Dorsett Hill Prairie Conservation Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Dorsett Hill Prairie Conservation Area is a protected area in the state of Missouri that offers visitors a chance to experience a unique and diverse natural environment.
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Summary
The area is home to a variety of native plant and animal species, including prairie grasses, wildflowers, and birds.
One of the primary reasons to visit Dorsett Hill Prairie Conservation Area is to explore its many hiking trails, which provide access to some of the area's most scenic and biodiverse areas. In addition to hiking, visitors can also enjoy birdwatching, photography, and other outdoor activities.
Some of the specific points of interest to see at Dorsett Hill Prairie Conservation Area include the various prairie habitats, which are home to rare and endangered plant and animal species. Other notable features include the area's diverse wildlife, such as the Eastern Bluebird, Red-Tailed Hawk, and Northern Bobwhite.
Interesting facts about the area include its history as a former farming community, as well as its conservation efforts to preserve and restore the prairie ecosystem. Additionally, the area is known for its unique geological formations, which are a result of the area's glacial history.
The best time of year to visit Dorsett Hill Prairie Conservation Area is during the late spring and early summer months, when the prairie grasses and wildflowers are in full bloom. During this time, visitors can experience the area's natural beauty at its peak, as well as see a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat.
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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
Amarugia Highlands Conservation Area
Bittern Bottoms Conservation Area
James R. Harter Conservation Area
Lords Park