If you live in a more populated area of Missouri, you may not always get to see wildlife. However, even if you do have deer in your backyard everyday, it is always a fun and exciting experience to spot wildlife when you’re out on a hike. If you love seeing animals in their natural habitat then you’ll want to check out the 12 hikes in Missouri that are perfect for spotting wildlife.
- Bootleggers Run
Tyler Row/AllTrails Bootleggers Run is a 4 mile loop in Creve Coeur County Park. This park is great for spotting wildlife because of the large lake and diverse terrain. Find deer, foxes, birds, turtles, and fish at Creve Coeur County Park. The park is located at 13236 Streetcar Dr., Maryland Heights.
- Old Kate Trail
Angela Buenning/AllTrails Looking for a short hike? Old Kate Trail is less than a mile and is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Come out in the early mornings or right before sundown to catch the deer and turkeys out feeding. Old Kate Trail is located in the Parkville Nature Sanctuary which you can find at Park College Rd., Parkville.
- Hawn State Park Trail
Joe & Sarah LaRue/AllTrails If you love a long hike try the 12.4 mile loop at Hawn State Park. This longer hike has many natural features like waterfalls and forested tree-top views. Keep your eyes peeled for small mammals, reptiles, bird, and deer. Find Hawn State Park at 12096 Park Dr., Ste. Genevieve.
- Spring Valley Trail
Tim Hartwick/AllTrails Head to Cliff Cave County Park and take the Spring Valley Trail to see deer, turkey, opossums, raccoons, and many types of birds. Cliff Cave County Park sits right off the Mississippi River at 806 Cliff Cave Rd., St. Louis.
- Powder Valley Nature Center Trail
Renee Wilmesherr/AllTrails Powder Valley Nature Center is a great place, close to St. Louis city, where you are very likely to spot deer, turkey, and other wildlife. This ADA accessible trail is 2.4 miles long. Find Powder Valley at 11715 Cragwold Rd., Kirkwood.
- Lone Elk County Park Loop
Bryan Dannowitz/AllTrails Lone Elk County Park is full of animals like elk, deer, bison, turkey, and waterfowl. You’re almost guaranteed a wildlife sighting on this 3 mile trail. Find Lone Elk County Park at 1 Lone Elk Park Rd., St. Louis.
- Landahl Park Trail
Tatiana Smith/AllTrails Take this 3.8 mile trail at William Landahl Park for a great birding experience. The diverse landscape is stunning and makes for a fantastic hike. William Landahl Park is located at E Argo Rd., Independence.
- Bell Mountain Loop Trail
Brain Metteer/AllTrails Looking for a chance to see a rare collard lizard? These reptiles can only be found in small areas in southeastern Missouri. For your best shot at seeing these lizards hike Bell Mountain Loop Trail at State Hwy A, Belleview.
- White Tail Trail
Rick Malone/AllTrails As the name states, White Tail Trail is a superb hike for deer lovers. White Tail Trail is located in the Parkville Nature Sanctuary which you can find at Park College Rd., Parkville.
- Lime Kiln Trail
Jenny Hanak/AllTrails Lime Kiln Trail is great for spotting wildlife and is gorgeous in the fall. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and turkey during your hike! Lime Kiln Trail is located in Rockwoods Reservation Conservation Area whcih you can find at 2751 Glencoe Rd., Wildwood.
- Pickle Springs Natural Area Loop
Carol Turner/AllTrails You will love the scenery while hiking Prickle Springs. This 1.9 mile loop is perfect for spotting small animals and deer. Whether your looking for stunning views or beautiful waterfalls you can find it on a hike at Pickle Springs. Visit Pickle Springs at 22211 Dorlac Rd., Ste. Genevieve.
- River Scene Trail Loop
Maninder Chopra/AllTrails Take a 3.2 mile hike to the top of the Missouri RIver bluffs. This stunning trail is located in Castlewood Park and offers the chance to see deer, birds, and other small animals. Find Castlewood State Park at 1401 Kiefer Creek Rd., Ballwin.
Have you seen any wildlife on these trails? What other trails are great for wildlife spotting? Let us know in the comments below.
Tyler Row/AllTrails
Bootleggers Run is a 4 mile loop in Creve Coeur County Park. This park is great for spotting wildlife because of the large lake and diverse terrain. Find deer, foxes, birds, turtles, and fish at Creve Coeur County Park. The park is located at 13236 Streetcar Dr., Maryland Heights.
Angela Buenning/AllTrails
Looking for a short hike? Old Kate Trail is less than a mile and is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Come out in the early mornings or right before sundown to catch the deer and turkeys out feeding. Old Kate Trail is located in the Parkville Nature Sanctuary which you can find at Park College Rd., Parkville.
Joe & Sarah LaRue/AllTrails
If you love a long hike try the 12.4 mile loop at Hawn State Park. This longer hike has many natural features like waterfalls and forested tree-top views. Keep your eyes peeled for small mammals, reptiles, bird, and deer. Find Hawn State Park at 12096 Park Dr., Ste. Genevieve.
Tim Hartwick/AllTrails
Head to Cliff Cave County Park and take the Spring Valley Trail to see deer, turkey, opossums, raccoons, and many types of birds. Cliff Cave County Park sits right off the Mississippi River at 806 Cliff Cave Rd., St. Louis.
Renee Wilmesherr/AllTrails
Powder Valley Nature Center is a great place, close to St. Louis city, where you are very likely to spot deer, turkey, and other wildlife. This ADA accessible trail is 2.4 miles long. Find Powder Valley at 11715 Cragwold Rd., Kirkwood.
Bryan Dannowitz/AllTrails
Lone Elk County Park is full of animals like elk, deer, bison, turkey, and waterfowl. You’re almost guaranteed a wildlife sighting on this 3 mile trail. Find Lone Elk County Park at 1 Lone Elk Park Rd., St. Louis.
Tatiana Smith/AllTrails
Take this 3.8 mile trail at William Landahl Park for a great birding experience. The diverse landscape is stunning and makes for a fantastic hike. William Landahl Park is located at E Argo Rd., Independence.
Brain Metteer/AllTrails
Looking for a chance to see a rare collard lizard? These reptiles can only be found in small areas in southeastern Missouri. For your best shot at seeing these lizards hike Bell Mountain Loop Trail at State Hwy A, Belleview.
Rick Malone/AllTrails
As the name states, White Tail Trail is a superb hike for deer lovers. White Tail Trail is located in the Parkville Nature Sanctuary which you can find at Park College Rd., Parkville.
Jenny Hanak/AllTrails
Lime Kiln Trail is great for spotting wildlife and is gorgeous in the fall. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and turkey during your hike! Lime Kiln Trail is located in Rockwoods Reservation Conservation Area whcih you can find at 2751 Glencoe Rd., Wildwood.
Carol Turner/AllTrails
You will love the scenery while hiking Prickle Springs. This 1.9 mile loop is perfect for spotting small animals and deer. Whether your looking for stunning views or beautiful waterfalls you can find it on a hike at Pickle Springs. Visit Pickle Springs at 22211 Dorlac Rd., Ste. Genevieve.
Maninder Chopra/AllTrails
Take a 3.2 mile hike to the top of the Missouri RIver bluffs. This stunning trail is located in Castlewood Park and offers the chance to see deer, birds, and other small animals. Find Castlewood State Park at 1401 Kiefer Creek Rd., Ballwin.
Check out this Missouri hike to an above ground cave while you’re here!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
