Why You’ll Love the Powder Valley Nature Center
If you are looking for some easy, short hikes near St. Louis for the family, heading to the Powder Valley Nature Center with kids is perfect! Not only will you get great outdoor hiking, you’ll also get indoor exhibits, live animals, and if you are lucky, some live demonstrations.
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We paid the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center a visit and were surprised how much fun it was. My youngest and my oldest both enjoyed the hiking and indoor exploration.
For something free to do near St. Louis, check out this awesome educational stop with the kids.
What exactly is at the Powder Valley Nature Center? Read on for details on what to expect and explore.
Where is the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center?
This beautiful place is a forest wonderland filled with over 100 acres of hiking and a building to educate you on all that lives within and around the area.
The Powder Valley Nature Center is located in a suburb of St. Louis in the town of Kirkwood. You can find it at 11715 Cragwood Rd., Kirkwood, MO.
Powder Valley Nature Center Hours
You can go inside the nature center building Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to 5pm. Though the building is only open certain days, you can hike in the area daily from 8-8:00 (daylight saving time) or 8-6 (standard time; when it’s darker longer)
Can you bring dogs?
No, dogs are not permitted at the nature center or on the trails. The trails are for hiking only. No jogging, biking, or other activities.
The Powder Valley Nature Center Building
Going inside the nature center was truly just as much fun as hiking around the area, so make sure you don’t skip it!
The nature center is a great place to get a taste of what Missouri offers in its wildlife. See live snakes, spiders, turtles (including a huge snapping turtle!), and river animals brought in from the Mississippi River in a huge aquarium tank.
Being able to see these live animals was a highlight of our visit. Seeing rattlesnakes close up (and behind glass) was pretty cool, though it still gave me chills.
Make sure to go downstairs where you can learn about river life and see live fish from local rivers.
Upstairs you can head to the back wall for viewing birds, bees, and other wildlife that may stop by. A huge glass window looks right to an area created for the birds!
The center helps to rehabilitate animals, and we were able to see a turtle brought out, within a fenced area, for feeding time. The kids loved grabbing cicadas (because it was a cicada year) and throwing them in to see if the turtle would eat them.
The docent taking care of the turtle explained what to do if you see a turtle in the road, how to identify turtles, as well as took a guess about the turtle’s age.
Hiking at Powder Valley Nature Center
When you are done exploring the nature center, make sure to check out 1 or all of the trails.
All the trails can be accessed from the nature center parking lot.
Hickory Ridge Trail
Distance: 1.2 miles
Difficulty: easy
The Hickory Ridge Trail starts at the south side of the parking lot. Then head to the left. You’ll walk across a bridge that goes over the road you came in on, and there you’ll find the trailhead.
This trail is fairly easy and well shaded. While the majority of the trail is paved, there are a few spots of natural surface as well as some very easy and small places to jump across water on the rocks.
This trail is great for kids of all ages, though I wouldn’t bring a stroller because of the few unpaved spots. Instead, consider a hiking carrier for the smaller kids that can’t make the 1.2 miles.
At one point you will be close to the creek (pictured above), giving this hike extra excitement. You’ll also get a few hills that are a little steeper.
The Hickory Ridge Trail makes a loop. You have the option to cut the loop into a smaller, 1/2 mile loop.
Tanglevine Trail
Distance: .3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Tanglevine is the easiest trail at Powder Valley. You can find it at the south side of the nature center to the right.
It’s accessible, making it easy for strollers and wheelchairs to enjoy. The entire loop is pretty flat. There are a couple bathrooms at the beginning of the trail.
When we visited, there was a storywalk set up on the Tanglevine Trail. My youngest enjoyed reading a story as we went along.
This paved trail also had interpretive signs along the way, helping you get to know the fauna and flora of the area.
This trail is best for the youngest adventure seekers who want to do the whole trail on their own!
Broken Ridge Trail
Distance: .7 miles
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Broken Ridge Trail is on the northeast side of the parking lot. It’s great for kids, but know that it does have a couple steeper hills.
Like the others, Broken Ridge is paved and leads you in a loop through the woods. There are a few benches and cool bridges along the way.
Can you spot the deer right in the middle?
After Your Hike
After you finish hiking at Powder Valley, make sure to go back into the nature center and add to the large list of animals if you saw any. We saw a deer on our hike, but looking at the list, it seems there are so many animals you can be on the lookout for.
Make sure to stop at the gift shop inside to grab something to remember your visit by.
My Favorite Part of Powder Valley Nature Center
I love hiking, so it’s hard to not say that the trails were my favorite.
But I truly loved the indoor part of this nature center. Snakes intrigue me, but I’m terrified of them. So it was cool to get close up to snakes that I hope to never actually come in contact with in the wild.
My Kids Favorite Park of Powder Valley
One of my kids’ favorite part was seeing the turtle outside and getting to watch it be fed. My youngest loved the 3,000 gallon aquarium where she got to see giant fish swim around.
FAQ About Powder Valley Nature Center
Are There Bathrooms at Powder Valley Nature Center?
Yes! Inside the building there are modern bathrooms. If you visit on a day the building is closed, there are bathrooms just to the left at the trailhead to Tanglevine Trail.
Can You Bring Dogs to Powder Valley Nature Center?
No, dogs are not allowed in the nature center or on any of the trails at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center.
What is there to do at Powder Valley Nature Center?
With both indoor and outdoor activities, there is lots to do at Powder Valley Nature Center. Explore local habitats, animals, and plant life inside with live animals and exhibits. Then head outside to hike one or all 3 trails at Powder Valley.
Where is Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center?
Powder Valley Nature Center is located in Kirkwood, Missouri; a suburb of St. Louis. The address is 11715 Cragwood Rd, Kirkwood MO.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Powder Valley Nature Center?
It is free to visit Powder Valley Nature Center.
Powder Valley Nature Center near St. Louis, MO
Another of my favorite parts of visiting the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center was that it was FREE to visit. There is no admission to get all this value!
I love that the kids were able to have a bit of an educational experience without really realizing it. Between the snakes, fish, turtles, and spiders, there was something for everyone to enjoy inside the building.
I also loved that the trails were easier and shorter. While we are a hiking family and often do moderate hikes, it was a nice break to do some shorter ones an add them together. We really appreciated all the shade the area offered.
With so much to explore, it is definitely worth a visit to the Powder Valley Nature Center with the kids.
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