South Prairie Loop

The South Prairie Loop trail begins off of the Chubb Trail. Located in the floodplain, the trail is flat and wide and is mowed throughout the growing season. The trailhead for West Tyson County Park is located off of Allen Road. Over the years, over 50 different types of prairie wildflowers have been added to the area, and each spring brings new colors to the prairie. You may come across turkeys and other birds that nest in the tall grasses around the trail, and hawks are often seen perched overhead hunting for rabbits and mice. A portion of the trail parallels the old riverine bluffs that today are half a mile away from the Meramec River. This is one of the few north facing bluff within the park system and is home to many plants that are not found anywhere else in the park, such as the celandine poppy. Depending on the time of year, you may also encounter a small seasonal wetland along the trail in the interior portion of the prairie.