Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is a popular tourist destination located in the state of Missouri.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
It is a 4,318-acre conservation area that offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and hunting. Visitors can explore the diverse habitats of the area, which include wetlands, forests, fields, and prairies.
One of the primary reasons to visit Columbia Bottom is for birdwatching. The area is home to over 300 species of birds, including bald eagles, great blue herons, and sandhill cranes. Visitors can also see a wide variety of other wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, beavers, and river otters.
Some specific points of interest to see in Columbia Bottom include the Mississippi River Overlook, which offers stunning views of the river, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail, which provides information about the famous explorers who passed through the area. The area also has several fishing ponds, a boat ramp, and a shooting range.
Interesting facts about Columbia Bottom include its history as farmland, which was purchased by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1995 to restore the area's natural habitat. The area also includes remnants of a historic Native American settlement and a Civil War-era fort.
The best time of year to visit Columbia Bottom depends on the activity. Spring and fall are ideal for birdwatching, as many migratory species pass through the area during these seasons. Fishing is best in the summer, while hunting is allowed during certain seasons in the fall and winter. However, the area is open year-round and offers something to see and do in every season.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Lewis and Clark State Memorial Park
Hartford Park
Larimore Park
Spanish Lake Park
Dundee Park