Waterfalls and wildflowers fill the hills found at Valley View Glades Natural Area near Hillsboro, Mo.

The 2.8-mile natural surface Valley View Glades Trail loops around this 225-acre area with 423 feet of elevation gain. A hilly terrain to go down into the creek valleys.

Beginning the Hike

I parked at the small lot off of Highway B on the right. A sign and information board with trail maps stand near the trailhead.

I came down to the start of the loop. I decided to head to the right saving the best part of the hike for last.

Through the Hills

This part of the trail goes through open areas alive with flowering trees and plants in spring.

I crossed a small brook with fallen trees that went high up into the hillside.

I stopped and took in a view of far-off hills framed by white flowering trees.

At the Back

The trail here follows an old road and is an easy wide hike. Follow the trail signs closely here so you don’t follow the road off the hiking trail.

A small section of the trail goes off the road and then comes back to it.

After this, the trail turns to the left and goes into groves of evergreens before coming down a grassy hill.

First Waterfall

I began to hear water flowing over a rock shelter. Then I came around a bend to see a small trail that goes below a waterfall. It was a circular ledge with water going over it creating a small pool.

Then I headed back up to the trail that goes above the falls. The stream is filled with short cliffs and rapids.

Glade Opening

The trail goes back through an open glade again. If you look in the distance you can see where you’ve gone through the forest and far in the distance where I walked through the glade earlier.

Next Waterfall

Here the water flows broadly over a wide rock cut. I stood in the middle of the streambed as the water flowed all around me.

More Waterfalls

Now I followed this creek as it pools over small waterfalls. It is worth keeping an eye out for the creek here.

Then the trail turned away from the creek and heads up into the hillside, but there is one last waterfall worth checking out.

It is off the main trail a short way to the right. It is a six-foot waterfall flowing over a ledge.

I walked above it and came across another one further back. Be careful walking around here since these are side trails.

After walking back, I noticed that I could have taken another side trail that went to the second waterfall.

Going Back to the Trailhead

This was the hardest part of the walk here facing a stony and rock surface climb up to the trailhead.

Final Thoughts

This has been the best hike to come across several small waterfalls near St. Louis.

If I had my son with me, I might only do the waterfalls with him and head back if he was not into doing the full hike.

If you want to the hard section first by going down instead of uphill go left at the start of the loop. Yet, going right does allow for the most scenic section to be the last.

This hike is best in spring when water is flowing across the small creeks.

Natural World in the Conservation Area

These glades have been only lightly disturbed by human activity. The plants and animals here are similar to those that were here at the time of settlement

The open areas or glades are dominated by little bluestem, Indian grass, big bluestem, and prairie dropseed. Forest here has blackjack oak, Eastern red cedar, post oak, flowering dogwood, and fragrant sumac.

Wildlife includes butterflies, six-lined race runners, and fence and easter collated lizards, snakes, deer, and turkey. I saw some of the lizards about, but they disappeared into the leaves before I could take pictures.

DETAILS

Dogs must be on a leash.

Drive: Take exit 2 off of Interstate 270 and go south Missouri Highway 21 then when the freeway section of Highway 21 ends makes a right onto Highway B. The parking area for Valley View Glades Natural area will be on the right.

Hours: Open from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 131 Evergreen Dr, Hillsboro, MO 63050

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