Summary
The area is popular with visitors for its diverse wildlife, scenic views, and educational opportunities.
One of the main reasons to visit Crooked Creek Conservation Area is its abundance of wildlife. The area is home to a variety of species, including deer, turkey, bobcats, coyotes, and numerous bird species. Visitors can hike along the trails and observe the animals in their natural habitats.
Another point of interest at Crooked Creek Conservation Area is the Devil's Backbone Natural Area, which features a series of rocky bluffs and scenic overlooks. The area is a popular spot for hiking and picnicking.
Crooked Creek itself is also a popular attraction. Visitors can fish for smallmouth bass, rock bass, and other species in the creek, which is known for its clear waters and scenic beauty.
Interesting facts about the area include its history as a former logging site and its designation as a Natural Area by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The best time of year to visit Crooked Creek Conservation Area is in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the foliage is beautiful. However, the area is open year-round and offers something for visitors to enjoy in every season.
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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