Maple Woods Natural Area — Attraction in Gladstone

Fun and very much a natural area! The walking paths are not for the faint of heart to make sure you have good shoes and water as the paths are windy and seem to all connect back and make one big circle that you can turn right and left many times throughout the trails. We took our young kids on an evening hike and it was very fun for them being our first time we didn't travel too far off the trail and was able to make our way back around but I could see how you could easily be there much longer because of all of the optional turns you could make. The trails are not marked with signs or colored arrows as you might find in other nature parks. There is definitely a lot of options for seeing wildlife and bird watching. This nature area is smack dab between neighborhoods, but a nice place for a...

This is my happy place. Looking at the sun beaming through the leaves on the trees as the wind sways them is perhaps the closest you'll get to complete peace. Paths are unpaved, so you get to choose your own adventure. Hiking here with friends is a must-do. Its at its most beautiful during spring, summer, or fall. If you want that black metal album cover experience it looks pretty cool in the winter. Make sure you've got a knife, proper hydration, bug repellant (there's a lot of spiders and such), and sunscreen. There are water areas, make sure not to fall in. There are leeches and other nasty stuff in that water. Very fun for kids, and pets love it. I've been coming to this place for years whenever I felt really down. I always felt better...

Having come here dozens of times for hiking, family outings, and some photography, I really do enjoy the scenery. There is even an about 3' tall waterfall off the main path. Only two cons I notice are that the bridge to the main paths is always covered in an inch of mud, and that the surrounding neighborhood's houses are obviously visible which takes away from the feel of nature. Even so, it is still a good, quiet place to get away from it all.

Edit: the main bridge has been cleaned by an unknown force! Thank you to whoever did this, you are the reason I have any hope for humanity left! Upgrading my rating from 4 to 5 stars, as that was my...