Strawberry Creek Nature Hike

I crossed clear streams and hiked up forested and through prairie along my hike at Strawberry Creek Nature Area.

The nature area encompasses 118 acres with four walking trails, three of them looping into each other. Filled with wildlife I saw a few deer, but they ran away before I could photograph them, and a groundhog by the creek.

I hiked the Strawberry Creek Trail, Owl Ben Trail, and Turkey Roost Trail for a 2.3-mile hike with 275 feet of elevation gain.

*Study the map carefully to help you figure out where to go.*

Starting the Hike

I parked in the gravel lot and the trailhead is by the nature area information sign.

*Going right along the Strawberry Creek Trail.*

The trail starts out one way for a short bit before coming to the loop. I headed to the right on the Strawberry Creek Trail. Going left I would be going down the Owl Bend Trail.

I came across a red medallion of a hiker on a tree.

*Trail medallions as seen on the trailhead sign.*

These medallions along the trails are different colors for each trail. I saw fewer of them as I hiked through. Also, sometimes the trails are marked using posts instead.

Tpe path through a power line cut — *The path through a power line cut*

Then I came to the powerline cut where the grass was high before going back through the woods.

I crossed Strawberry Creek but was not careful and got my shoe wet. It is not deep though.

A short way after the creek crossing, I saw a short side trail to the right. This led to a rocky area with a pool of water and is worth checking out. (This is also the featured photo.)

Turkey Roost Trail

Next, I came to the Turkey Roost Trail and continued on to this one.

I came to another intersection and went to the right to take a side trail to a pond.

Along the way, I came across a huge tree trunk that had a bottom shaped like a tumor.

At the top of the hill on the left is a shallow pond home to frogs and snakes. You walk across the old dam.

Then I came back to the Owl Bend Trail and crossed a rocky brook and from there back uphill to the back of the nature area.

I came to a bench and a field in the back of houses. Walking downhill from the bench I found the Turkey Roost Trail again.

Crossing a dry creek bed, I went up and down hills.

A large fallen tree was the main obstacle, but once around it I easily found the trail again.

The Turkey Roost Trail ended and this time I went to the right to follow the other part of the Strawberry Creek Trail.

I went through more woods and after crossing Strawberry Creek I made a right onto Owl Bend Trail.

Owl Bend Trail

This trail comes out near a power line intersecting with the Prairie Trail.

Go left and walk through the powerline cut. The grass was high, so I really had to watch my way to the woods once more where the trail was easier to follow.

Heading back into woods. — *Heading back into the woods*

This trail led me back to the parking area once more.

*Nature Area sign by the front of the lot*

Final Thoughts

My favorite section of this hike was the Strawberry Creek Trail at the start and then going up to the pond. If I was with my son, we would do the pond and then head back across the creek for the most interesting hike. There are a lot of connector trails so keep a map on hand to find your way around. Be aware that the trails also border nearby residential neighborhoods.

Prairie Trail Extension

It is a .6 mile trail, there and back off of Owl Bend Trail.

This trail starts out going downhill to a creek bed then back uphill through woods and into fields. If you decide to do this trail know it can be overgrown.

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 55 to Exit 191 and make a left onto Missouri Highway 141 and then a quick left onto U.S. Highway 61/Lemay Ferry Road and another quick right onto TenBrook Road and look for the nature area sign and gravel parking lot on the right.

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Address: 3455 Tenbrook Rd, Arnold, MO 63010