Williamsburg, MO: St. Louis Chapter, Whetstone Creek Conservation Area Hike

EVENT DESCRIPTION
Central Missouri pilgrim Melissa Purvis will lead us on a 5-mile route through the conservation area. This moderate hike on gravel roads and mowed paths will take us across open meadows, past farm fields, and through wooded areas, with some hills and possible creek crossings.

Access a trail map:
https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/mo_nature/downloads/conservation-areas/7601map.pdf

Following the hike, we will gather in the area for continued pilgrim conversation and fellowship over 6 Buck box lunches that we will order in advance from nearby Crane’s Country Store (see order instructions below). You are also welcome to pack your own picnic meal if you prefer that.

LOCATION DIRECTIONS
From the I-70 Williamsburg Exit 161 take Route D north to the stop sign. Turn left (west) and continue on Route D to County Road 1003. Turn right (north) 2 miles on County Road 1003 to the conservation area entrance.
St. Louis attendees: Conservation area is approximately 80 miles from the I-270 and I-64 interchange.
Columbia attendees: Conservation area is approximately 37 miles from the I-70 and I-63 interchange.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED:
https://forms.gle/g2hNhA2xfBuPWWeP9
Due to the conservation area’s registration requirements for groups of 10+ people, advance registration is required via this form. If you register and later determine that you are unable to attend, please update your registration accordingly.

CRANE’S COUNTRY STORE 6 BUCK BOX LUNCH ORDER
To be included in our Crane’s Country Store 6 Buck box lunch order, please complete one copy of the order form per attendee.
Box lunch order form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18xMTMV_xVLiwTNS1I-WpjJyR8tkArJ9t/view?usp=sharing
Email completed box lunch order forms by 12:00 PM on Thursday, October 24 to: stlouis@americanpilgrims.org
Box lunch payment: Send $6 per box lunch order to https://venmo.com/u/AmyElizabethHorton or bring $6 in cash per box lunch to the event to reimburse Amy.

WHAT TO BRING
Your pilgrim spirit
Plenty of drinking water
Layers/accessories appropriate for varying central Missouri autumn weather conditions
Trekking poles
Lawn chair for picnic seating
Hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes
Sunscreen

ABOUT WHETSTONE CREEK CONSERVATION AREA
The Missouri Department of Conservation purchased the 5,147 acre property in 1976. Prior to settlement, the land area of what is today Whetstone Creek CA, had a tallgrass prairie, savanna, woodland, and forest landscape. The woodland and forest slopes on the rolling hills adjacent to the creek gave way to more open savanna and prairie habitats on the flat plains above the creek.

Portions of the property have had many owners since the mid-1800’s (there were 27 different families owning portions of the land in 1876). It was mostly owned by a few landowners who had relatively large properties by the later 1800’s. The area was managed as a cattle ranch through most of the 1900’s up until the time when the Conservation Department purchased the property. A high fence was constructed on a portion of the area in the 1960’s and Bison were raised in the enclosure.

The area is today managed primarily for small game species such as quail and rabbits. Management is primarily accomplished through permittee farming, prescribed fire, woodland management, and early successional habitat.

Learn more:
Whetstone Creek Conservation Area: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/whetstone-creek-conservation-area
Whetstone Creek CA Brochure: https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/7601.pdf
Crane’s Country Store: https://cranes-country-store.com/