Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area

Driving Directions

In Blue Springs, 1.1 miles north of I-70 on Highway 7, then west one mile on Park Road.

Highlights

This area is mostly forested, but it also features established prairies, restored glades and savannas, numerous ponds and creeks. Facilities/features: A large nature center offering exhibits and interpretive programs, picnic areas, pavilions, five hiking trails, viewing/photo blind, and viewing decks and bridges. There is also Burr Oak Creek and scenic limestone exposures.

About This Area

Nature Center Hours Tuesday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Nature Center and area grounds are closed Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day. Area Hours: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. DST 7 days per week; 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. CST 7 days per week Closed on Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and all state holidays on Mondays

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, MO 64015-7727; Phone 816/228-3766; Fax 816/655-6267; www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/cnc/burroak/ or http://www.missouriconservation.org/

Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area is in Jackson County, 20 miles east of downtown Kansas City. The area is composed of 1,071 acres of woodlands, fields and ponds and includes a scenic portion of Burr Oak Creek.

Burr Oak Woods was purchased in 1977. Its natural features include forested hillsides that quickly drop as much as 100 feet. Scattered limestone boulders and outcrops, with 8-foot-deep mazes through them, add interest to the area.

Nearly 70 percent of Burr Oak Woods is forested and contains a wide variety of tree species, including bur oak, white oak, red oak, chinkapin oak, black walnut, hackberry, white ash, shagbark hickory, Kentucky coffeetree, and many others. Understory trees include roughleaf dogwood, redbud, pawpaw, slippery elm, and Ohio buckeye.

Additional natural features include glades, fields, rock outcrops, ponds, wildlife, streams and native grass plantings. Open land and forest management practices that benefit wildlife such as native prairie plantings, food plots, brush piles, old field succession, savannah restoration, walnut agroforestry, and an oak plantation can be seen along the main road. These practices are maintained by tree thinning, prescribed burning, or mowing. Several woodlands, savannas, and glades on the area have also been restored in the same manner.

General Information

Kansas City

Jackson

816-228-3766

Owned by MDC,Agreement

Activities
Activity
(Activity Explanations)		 Comments
(Population Definition)
Bird Watching  Burr Oak Woods is a favorite spot for birders, both local and those coming from afar. A birding check-off list is available at the front desk. The Nature Center features an indoor bird viewing area. Get the Missouri Audubon Conservation Area Bird List.  
Demonstrations  

Several demonstration sites can be found on the area including glade, savannah, and woodland natural community restorations, established prairie plantings, walnut agroforestry and crop tree release, food plots, brush piles, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, water garden, a photo blind and landscaping with native plants.

The short loop of the Habitat Trail includes demonstration sites showing how forest harvesting and thinning improves forest health and wildlife habitat.

 
Exhibits/Displays  Interactive, hands-on displays and exhibits in the 15,000 square-foot nature center including a 3,000 gallon aquarium, indoor wildlife viewing room, and interpretive exhibits on the fish, forest and aquatic habitats of Missouri. 
Highlighted Activities  Reservations for interpretive programs can be made in advance for the general public, or call for group reservations. Burr Oak Woods is especially known for the outstanding special events such as Prairie Days and Friday Night Live. Call the Nature Center for details about the programs and events.  
Hiking  Burr Oak Woods offers many unique hiking opportunities with 6 hiking trails. The J. Ernest Dunn Jr. Discovery Trail is paved and 0.5 mile. The Missouri Tree Trail is paved, disabled accessible and 0.75 mile. The Habitat Trail is 1.5 miles with a short loop option and gravel base surface. The Hickory Grove Trail is a linear 1.15 miles with a gravel base and the only trail where jogging is allowed. The Bethany Falls Trail is 1.33 miles, wood-chipped and ranked the number one hiking trail in the Kansas City area.  
Hunting-Deer Good population. Managed Deer Hunts Only. Contact office for application procedures and deadlines. 
Hunting-Turkey Good population. Managed spring youth turkey hunts only. Contact office for application procedures and deadlines.  
Nature Viewing  Scenic limestone outcrops can be found throughout Burr Oak Woods. The Bethany Falls Trail takes you through some of these exposures. Driving through the area provides many opportunites to see deer, turkey, and other wildlife. 
Tours  Interpretive nature programs for the general public can be found in the Kansas City Nature & You newsletter. Programs for organized groups are available with a reservation at least two weeks in advance. Call the Nature Center for details.  

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item Name Count Comments
Dock - FishingaccessibleW. Robert Aylward Educational Pond 1  Scheduled fishing programs only.  
Parking Lotaccessible 8  Public parking lots are paved except 2 lots located at intersection of Duncan Rd. and RD Mize Rd. and another on Strode Rd. Gravel parking lot near dock has a concrete pad.  
Pavilionaccessible 2  One is near the Bethany Falls Trail head. The other is at the W. Robert Aylward Educational Pond and is not open to the general public.  
Picnic Tableaccessible 25   
Privy/Restroomaccessible 5   
Staffed OfficeaccessibleBurr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center 1   
Viewing Blindaccessible 1  A viewing blind is located along the Missouri Tree Trail. 
Viewing Deck/Toweraccessible 3  Viewing platforms are located along the Missouri Tree Trail, the J. Ernest Dunn Jr. Discovery Trail, and the Bethany Falls Trail. Note: the Bethany Falls Trail is NOT disabled accessible.  
Visitor CenteraccessibleBurr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center 1  It is a staffed office with exhibits/displays. 

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Features
Feature Item Name Count Size Comments
Fishing Lake or Pond W. Robert Aylward Educational Pond 1 1.50 acres Pond is available only for education programs and not open to the general public.  
Fishless Pond  14 4.00 acres The numerous fishless ponds found throughout the conservation area offer breeding and respite opportunities to amphibians, reptiles, songbirds and mammals. 
Other Visitor Center 1 0.00 count The large, interpretive nature center contains a 3,000-gallon aquarium; interactive, hands-on exhibits; a large wildlife viewing room; restrooms and helpful staff. 
Other Viewing blind 1 0.00 count A viewing blind is located along the Tree Trail. 
Stream - Intermittent  15 0.00 miles  
Stream - Permanent  2 3.00 miles  
Stream - Permanent Burr Oak Creek 1 1.00 miles Burr Oak Creek dissects the property and is the namesake of this conservation area. The creek was historically misspelled, and so the conservation area carries the misspelling. Burr Oak Woods is named after this creek, not the bur oak tree, as many believe. 

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Land Cover Types
Land Type Acres Comments
Forest and Woodland 833.00  
Crop Land 35.00  
Glade 10.00 Various stages of restoration. 
Grassland (non-prairie) 115.00 Includes 94 acres of planted prairie at varying stages of development. 
Old Field 78.00  
Total Area Acres:1071.42 

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Designated Trails
Trail Name Trail Type Length
Missouri Tree Trail (Easy)accessibleDisabled-Accessible Trail 0.75 
Bethany Falls Trail (Moderate) Hiking (Interpretive) 1.33 
Habitat Trail (Easy) Hiking (Interpretive) 1.50 
J. Ernest Dunn Jr. Trail (Easy) Hiking (Interpretive) 0.50 
Prairie Connector Trail (Easy) Hiking (Non-Interpretive) 0.50 
Hickory Grove Trail (Easy) Hiking (Non-Interpretive) 1.15 

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Shooting Range General Information

This area has no shooting ranges.

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