Park Trails

Canfield Savanna Trail

For visitors staying in the campground, this trail is an easy walk from your campsite. It winds through an area of large oak trees with an understory of native grasses and wildflowers. Ending at the parking lot beside Locust Creek, you may return to your starting point via the asphalt road or continue your hike on the boardwalk. 

Boardwalk Trail

The best way to explore the wetlands and view wildlife is on the interpretive boardwalk. The exhibits along the boardwalk explain the forces that create and maintain the wetlands and wildlife found in the park. The boardwalk leads visitors through bottomland forest, shrub swamps, marsh and wet prairie. An observation tower overlooks the largest remaining wet prairie in north Missouri at nearly 1,000 acres.

The landscape along the trail has been designated an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. Birdwatchers can enjoy a huge variety of birds including great blue herons, barred owls, pileated woodpeckers, migrating songbirds, waterfowl and wintering eagles. On the prairie, you will find cordgrass, compass plant, spiderwort, blue flag iris and the rare pale green orchid. The endangered massasauga rattlesnake can be found along with deer, raccoon, river otter, mink, beaver, muskrat and several species of amphibians.

Oak Ridge Trail

This trail begins next to the open shelter in the day-use area and ends at the west end of the electric loop in the campground. It takes you through an oak-hickory forest along Locust Creek and near a shrub swamp. You may view wildlife associated with both an uplands forest and wetlands environment, including deer, squirrel, beaver, an occasional otter and migrating waterfowl. Located near the trailhead are a playground and restroom.

Locust Creek Riparian Trail

This trail follows the west bank of Locust Creek from the Iron Bridge to the northeast portion of Fountain Grove Conservation Area. It uses the state park’s Boardwalk Trail for the first .80 mile, and then branches off on its own.

“Riparian” refers to the land alongside rivers and streams. The type and amount of vegetation in this corridor has great influence on the water quality of the stream. Human settlement along rivers has replaced native vegetation with agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial developments, often to the detriment of the stream. Riparian Trail is unique to north Missouri and it follows a meandering prairie stream with its associated oxbows and wetlands under a tall canopy of bottomland forest of oak, hickory, cottonwood, sycamore and silver maple. It is designated a Missouri Natural Area.

Since the trail is not a loop, you will need to plan for a pick-up at the south end, or drop a vehicle there first, to hike its full course. Short hikes are encouraged by hiking in and out from the same location. Due to the potential of flooding along parts of the trail, you are encouraged to contact the park office or check the park’s web page for notices.

Scout Lake Trail

This trail winds through an uplands woods accented with wildflowers. The trail crosses wood foot bridges and encircles the Scout Lake Area of the park. Picnic sites and parking lots are located just north of the trailhead at the intersection of the highway and Husk Road.