Sodalis Nature Preserve Hike

Follow a paved trail through the woods to a former mine at Sodalis Nature Preserve in Hannibal, Mo., known as the hometown of Mark Twain.

This hike leads to a mine filled with bats that can be seen in the evening.

Our Time Here

A large parking lot for the 200-acre preserve is located off Ely Street on the south side of Hannibal.

*Information on the trails in the park are on an information board by the trailhead.*

At the trailhead, there is a kiosk providing information about the area and nature preserve and a map of the trails.

Starting the Hike

We took the left-paved trail at the end of the parking lot. The right trail leads to a walk along Bear Creek, which ends at Main Street.

Along Bear Creek

To the left are cliffs, and to the right is Bear Creek. The creek is fast-flowing due to recent rains. Along the paved path, my son Andrew spotted a snail. This part is mostly level.

Next, we reached an intersection of trails. On the right, a short dirt path led to a metal railing and a cement bridge that led to Woodrow Avenue. On the far left, the paved trail began to ascend uphill. This part of the trail leads to the mine.

Going Up

First, we passed by a picnic table near a stone fireplace. I wondered if it had once been part of a building. High above, I saw a hawk circling.

Just a little further down the trail, I looked to the left and saw the mine. The mine is not on the paved trail but is off to the right on a side trail. Due to recent rains, the path to it was pretty muddy.

The mine is closed off with garage-like metal gates. You can walk a short way into it, though. On the side of the mine are large rocks, which my son climbed around.

Why Is It Sealed?

More than 211,000 endangered Indiana bats hibernate in the former limestone mine that closed a half-century ago and in the cave network nearby. The bats that hibernate in Hannibal make up about one-third of all known Indiana bats (their scientific name is Myotis sodalist, hence the preserve name.)

Leaving the Mine

Walking back, we noticed a large puddle filled with green moss. Tadpoles were swimming around in it. It is always amazing what wildlife you come across in nature.

Going Back

We didn’t finish the loop because my son wanted to go back. If we had, we would have come to an amphitheater further down the trail.

When to See the Bats

There is a nightly emergence each night during the spring and summer, starting roughly mid-April and ending in September, but the best time to view the bats in the summer is probably June through mid-August.

Final Thoughts

I’d like to come back another time to walk the entire loop. I also want to bring my son to see the bats fly out of the mines. I’m curious about what the creek is like when it’s not overfilled.

More Trails

We could have also hiked an additional half mile from the bridge along Bear Creek, which leads to the Patchen Street neighborhood, making it a one-mile hike.

Pirate Ridge Trail is a 1.25-mile unpaved trail that starts right before the mine on the left, goes up into the hills, and then returns to the paved trail near the amphitheater.

Drive: Take Interstate 64 out of the St. Louis Area, which becomes U.S. 61 after crossing Interstate 70. Just before you cross Bear Creek near Hannibal, Mo., look for Warren Barret Drive and make a right onto this road. Then make a right onto S. Sixth Street, which becomes Ely Street, and look for parking at the nature preserve on the right.

Address: Sodalis Park, Hannibal, MO 63401