In spring Victoria Glades Conservation’s flowering plants and trees give it a technicolor feel with reds, purples, and white flowers everywhere.

It is a place to explore open grassy glades and small forests along hills.

Victoria Glades Conservation Area Trail

The Victoria Glades Trail is a 2.3-mile loop that goes through woods and open fields.

A sign in the parking lot pointed out that the conservation area is across the road and nature conservancy land is by parking.

By the Parking Lot

A small trail went to the right from the parking lot in the nature conservancy. I walked down the narrow path along the dry stream bed. It petered out into the creek. It was a small woods area that I explored before starting the real hike.

Starting the Hike

Next, I headed across the road to the trailhead that begins on an open hill.

If you go left at the start of the loop you go into the glade. If you go right, you head into the woods. I decided I wanted to start my time here among the trees.

As I headed through the field, I came across many bright orange flowers close to the ground. I had never seen these before on a hike. I wondered if they were only common to a glade.

In the Forest

I walk across a rocky area and watch my footing as I head into the trees.

White flowering trees are in abundance and can be admired since other trees are still gaining their leaves.

I stop for a moment taking a closeup of one of the white flowers. ( Blog photo)

A few trees here are home to Eastern Tent Caterpillars who recently hatched in March. They construct silk shelters in the forks of trees. If my son was with me, he would have enjoyed checking them out.

As I turned around a bend, I came across far-off views of a distant forest and nearby glades.

Then I head back into the woods crossing a small lichen-filled brook.

I cross a larger stream bed with some water flowing through it.

Then reach a dry one with large rocks and mangled trees.

Glade Top

I make a final turn to an open area along the glade. Walking along a hillside and with the grasses makes me feel high up. Views include distant hills.

Below me are many flowering plants adding color to my walk.

A gnarled tree stands alone in a field and it is hard to tell if it is dead or alive.

I love being able to look out and see trees on ridgetops and below open lands.

This area makes me think of the Old West, somewhere out on the high plains, like Wyoming or the Dakotas.

Back at the Start

At the trailhead, the marker shows the trail going at a right angle. This is good since another homemade trail goes to the left of this sign.

Final Thoughts

This little over two-mile hike was an easy one with only a few up and down places. Watch for a few muddy spots, but nothing too bad. I liked hiking here since it was different terrain after recently completing a lot of forest walks. If you are wanting a different area to explore then this is a good hike for you.

More About Glades

Glades are commonly found on the south and southwest-facing slopes with forested ridges and are characterized by thin soil and bedrock at or near the surface. Water saturates the ground in winter and spring, but soils become droughty in summer and fall. Grasses and broad-leaved, flowering plants are plentiful.

DETAILS:

Drive: Take Interstate 55 south out of St. Louis to exit 175. Make a right onto Highway A then a left onto Highway P after crossing Joachim Creek. Then make a right onto Hillsboro Victoria Road and look for parking for the conservation on your right.

Hours: Open from 4 am – 10 pm

Address: 11500 Hillsboro Victoria Rd, De Soto, MO 63020

Lunch Spot: Russell House Inn and Brewery

I had the southwest chicken wrap with sweet potato fries, which was good. The time for the takeout order was a bit long, so next time I would eat here.

Hours: 8 am – 8 pm

Address: 10333 MO-21 Bus, Hillsboro, MO 63050

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