One of our favorite hikes in Missouri is the Valley View Glades trail at the Valley View Glades Natural Area. The conservation area is a part of the Missouri Department of Conservation and is located in Hillsboro MO, about an hour southwest of St. Louis. There is only one trail the wanders through the park and is is listed as around 2.8 miles. We visited on a Saturday morning and arrived around 10:30 a.m. When we arrived there were a few cars in the lot, but overall we were able to get away from any crowds.

The trail begins along the glades section that is unique to Missouri. The terrain is said to be desert-like and consists of dry grounds with grasses and rock outcrops, as well as lovely wild flowers. Visitors then slowly wind up and down along a creek bed, while peeking in and out of the glades again. The creek has several water features, providing a nice little reprieve to stop and listen, while enjoy a snack or some water. There are some muddy sections due to the trail following right along the waterway, but overall the trail is quite nice. We spent a couple hours on the trail, taking lots of pictures of the wild flowers and water features, making for a great day hike.