Springfield Conservation Nature Center

Our visit to the Conservation & Nature Center was a nice one, especially since the weather cooperated very well. The nature center is pretty standard with some fun information from the Missouri Department of Conservation and a few neat exhibits with more in progress (several closed for renovation — or construction — displays as of Feb 2016). The trails were a mixed bag. While we really enjoyed hiking every single trail here, there is not a lot of signage to indicate the type (s) of terrain and I feel they could improve upon that. While we’re veteran hikers who found all of the trails here very easy and well maintained, I think the lack of explanation could be problematic for some with slight mobility issues. For example, my mother who is a senior with some joint and balance problems, might embark on the Long Trail and do just fine for a very long time and then be unable to continue in some of the areas with rather slippery rocks. Nonetheless, we really enjoyed the short hikes these trails offered and while it was lovely in the winter I am sure this place positively blooms in other seasons, so it will be worth more visits to check it out.

Nice trails ! And free! Feel safe when I walked. Very clean and staff is super friendly.

Great place to meet people location wise, just not when it’s 9 degrees outside with a wind chill of –10. This place is a lot more fun in the summer.

Great place to enjoy the nature, get some excercise and let loose.
They have several different trains with varying degrees of difficulties, distance, and terrain.
The only downside is that dogs are not allowed. :(

This is FREE and fun and beautiful most days. Easy walks on good trails of various lengths. ‘Tis a pleasure to be in the Ozarks.

I have not had a chance to walk through the trails, but from what I saw of them, they are very well shaded, which is a plus in the hot Missouri summer! The indoors area has plenty to keep kids, young and old entertained for a good hour to hour and a half. There are puzzles, puppets, a laser shooting game, microscope, and a dark room where you can learn about night animals. I will definitely be back to check it out some more!

Love this gem of a park. I live in Los Angeles and have been visiting my family for a decade, but have only now discovered this place, less than 2 miles away. Great for a peaceful walk (what I did), but I saw plenty of joggers both in the morning and the evening.

This is a pretty good spot to go for hiking and nature fun in the city. It has 6 hiking trails, varying in difficulty and distance, so you can have a quick walk or a day of activities. The center consists of eighty acres of forests, fields and creeks, along with frontage on Lake Springfield.
My favorite part is the marshland area… I donno, I just like the water walkway.
They also have events like ‘Toddler Tails’ for the kids, Teen activities, and shops on pruning, whittling, bird watching, etc.
As great as all this sounds, I am docking a star cause they do not allow dogs to hike with you… it’s OUTSIDE! Sheesh…
The Springfield Conservation Nature Center, or ‘Nature Center’ as my family calls it, is open from 8am to 5pm, 7 days a week, year-​round. They only close for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. However, from March 31 to October 31, it stays open until 9pm.
The nature center is located in southeast Springfield just west of US-​65 off the James River Freeway (US-​60).