At Grand Pass Conservation Area, the area borders the Missouri River for six miles. Its wetlands are managed for migratory birds as well as resident and nesting wetland wildlife. River landscapes, lakes, and places shaped by history give Saline County a variety of features—from waterside habitats to traces of community history.
Nature Between Lake, River, and Wetland
Surrounding 195-acre Blind Pony Lake is a recreation area with a variety of uses. Free tours are offered at the fish hatchery there every Tuesday at 10 a.m. from June through August. Check the schedule before your trip if you would like to plan a tour.
The Marshall Junction Conservation Area offers a different landscape: gently rolling uplands, former fields, and cropland alternate with wooded areas, rougher terrain, and deep drainage channels. The Blackwater River runs along about 1.25 miles of the area’s northwestern boundary. Local history is also linked to the river through an old stone dam that once formed a swimming and fishing spot.
Water and distinctive landscape features also meet at Blue Lick Conservation Area. It has several salt springs and a small wetland. The managing agency is allowing native riverside and wetland plants to grow to restore the vegetation.
Unit 1 of the Ralph and Martha Perry Memorial Conservation Area lies in southwestern Saline County and extends into northwestern Pettis County. A trail with two loops passes through different habitats and provides access to several fishing lakes. Unit 1 also offers seasonal access to the Blackwater River. Check current conditions before planning to use this access during your visit.
Within Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park, the 300-acre Oumessourit Natural Area includes a freshwater wetland, marshes, and bottomland and upland forests. Lake Wooldridge, an 18-acre fishing lake, is also in the park. Its varied habitats and waterside areas make the park a destination for travelers who want to explore nature and the landscape more closely.
Discover History and Culture
Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park preserves the remains of a Missouria village at the Great Bend of the Missouri River. Old Fort and several burial mounds are also within the park. The village traces and other archaeological evidence are found side by side here.
Pennytown tells a different story: the free African American settlement comprised about forty families on 64 acres. On this land, once known as Pennytown, Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church is now the last remaining building. It was first built in 1926.
Art and public cultural life complement these historical insights. The Morris Gallery of Contemporary Art on the Valley campus showcases current works in art and design; its educational programs serve students, teachers, and the general public. The Marshall Municipal Band was officially established in 1921 and has performed continuously ever since.
The visitor center at Arrow Rock State Historic Site shares the history of Arrow Rock and central Missouri, a region historically known as Boone’s Lick Country. Arrow Rock is also home to the visitor center of the Missouri River Bird Observatory, 406 Main St. Interpretive panels at Sappington African American Cemetery State Historic Site tell of the sacrifice and resilience of people who shaped the history of this place and Missouri.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Sweet Springs, Pemiscot, Linn County, Texas County, Barry, Cole County, Ripley County, Ray.
Back to the main travel overview: Missouri.
