Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center

The visitor's center was closed when we visited on a Monday. However, the Bethany Falls Trail was a great little 1 mile loop to explore. The rock formations were fun to adventure on, and the trails were well kept. The only downfall I would say about that specific trail is there was poison ivy everywhere. Watch out! Worth the drive for anyone around the city.

Finally got to this lovely place! About a 30 minute drive from Overland Park, Kansas, this place is awesome.Arrived around 10:00 on a Sunday morning--not many folks out. FYI, if you want to visit the center, it's closed Sundays and Mondays...NO dogs allowed on any path (I took two: Bethany Falls and Hickory Grove) I traversed. Funnily enough--it took me about 2 hours to go less than 2 miles!! In my defense though, it was the first visit and I was on "photographer" time. There was so much to see and explore! I'm definitely going back and would love to a) do the other trails and b) check it out during a different time of year.Can't wait for my next visit!

Awesome place!!! Need a clean trail to get your morning walk?Do you have family or kids? You love nature and want to know more about Missouri?Perfect place!! There is a live reptiles fishes and awesome exhibits. And you'll see a lot of wild turkeys.Looks like I'll be visiting this place often it's a cool place

I have lived in KC for over 30 years and never once have I been here. I felt like I was on vacation. Miles and miles of trails. They are very clearly marked and maintained. Some trails can be steep so I would recommend a hiking stick if you have stability issues. There is so much landscape to see it is just breathtaking. We didn't see any birds or animals unfortunately but we did get a couple ticks. There are not many restrooms and no trash cans on the trails so make sure you plan accordingly in the parking lot. Bikes and dogs are not allowed on the trails either. I know bummer but it was very peaceful and quiet. There are bike racks in the parking lots for those that wish to ride on the pavement to the trails.

We had a great time on our short visit to the nature center. The exhibits were modern and in good shape, and the staff was friendly. The restrooms were clean and there was also a small gift shop.The real draw for us was the walking trails and they were also beautiful, despite not quite being green yet in early March. Will come back when it has filled out a little bit with more greenery and looking forward to taking the longer path, not just the one right outside the nature center.

This is one of the better nature hiking areas in this area of Missouri. The nature center itself is very kid friendly with lots of exhibits and the hikes are as well. They have several trails here my favorite is the Bethany Falls Trail, it has lots of rocks to climb and is very cool and shaded. I have recently gone on the same trail twice within two weeks and saw several different variances. All the trails a short but there are about five of them, some are even connected to other trails. You can't ride your bike on the trails but they do offer bike racks at the beginning of almost all the trails and at the nature center.

What a beautiful place to spend time enjoying nature. I have always gone into the nature center to see animals native to Missouri. Started taking my daughter there when she was young and now I take her daughters. My girls love Smokey the Bear, looking out for birds and learning so many fun facts. They even get a big kick out of the treehouse. Great family place. A must see!

Love coming here for a nice hike. My only complaint is I keep seeing people bring their dogs. So look out for little "gifts" on the trail. There are signs on every trail you can't miss. "NO dogs allowed unless service dogs." The ones I've seen are clearly not service dogs. Really people?

Excellent educational nature center. Great area for viewing wildlife and outdoor photography. As soon as you enter the area you are almost certain to spot flocks of wild turkey. Especially in the winter. Nice trail system.

I love coming here for my daily walks it has many trails that link together to customize your hike to make it as long or short as you need. The nature Center is a great place for everyone and has a beautiful fish tank and small play area for children. Their classes are very educational and interactive for the kids and they have different classes for different ages which accommodate the whole family. Also a beautiful spot to take family photos. Truly my favorite in the spring when all of the flowers bloom in the vast fields. Take the kiddos out to explore and use some of their energy! Reminder please do not take dogs as it is prohibited and their sent scares off the wildlife which steals sightseeing wildlife from the other visitors. Be kind and no pets!