Parkville Nature Sanctuary — Attraction in Parkville

Parkville Nature Sanctuary is one of those places that makes you slow down and really appreciate the beauty around you. From the start, it felt calm and untouched — no crowds, just the sound of the creek and the breeze through the trees. The gravel trails were easy to follow, and our kids (6, 4, and 2) had no problem keeping up. It made for a relaxed family hike where we didn’t have to worry about tricky terrain.

The wildlife was incredible. Two dods came right up to us — so close we could see their eyes and the way their ears twitched. Our kids stood perfectly still, completely amazed. Not long after, we saw a wild turkey weaving through the woods. Moments like that made it feel like the sanctuary was sharing its secrets with us.

The creeks and waterfalls along the trail gave the whole walk a peaceful soundtrack, even though a couple of spots had a bit of a smell to the water. It didn’t ruin the experience, just reminded us we were in a wild, natural place. Another highlight was seeing a massive tree that had been examined by an arborist — it’s estimated to be over 250 years old based on its trunk size. Standing next to something that’s been alive for centuries really put things into perspective.

The public restrooms near the trailhead were clean and convenient, which is a lifesaver when hiking with little ones. All in all, it felt like a private escape where time slows down and nature puts on a show. We left refreshed, the kids happy, and already talking about coming back. Five stars without question, we will...

Our Favorite Place! Beautiful! Quiet! Calm! A Place we go to get away from our daily life..just to take. a Breath of freah air and Relax a little, to wind down! We enjoy the waterfall! Its Our Fav. place to go. My Girls Love going during Summer, They go to 5he very top of the waterfall & Put their feet in! Its a Great Place for my. 6yr old Daughter whom has Autism. she Just Loves being in sync with everything Around her. & feeling free! She can run around and have fun without any worries. They have a few area's at the beginning of both Trails, the ppl who take care of the park turned a few tree into A Climbing type Playground. then walk further down the trail thata in the middle & there in a Pyramid type thing of secure Cut logs, in a Different sizes that kiddos get to stand/climb on. walk the trail a lil more & there is an Area that has Balance beams that arease out of Tree's that have fell down. (ofcourse its just tree trunk) It goes in a Upside-down U shape. so you go From Walking in towards the woods and go around & come back toward the traila where you started. They made it Fun for the kids to stop and take a break from the walking! (Even Fun for adults who are a kid at heart) lol This Place Does a Haunted Trail sometimes Durning Halloween.. & Its Awesome! Just Make sure When you Visit the Nature Sanctuary, That you are Keeping any kind of Trash & throwing it away at the front! Keep it Clean for others to...

First, for those that have been complaining about dogs/bikes not being allowed and there not being amenities at this park. This is not a park. It is a nature preserve. Dogs cause problems for wildlife even if it is only by their scent. Please don't bring them. English and Platte Landing Parks are just a mile down the road and they are great places for biking and for taking dogs. If you need a bathroom, there are bathrooms adjacent at the Parkville University softball fields but they may or may not be open.

I've been coming to the PNS for years. It is one of those hidden gems that many people do not know about. It has marvelous walking trails and the waterfall area is a must visit. At different times of the year, deer, wild turkeys, groundhogs, ducks, crows, geese, songbirds, squirrels, and snakes can all be seen here. Someone also said they once saw baby otters here but I'm wondering if they actually saw muskrats which are native to the area.

Parking can be very limited and on busy days can be non-existent. Be aware.

Strollers will have a hard time here. The trails are either covered with chat or wood shavings and in some areas are bare dirt. If it has rained recently, some of the trails can get muddy. That being said, if it has rained recently, the waterfall can be really...