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Forest 44 Conservation Area

Nature & parks
In Morschels, Missouri
0.4 mi from Route 66

Forest 44 Conservation Area protects 998 acres of mostly forested land near Valley Park, in western St. Louis County, MO. Interstate 44, the highway that replaced much of Route 66 in Missouri, runs along its northern edge. Once part of a big cattle ranch, it now offers a paved accessible path, a hiking-only trail and many miles of shared trails for hikers and horseback riders. It lies less than a mile off the old road.

What is Forest 44 Conservation Area?

Woods cover 914 acres of the property and grassland another 44. The trail choices suit different visitors: a 0.4-mile paved path open to wheelchair users, a 2.2-mile trail for hikers only, and 11.8 miles of multi-use trails where hikers share the way with horses.

Hunting and fishing are allowed in season with permits, and a staffed shooting range is on the property. It also belongs to the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.

History of Forest 44 Conservation Area

This land once belonged to a cattle ranch of about 10,000 acres. In 1990 the Missouri Department of Conservation bought it from Reinken Estates heirs. A further 40 acres came later, partly as a donation, and carry the name Dorothy E. Aselman Memorial Addition.

Visiting Forest 44 Conservation Area: tips

The short paved path makes a quick, easy stop; the longer trails need an hour or more. The Endangered Wolf Center is about 1.1 miles away, Castlewood State Park about 2 miles, and Route 66 State Park about 3.3 miles.

Practical info

On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Forest 44 Conservation Area

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Diner & restaurant
Ted Drewes
St. Louis, MO · 13.0 mi from Forest 44 Conservation Area
A family-run St. Louis frozen custard stand from 1929, known for concretes served upside down.