Experience wildlife and a waterfall at Bridger Conservation Area
The Jim Bridger Urban Conservation Area straddles Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, Mo.
Discover birds by the thousands, falling water, explosive sunsets and quiet.
Trail Bridger Urban Conservation Area
Overview
The Jim Bridger Urban Conservation area is a diverse nature refuge near the border of Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, Mo. A mowed and dirt trail takes you past a shelf waterfall and through prairie, woods and bottomland forest. Wildflowers and wildlife – especially birds – are plentiful. This area is designated as a Great Missouri Birding Trail. In the middle of the park, the trail descends into a valley walled by limestone outcroppings and glades. The conservation area itself is only 320 acres but borders Jackson County’s Kemper Outdoor Education Center, which features the one-mile, natural surface Habitat Trail (included in our map below). Although the Kemper park (home to a summer camp) is closed through most of winter, you can still walk the trail.Conditions This trail is unmarked. With that said, is generally clear where the trail runs. It consists of a mowed path through fields and tallgrass. There is also a scenic dirt path that follows a stream and leads to wet weather waterfalls. It’s marked with a small sign that is easily missed. If you are walking west to east, the path is immediately to your left after your cross a small stream at the bottom of an incline (download our map below for details). Elevation changes are moderate; the trail is entirely natural surface and so requires firm footing.
Kid and stroller friendly? Only hearty kids will be able to tackle the trail. Children who do will experience many possibilities for outdoor fun – especially with the creek and waterfalls.
Address
There are east and west trailheads to Bridger Conservation Area. The west trailhead is 500 feet south of Kemper Outdoor Education Center, which is located at 8201 S. Jasper Bell Road, Blue Springs, MO 64015. The east entrance is located about one-quarter mile west of the fire station, which is located on S.W. Wyatt Road, Blue Springs, MO 64014.Pets Yes, on a leash
Bikes Prohibited
