This Little-Known Scenic Spot In Missouri That Comes Alive With Color Come Fall
By Beth Price-Williams|Published September 25, 2023
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
With calendars jam-packed with activities during the autumn, we all need some time to wind down and just soak up the beauty of the season. We won’t find a better way to relax than on a leaf-peeping adventure. Missouri is known for its many prime leaf-peeping destinations – from Ha Ha Tonka State Park to Mark Twain National Forest. But what about when we want to go somewhere lesser known? Then we head to this conservation area that boasts some of the best fall foliage in Willard, Missouri.
Sometimes we want to follow the road less traveled, and that road leads right to Little Sac Woods Conservation Area, a 772-acre natural area in Willard.
The Missouri conservation area is predominately, approximately 90 percent, forest.
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The four-mile trail meanders through the forest, promising some of the most breathtaking views of the fall foliage in Missouri. This is one adventure that really requires a camera.
While most of the journey will take you past trees painted in fall's brilliant colors, you'll also get glimpses of sprawling fields, "prairie-like" areas, and small ponds.
Colorful wildflowers define the landscape during the warmer months.
As you marvel at the rich colors of fall, keep an eye out for local wildlife, too. Rabbits, squirrels, deer, and turkeys are among the wildlife that call this natural area home.
While a visit to Little Sac Woods Conservation Area is an absolute must during the peak of the fall foliage, plan a visit to see the landscape sprinkled in snow during the winter and painted in lush green during the spring and summer.
Little Sac Woods Conservation Area is open daily from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Have you visited Little Sac Woods Conservation Area, which boasts some of the best fall foliage in Willard, Missouri? Share your experience in the comments! Up for more outdoor fun? Follow the Frisco Highline Trail, dubbed one of the best hiking trails in Missouri (and it runs through Willard).
All of that outdoor fun means you’re going to need a pair of comfy hiking boots. Lace-up for an unforgettable adventure!
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