Valley View Glades Natural Area

Trail is rugged, but you can reach an excellent view and see flowers a short distance from the parking lot. The wooded sections of the trail have a few nice waterfalls. Flower density in the natural glades is less than in a cultivated garden.

I usually avoid the area during hunting seasons, for example September 15 through January 15.

Great place to hike. Terrain gives you everything from steep hillside climbs with rocks and roots, to sandy hilltop flats with great views. Small creek runs thru the bottom with several small waterfalls. Not a long hike mile-wise, but definitely a nice challenge that won't take up your whole day.

Great easy-to-moderate 3 mile hike with pretty views overlooking the hillside. The trail is well maintained and well marked. There are nice water features if you visit after it rains. I have hiked this trail several times and always enjoy it. You experience different features depending upon the time of year you go.

Very interesting, cool hike! Worth the trip

Oh my! What a beautiful place. It is a wooded trail going around a breathtaking glade. It was about 3 miles. It can be a bit sunny on the glade, so a floppy hat or some other form of sun protection is a good idea if you want to explore. The wildflowers made me melt. There was so much Indian paint brush (we hiked in early June). The butterflies were everwhere too. This is a well managed site. Good job MDC!

Beautiful glades with wildflowers. Hike can be challenging with rocks and wet when slippery. Not typically a hike to bring grandparents on. Great birdwatching, we saw several new species! Don't get stuck here in a lightning storm like we did!

Awesome hike, beautiful views, 3 mile loop. There are easy parts of trail, also some steep climbs, however, its worth it

Its very up down but totally worth it! The views are incredible especially on a clear sunny day!

Gorgeous views and a great creek to play in! We had a lot of littles with us, so we only went part of the way. Everyone loved this park, so we'll definitely be back!

Was looking for a place to stretch my legs and maybe exercise my camera a bit, and this little trail was the perfect opportunity; short hike through what will be a beautiful area when things green up, I can't wait to go back in a couple months and capture some great vistas.

A real nice hike, only 2.65 miles and the trail was in good condition. Something different from the better known trails

Really nice, well marked path. Nice challenging hike with some hills. Wouldn't recommend if wet/muddy but in dry weather it was a perfect challenge. Look forward to hiking here again soon. Trail ~3 miles, a little under.

This beautiful natural area is an excellent example of a Missouri Glade... Trails are rough in places, but no problem for the intermediate hiker

Awesome day hike...beautiful glade area then trail transitions along a nice creek.

Great 3 mile hike. Nice views and tons of wildflowers in bloom.

Memorial day brings out the coreopsis and the purple cone flowers by the thousands among others.

Beautiful & a bit challenging (hills/rocks/tree roots). Really nice scenery. Mostly shaded, well marked trails.

A hidden gem and a lovely hike. The phone said around 3 miles, felt like more, bring water. Lots of hills and dry crossings will likely get wet with a bit of rain. Great water features, lovely wildflowers. Lizards and snakes were delightful on this sunny late August day.

Tried to take as many photos of the trail as I transverse thru all the different terrain.

Very open hiking, neat view!