strong> Sanctuary
\n<\/strong>Originally called “Squaw Creek”, the refuge provides “feeding and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge includes 7,440 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and forests along the eastern edge of the Missouri River floodplain.”\u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0660-442-3187\u00a0Brochure<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Here is the Refuge website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0
\n<\/strong><\/a>Mike Callow Memorial Trail<\/a>\u00a0is “one-half-mile, out-and-back paved trail…. [which] skirts the edge of the loess hill woodlands and extends to the foothills of the loess hill. \u00a0The trail starts at the visitor parking lot.”<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Mark Twain NF encompasses 1.5 million acres.\u00a0 Sections of the Ozark Trail wind through the forest and there are more than 350 miles of perennial streams, suitable for floating canoeing and kayaking.
\nHere is the Forest website<\/a>.\u00a0 Phone 573-364-4621\u00a0 Call or write for copies of their brochures.\u00a0 Here is a brochure<\/a> from 2010.
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/a>Pine Lake Trail<\/a>\u00a0 in the Poplar Bluff Ranger District. \u00a0The trail “starts within the Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, and circles Pinewoods Lake. Three-quarters of a mile of this easy 1.3-mile trail has a concrete surface and is barrier-free; the rest of the trail has native surfacing. The entire trail is relatively flat, with no difficult sections. Circling the lake, the trail provides views of the lake, songbirds, and wildlife, and an abundance of wildflowers….”
\n<\/a>White Oak Trail<\/a>\u00a0is a 1 1\/2 mile loop from the Float Camp picnic area’s parking lot. \u00a0Very helpful staff member called me back and said that it is probably too steep for a wheelchair user alone, although someone could possibly push a chair around it. \u00a0There are some water bars that might be difficult to negotiate.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Mingo NWR encompasses 21,592 acres and lies in a basin formed in an ancient abandoned channel of the Mississippi River in southeast Missouri.
\nHere is the Refuge website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-222-3589
\n<\/a><\/strong>Swampwalk\u00a0Nature trail: \u00a0described in Wikipedia<\/a>: ” a one-mile (1.6-km) loop trail through the bottomland hardwood swamp. A self-guided pamphlet of the trail is available at the Boardwalk parking lot. The path is wheelchair accessible.” \u00a0The refuge’s website does not state that the boardwalk is wheelchair accessible, but says the trail “… meanders 0.8 miles through the bottomland hardwood forest. Observation decks at the Monopoly Overlook, Rockhouse Marsh, and Red Mill Drive, offer outstanding views of the Mingo Basin and its wildlife.”\u00a0 You might want to call ahead to be sure of the accessibility.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Ozark National Scenic Riverways protects the river system\u00a0which includes the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers as well as hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails and historic sites.\u00a0 Phone\u00a0573-323-4236\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Trails<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Accessibility<\/a>
\nMap of Big Spring Trail System<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Website<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/strong><\/a>Lick Log Trail:\u00a0“1 mile loop trail—easy with no steep grades. \u00a0Trailhead is located off Fox Pen Road (County Road 205) about two miles north of Eminence on Route 19. ……\u00a0This hike offers a wide range of Ozark habitats from an upland forest of oak-pine to dolomite glades, Rhyolite glades, fens (wetlands), and igneous “shut-ins”—each with unique flora and fauna.”
\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Welch Spring Trail: 0.8 miles round trip,\u00a0off Hwy. K north of Akers. \u00a0Described as an “easy walk from the trailhead parking area north along a rock\/earth impoundment out to Welch Spring—which emits 78.2 million gallons of crystal clear water a day from a cave at the base of a limestone cliff.” \u00a0\u00a0Review by AllTrails
\n<\/a><\/a>Slough Trail:1.2 miles round trip. “An easy stroll that begins just north of the ‘Big Spring”. \u00a0The trail goes through a stand of cane and a riparian forest along the slough. \u00a0Described by Waymarking.com<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>State<\/h2>\n
\nAccessibility Information<\/strong><\/a> for Missouri Parks and Historic sites.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
\nAnita B. Gorman \u00a0Discovery Center, Kansas City, has native-plant gardens, including small versions of upland and lowland forests, prairies, and ponds. Specialty planting areas include butterfly, wildflower, and water gardens.
\nHere is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0\u00a0816-759-7300\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Map
\n<\/a><\/a>The 0.25 mile Wild Sidewalk winds\u00a0through the Grow Native Gardens.<\/p>\n<\/a>The 0.20 mile East-West sidewalk “connects with a number of Brush Creek Parkway sidewalks that meander up the Creek toward Kauffman Memorial Gardens and the Country Club Plaza.”<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>“This 6,987-acre area contains 3,000 acres of forest in addition to grassland, cropland, old fields, prairie and wetlands. Facilities\/features: boat rentals, picnic areas and a pavilion, hiking trails, fishing jetties, fishing docks, staffed firearms range, archery range, viewing blinds, and a visitor center.”
\nThis brochure<\/a> is\u00a0 mostly about hunting and fishing.
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 636-441-4554
\n<\/a>There are eight trails ranging from 0.7 to 2.0 miles, all designated “easy”.<\/p>\n<\/a>Fallen Oak Nature trail is 0.7 miles and said to be “partially accessible” \u00a0Call for better information and to check their hours, which vary by season.
\nWikipedia<\/a> says, “There have been numerous improvements in the park to improve accessibility for wheelchair users. These include ramps, concrete fishing areas, and boardwalks around nature viewing areas.”
\nReviews on Yelp<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Big Oak Tree State Park preserves forest and marsh as the first explorers saw it. “Towering hickory trees and oaks form a canopy that averages more than 120 feet in height…” “The trees and wetlands make the park a prime place for wildlife. ”
\nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 Phone\u00a0573-649-3149 \u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Trail Map<\/a>
\n<\/a>There is a self-guided boardwalk 0.7 mile one way.\u00a0 \u00a0Its surface is good traction for wheel chairs, but makes use of a cane a little wobbly.
\n<\/a>Bottomland Trail is a 1 1\/2 mile loop.\u00a0 Its dirt surface is all right for wheelchairs in dry times, but not when wet.
\n<\/a>Cypress Trail is a 0.75 mile loop.\u00a0 Like Bottomland Trail, it is only good for wheelchairs when dry.<\/p>\n
\nBurr Oak Woods Nature Center, Kansas City occupies 1071 acres.\u00a0 There are interactive\u00a0exhibits and natural features including “steep forested hillsides along Burr Oak Creek …, large limestone boulders and outcrops, restored prairies and woodlands, and a trail complex.”
\n<\/strong>Brochure<\/a>\u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 816-228-3766
\n<\/a>Missouri Tree Trail \u00a0is a paved 3\/4 mile trail which passes by “a forest, prairie planting, woodland, and glade. \u00a0There is a bridge near the pond, an overlook\u00a0above the restored glade and several trees native to\u00a0Missouri are labeled along the trail.”
\n<\/a>?\u00a0The 1\/2 mile \u00a0J. Ernest Dunn Jr. Discovery Trail\u00a0 is paved and winds through the woods behind the\u00a0nature center. “Interpretive signage enables the hiker to\u00a0discover the forest natural community by learning cool\u00a0forest facts and by brushing up on tree identification skills. ”
\n<\/a>Habitat Trail 1.5 miles with loop option. \u00a0Gravel base surface<\/p>\n<\/a>Wildlife Habitat Trail \u00a01.5 miles “natural surface trail which highlights a hidden pond, restored woodland and glades. \u00a0Reviewed in\u00a0AllTrails.<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>This Nature Center, located within Cape Girardeaus North County Park, “showcases the rich cultural history and diverse natural resources of southeastern Missouri.”\u00a0 There are wildlife-viewing areas and two miles of nature trails that wind through rolling river hills with sinkholes, ravines, and deep hollows.\u00a0\u00a0Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-290-5218.
\n<\/a>The Ridgetop Trail, a quarter mile\u00a0part of the White Oak Trace trail system goes from the Visitor Center to a deck on Farckleberry Knob.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Just minutes from St. Louis, Babler Memorial State Park offeres\u00a0 hiking and equestrian\u00a0trails that “…wind their way through the park’s narrow coves, deep sheltered valleys and towering forests.”
\nPhone\u00a0(636) 458-3813\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Here is the Park website.<\/a>
\n<\/strong>From the Accessibility Information<\/a> page:
\n<\/a>?<\/strong> \u00a0“Two miles of trail are paved, however, the trail contains slopes that may be prohibitive to\u00a0some users.”<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>This park, near Belleview, contains\u00a0giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants.\u00a0 They were formed from 1.5 billion year old granite.\u00a0 “Many of the elephant rocks lie within the seven-acre Elephant Rocks Natural Area, which is recognized for its outstanding geologic value.”
\nHere is the Park’s website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-546-3454 \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Trail Map<\/a>
\n<\/b>Reviewed on \u00a0Trip Advisor<\/a>\u00a0 Accessibility<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/a>The one mile Interpretive Braille Trail \u00a0is “asphalt and has varying slopes and conditions. The most excessive\u00a0slopes are at 9.3 percent for 37 feet and 10.2 percent for 20 feet. At some points, the trail pinches\u00a0down to 28 inches wide, due to the rock formations.\u00a0\u00a0Along the trail are interpretive stations with Braille text.”\u00a0 The trail was “…especially designed for people with visual and physical disabilities.”<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Geology and history combine to make this fascinating park with “sinkholes, caves, a huge\u00a0natural bridge<\/a>, sheer bluffs and Missouri\u2019s 12th<\/sup>\u00a0largest spring. The ruins of a turn-of-the-century stone\u00a0castle<\/a>\u00a0overlook these wonders and offer impressive views of the Lake of the Ozarks and Ha Ha Tonka Spring.”
\nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0573-346-2986\u00a0 Trail Map<\/a>\u00a0 Park Map<\/a>
\nFrom the Accessibility Information<\/a> page:
\n<\/a>Oak Woodland Interpretive Trail is a 430 foot self-guiding interpretive trail, paved “…..\u00a0in an effort to allow more users the opportunity to experience a typical\u00a0Missouri woodland landscape. ….\u00a0Some users may need assistance as some slopes may be excessive.”<\/p>\n
\nKaty Trail State Park, “…built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or Katy), is 240 miles long and runs between Clinton and Machens with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots along the way. The section of trail between Cooper County and St. Charles County has been designated as an official segment of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Katy Trail is also part of the American Discovery Trail, has been designated as a Millennium Legacy Trail and was added to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame in 2008.”
\nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 Phone 573-449-7402 \u00a0
\n<\/b><\/a>The Katy trail is\u00a0a 237 mile rails-to-trails path more than half of which follows the Missouri River.\u00a0 \u00a0From visitmo.com<\/a>: “The hard-packed, crushed limestone surface is fairly level and constant as it meanders through the countryside. With more than 30 trailheads along its length, the Katy is very easy to reach, offering trips of varying distance. The trail is handicap-accessible.” \u00a0 \u00a0For details on the trail and trailheads see the pdf on Accessibility Information\u00a0<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nPershing State Park is preserves the wetland landscape once common in northern Missouri.\u00a0 Locust Creek “still shapes the landscape by forming oxbow lakes, sloughs, shrub swamps, marshes and wet prairie. Along the creek is a large bottomland forest of oak, hickory, cottonwood, sycamore and silver maple, which has been designated a\u00a0Missouri natural area.”\u00a0 Map<\/a>
\nPhone 660-963-2299\u00a0 \u00a0Here is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Accessibility Information<\/a>
\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>The 1.5 mile interpretive Locust Creek Wetland Boardwalk crosses Locust Creek and is “constructed to be accessible with benches at intervals for resting.”<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is in 112 acres of oak-hickory forest. You can experience wildlife up close through a wildlife viewing window; living bee-hive; 3,000-gallon aquarium and exhibits.\u00a0 There are three trails, one of which has interpretive signs and is disabled accessible.
\nPhone 314-301-1500\u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Brochure<\/a> \u00a0 Map\u00a0<\/a>
\n<\/a>Tanglevine trail is a 0.3 mile interpretive loop.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Visitors to the Prairie State Park see panoramic vistas of swaying grass and ever-changing wildflowers in this remnant of the original tallgrass prairie. They also may spot the\u00a0park\u2019s resident bison herd.
\nHere is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Phone\u00a0417-843-6711
\nFrom the Accessibility Information<\/a> page:
\n<\/a>“If you want to experience the solitude and vastness of the prairie, the trail head for Drover’s Trail\u00a0is located just outside the visitor center. The accessible portion of the sunny trail is quarter mile\u00a0long using the connector trail. This trail is relatively level or has minimal slopes with mown\u00a0prairie sod as a base. During wet weather, the sod may be too soft. Some users may need\u00a0assistance. ”<\/p>\n
\nRock Bridge Memorial State Park, near Columbia, “…contains a wide diversity of natural and cultural resources to explore. Some of Missouri\u2019s finest examples of karst topography, restored grasslands, forests and streams rest within park boundaries.”
\nHere is the Park website.<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 573-449-7402\u00a0 \u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Trail Map
\nFrom the Accessibility Information Page<\/a>:
\n<\/a>“The portion of the Springbrook trail, in the sidebar of the Devil\u2019s Icebox kiosk up to the bridge, is\u00a0accessible over natural turf. Devil\u2019s Icebox trail is partially accessible from trailhead to the rock\u00a0bridge.”<\/p>\n
\nRunge Nature Center, Jefferson City “…features a visitor center with exhibits and live-animal displays, special events, trails, demonstrations, and diverse natural habitats.”\u00a0 There are 2.4 miles of trails.
\nHere is the Center’s website.<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone\u00a0573-526-5544\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Brochure<\/a>
\n<\/a>Naturescape trail is 0.3 miles
\nThere are 4 other short trails designated “easy”.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Sam A. Baker State Park’s 5,323 acres are in the the ancient St. Francois Mountains where there are some of the oldest exposures of igneous rock in North America.\u00a0The natural landscape and cool waters of the St. Francis River and Big Creek,\u00a0 have something for everyone.
\nHere is the Park website<\/a>.\u00a0 Phone 573- 856-4411\u00a0 Park Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/strong>From the Accessibility Information<\/a> page:
\n<\/a>“The asphalt paved hiking\/bicycling trail is a 1.5-mile scenic route that runs from the park store to\u00a0Campground 1. The route has little slope except for a short length near the store that measures 7 percent. If this is a problem, the trail can be accessed at the visitor center.”<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Springfield Conservation Nature Center is “80 acres of Ozark forest, glade and prairie habitat.”\u00a0 There are creeks and frontage on Lake Springfield.\u00a0 More than 170 species of wildlife inhabit the area.
\nHere is the Center’s Website<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Phone 417-888-4237\u00a0 Brochure<\/a>\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
\n<\/strong><\/a>Boardwalk trail is about 1\/3 mile, paved and goes downhill to the creek. \u00a0Like the Savannah Ridge trail, it does\u00a0not strictly adhere to ADA guidelines, but is enjoyed\u00a0by some local wheelchair users.
\n<\/a>Savanna Ridge trail is about 0.1 mile and does have some gradient. \u00a0See the note above for wheelchairs.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Taum Sauk Mountain State Park’s 7,500 acres “…include the\u00a0highest point\u00a0in the state. Located in the St. Francois Mountains, the park’s wooded areas and rocky glades\u00a0provide a beautiful, solitary experience for hikers”<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Accessibility information<\/a>
\n<\/a>High Point Trail – a\u00a0 “paved trail …\u00a0approximately 1,030 feet long with resting places spaced along the way and no excessive slopes.”\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 “From the parking area, a short walk along a wheelchair-accessible trail leads to the top of Taum Sauk Mountain and the highest point in the state at 1,772 feet above sea level. Beyond this point, the trail becomes rocky and rugged and is not considered accessible to wheelchairs.”<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Twin Pines’ 442.2 acres center just east of Winona\u00a0 “…offers opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, nature photography and other nature-related activities.”\u00a0 Trails through the area provides access to pine-oak woodland and several other forest types. Twin Pines CEC places a special emphasis on the history of the Ozarks\u2019 timber industry.\u00a0 There are four nature trails, one of them ADA compliant.
Informational card<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Phone\u00a0\u00a0573-325-1381\u00a0 Center website<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/a>Local<\/h2>\n
\n<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>Tiger Trail<\/a> is “behind the Upper Elementary School on Doss Road. \u00a0It has a nice surface, wide trails that meander through the brush, trees,\u00a0and [have] a few steep inclines but generally mild rises and dips, nice chat\/gravel for walking and wheelchairs that are sturdy. \u00a0Lots of cut offs and loops and can be very short or up to nearly 2 miles if you take the long way.” Contributed by Libby of the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>George Owens Nature Park<\/a>\u00a0 “provides 86 acres of beautiful forest, lakes, hiking trails and wildlife.” \u00a0Park naturalist Melanie\u00a0suggested the following:
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b>The Butterfly Trail:\u00a0 This trail is asphalt, \u00bc mile long and fairly level although there are some gentle inclines.\u00a0 The trail joins a paved road that leads to two fishing ponds.
\nFishing Ponds:\u00a0 The road and most areas surrounding the ponds are flat and fairly accessible, depending on the degree of disability.\u00a0 There is also a wheelchair-accessible dock on one of the ponds. While we limit traffic in the park, we allow vehicles with handicap plates or mirror hangers to drive to the ponds and park nearby.
\nThe Nature Center.\u00a0 The building is accessible along with restrooms and a water fountain; and there are dedicated parking spots in the lot.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/strong>Salem Frisco RR Trail<\/a>\u00a0 “Starting at 3rd and Grand Avenue in Salem, the trail is an 8 foot wide asphalt path traveling north for 4,000 feet along the Old Burlington Northern Railroad bed. It ends at the old timber trestle over Spring Creek near the MFA Bulk Plant just off Hwy 19 on the north edge of Salem.” \u00a0As described by Libby of the Bonebrake Conservation Nature Center:\u00a0it is “a converted railroad bed about 3\/4 mi. long. \u00a0It starts at the edge of town and goes past some pasture and woods (and also the sewer treatment plant, but not stinky!). \u00a0Very flat, essentially chip and seal finish. \u00a0Very good for wheelchairs and walkers.”<\/p>\n<\/a>Private<\/h2>\n
\n<\/a>The Bonebrake Center provides “paths through natural settings of prairies and forest plantings, and beside ponds and a spring, to provide a place for people of all ages to stroll, learn and observe plants, animals, and birds.” \u00a0The paths are mown grass paths, some a little bumpy. \u00a0The executive director describes the gradient as mild, “but the surface is not conducive to wheelchairs or walkers.” \u00a0She enjoys walking there with a cane, going slowly to enjoy the aesthetics. \u00a0Call 573-729-3400\u00a0<\/i>for more information. Here is their website.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/a>Camp Brim Shire\u00a0near St. James, MO “…features a fully ADA accessible campus located conveniently off Interstate I-44 seven miles north of St. James, Missouri. Surrounded by oak and maple trees, campers enjoy scenic woodlands, a stocked lake, ponds and a nature trail.\u00a0In addition, there is a special 1\/3 mile paved trail for the blind, individuals confined to a wheel chair or seniors, offering them a safe trail experience.”\u00a0 Here is their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Liberty MO provides opportunities for quiet reflection and reconnection with the natural world in a diversity of native plants and animals.\u00a0 There are over 12 trails, some of\u00a0 which may be easy.\u00a0 Call to find out.
\nHere is their website<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 Phone\u00a0816-781-8598\u00a0 Map<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Brochure<\/a>
\n<\/a>Rush Creek Disabled-Accessible Asphalt Trail 1 mile<\/p>\n