Painted Rock Conservation Area — Attraction in Missouri

We came to Painted Rock Conservation Area on a Sunday afternoon, and were easily able to find parking in the lot right next to the start of the Osage Bluff scenic trail. We were able to complete the trail in about one hour; there was snow on the ground but the trail itself was cleared. The Osage River and Bloody Island overlook provide beautiful, clear views, as does the Osage Bend Observation Deck towards the end of the trail. There is plenty of room on both observation decks to accommodate groups of people as to not feel crowded, and easily be able to take photos. Going around the Shelf Rock and Sugar Maple Encroachment in the middle of the trail is a slightly different terrain than the beginning and end of the trail, with more rocks in the path, uneven ground, and some hills/curves. There are several benches/areas to stop and take a breather along the way. When the weather warms up we will definitely be back to hike with our dogs, as this trail is dog-friendly. I was happy to see paper maps/information well-stocked that hikers can grab at the onset of the trail. Great job by the conservation department keeping this area...

The woods here are lovely, and the Osage Bluff Scenic Trail is wonderful. The trail is about two miles long, and it is very well maintained. It is suitable for running, and it loops back to the parking lot, where there is a decent amount of parking. Most of the trail is easy, but there are a couple of descending and ascending sections that might be moderately difficult for some folks. On the northern section of the loop, it is an easy walk to the first overlook of the river, so a person could walk out and back to that overlook without having to tackle any of the more challenging sections of the trail. I have visited several times, and I usually see other people on the trail, but it is not crowded. Note: the trailhead has maps of the area, but there are no other services there. On warm days, you will want to...

Bring binoculars with you if you go to painted rock Conservation Area because you'll wish you had if you don't. You can definitely see for miles and miles. We didn't find any hieroglyphics but we did see a cool black snake and a crazy frog. Check out the pictures. There are four benches to sit on throughout the various stages of the trail. There are lots of beautiful maple trees and pawpaws galore. There's also camping sites available and a fishing area. All in all it was a pretty good trip. Will definitely be going back in the fall when the leaves change color. Oh yeah and there's also a cool Indian...