October 23, 2019
Shaw Nature Reserve is an absolute gem and a must-see for Missouri hikers. The 2400 acre reserve located near Gray Summit is operated by the Missouri Botanical Garden. The mission at Shaw Nature Reserve is all about preserving the natural area and habitat and educating its visitors. On top of all that, it is just a cool place to spend the day.
Looking for something different
I had spent a lot of time hiking many of the wooded trails and concrete paths in the St. Louis area in recent months. I needed a change of scenery and didn’t have time to drive across the state, so I turned to Shaw Nature Reserve. This beautiful park is only about 30 minutes from home and I simply do not go there enough. After paying my $5 admission at the gate, I went and parked on top of the hill near the Maritz Trail House. This location is sort of a hub for many of the trails at the reserve, which provided me with many options to work with.
Below is a link to a trail map for Shawn Nature Reserve.
http://www.mobot.org/snr/PDFs/SNRVisitorGuide.pdf
Impressive Variety of Habitats
I ended up walking portions of numerous trails, hiking just over 6 miles and passing through an impressive variety of terrain. I walked through and past oak/hickory forest, glades, savannahs, bottomland forests, a Meramec River gravel bar, ponds, marshes, and native prairies. All of the hiking was on well-marked and well-maintained trails. Several “You are Here” signs helped ensure I was on the right path. Benches were scattered throughout and provided spots to rest. There were also wildlife viewing blinds near the marsh. However, the bird and wildlife activity was pretty low on this hot summer afternoon. I skipped the cypress pond near the visitor center on this trip, but it is always a good location for photography and for taking a peaceful break. Below is a gallery of photos taken from Shaw Nature Reserve during just this one hike:
When should I go?
I think that it is a great place to visit in all seasons, but for me I love catching the prairie in late summer/early fall. The Indian grass, switchgrass, and bluestem are mature and getting color. The summer wildflowers are in bloom, and butterflies were everywhere on this August day. Unfortunately, so were the chiggers. It took me a day or two to figure that out, but be sure to take precautions to avoid the days of itching ankles that I earned on my hike. An argument can me made for all seasons, however, so if you have the time and are in the area I think you will find a visit to Shaw Nature Reserve worth your while.
As you can see, Shaw Nature Reserve has a lot to offer in the way of scenery. In addition, they offer many educational opportunities and classes throughout the year. They often have seasonal photo contests, native plant sales, and guided nature hikes. Bicycles must stay on the roads only, and no pets are allowed on the trails. If you live in the St. Louis area, or even are just passing through on Highway 44, you owe yourself a visit to Shaw Nature Reserve. For more information, check out this link:
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/visit/family-of-attractions/shaw-nature-reserve.aspx
