Rebecca's Hearth and Home: 31 Days of the Joys of Autumn

Thursday, October 19, 2017

31 Days of the Joys of Autumn - Hiking The Bethany Falls Trail

Bethany Falls Trail - Burr Oak Woods - Blue Springs, Missouri

My husband and I grew up in the Kansas City metropolitan area and lived our whole lives there before moving to Southwest Missouri in 1996. Burr Oak Woods was a favorite hang-out for us and one of the places that we spent a lot of time while homeschooling our five oldest children.

Bethany Falls Trail - Burr Oak Woods

I have no idea how many times we've hiked the Bethany Falls Trail over the years, but it is definitely one of our family's favorite hiking trails. Last week my oldest daughter, five of the grands, and I met my youngest daughter and her husband at Burr Oak Woods for an autumn outing. The grandchildren, nor our son-in-law, Phillip, had ever been there before.

Me and My Girls, Amanda and Amber

Grandchildren Audrey, Silas, Isaiah, Esther, and Mercy

Our Son-In-Law, Phillip

We went through the nature center and walked the half-mile loop behind the building, before hiking the Bethany Falls Trail.

Hiking the Bethany Falls Trail in Autumn

The Bethany Falls Trail is a 1.4 mile loop that meanders through a beautiful forested area, a limestone glade, a wet weather creek, the corner of a restored prairie area, and a series of limestone outcroppings.

Limestone Outcroppings Along The Trail

The Bethany Falls Trail is absolutely gorgeous and, I think, we've hiked it in every season, and every type of weather, possible! My favorite season to hike it in, of course, is autumn. However, the most memorable hike that we ever took on it was the time we hiked it in mid-winter when everything was covered in ice and snow. THAT was an incredible (and dangerous) experience, but we are so glad that we did it! Bethany Falls is a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL place year round!

Hiking Through the Limestone Outcroppings Along the Trail

There were lots of neat little things to discover along the trail...acorns, hickory nuts, black walnuts, a variety of interesting mushrooms, all kinds of mosses, pretty leaves, fuzzy caterpillars, granddaddy long-legs, and even a snail!