Howell Island Conservation Area

Driving Directions

From eastbound I-64, exit onto Chesterfield Airport Road and travel 3-miles west on Olive Street/Eatherton Road to the area entrance. From westbound I-64, exit onto Long Road and travel 2-miles west on Chesterfield Airport Road to Olive Street/Eatherton Road. Travel 3-miles west on Olive Street/Eatherton Road to the area entrance.

Highlights

This island area is mostly forest surrounded by the Missouri River and Centaur Chute.

About This Area

Howell Island Conservation Area is located in St. Charles County, across the Missouri River from the Weldon Spring Conservation Area.

The island can be located by exiting Highway 40-61 and traveling west 3 miles on Olive Street/Eatherton Road. Entrance to the island is by a causeway over Centaur Chute. During high water, the causeway is flooded and access is by boat only. Use extreme caution whenever attempting to navigate in high water.

This 2,547-acre island was purchased by the Conservation Department in 1978. It is mostly forested with bottomland trees such as cottonwood and sycamore, but crop and shrub/grass fields also provide important habitat for wildlife.

General Information

St. Louis

Saint Charles,Saint Louis

636-441-4554

Owned by MDC

Howell Island is not accessible via the causeway when the Missouri River is above 16-feet on the St. Charles area river gauge. To find river stages go to http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2.  Firearms firing single projectiles prohibited except during managed deer hunts and except furbearers treed with the aid of dogs may be taken with a twenty-two (.22) caliber firearm.

Activities
Activity
(Activity Explanations)		 Comments
(Population Definition)
Bird Watching  Spring migraton of songbirds is fair. 
Camping - Boat-in along Missouri River   
Fishing - Catfish Good population.  
Fishing - Crappie Fair population.  
Fishing - Other Fair population. Whitebass fishing from Causeway 
Hiking  Access dependent on river levels. 
Hunting-Deer Good population. Archery methods only.  
Hunting-Squirrel Good population. No single projectiles allowed.  
Hunting-Turkey Good population.  
Trapping with Special Use Permit  Special Use Permit required. 

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item Name Count Comments
Boat Ramp - Stream - Concrete Weldon Spring Ramp 1  Boat ramp at Weldon Spring Conservation Area is located across the river from Howell Island Conservation Area. 
Parking Lot  1   

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Features
Feature Item Name Count Size Comments
Other Centaur Chute 1 4.00 count  
Stream - Permanent Missouri River 1 5.00 miles Boat Access available at Weldon Spring Conservation Area on St Charles County side of river. 

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Land Cover Types
Land Type Acres Comments
Old Field 200.00  
Forest and Woodland 2047.00  
Crop Land 300.00  
Total Area Acres:2547.98 

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Designated Trails
Trail Name Trail Type Length
multi-use trail Multi-Use (Hike/Bike) 8.00 

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Shooting Range General Information

This area has no shooting ranges.

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