After 100 Years, Shaw Nature Reserve Remains a Hidden Gem to Many in St. Louis

Since its founding in 1925, Shaw Nature Reserve has offered a serene escape from city life. Operated as an extension of the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Reserve has grown from 1,300 acres to 2,400 acres in a century. Today, it stands as a living testament to restoration, conservation, education and the enduring beauty of the natural world.

“There was never a plan to move the Missouri Botanical Garden,” Michael Saxton, manager of ecological restoration and land stewardship at Shaw Nature Reserve, says, “but there was a need for a site where plants could breathe fresh air. With the regular burning of soft coal in the early 1900s, the city’s air quality was poor, and the Garden’s plants were dying, so the team started searching for a place with clean air as well as diverse topography and various soils.”

Approximately 40 miles west of Gateway Arch National Park, they unearthed the ideal expanse and, after purchasing five contiguous farms, set about establishing an arboretum. “Shaw Nature Reserve was originally called the Missouri Botanical Garden Arboretum,” Saxton explains. “The name change in 2000 was deliberate. It was a break from our past purpose – the curating and cataloguing of woody species from around the world – to a nature reserve that focuses on native biodiversity.”

Sitting at the juncture of several major Midwest habitats, Shaw Nature Reserve allows a range of plants and animals to thrive. Myriad hiking trails traverse the Ozark Border landscapes – think floodplain forests, upland woods, dolomite glades and tallgrass prairies – where visitors can get a healthy dose of the great outdoors. For a quick nature fix, drive to the Crescent Knoll Overlook, which boasts sights and sounds of the Meramec River as it winds through the Reserve.

“From the first sunny days of spring, we have flowering plants in the prairies and woodlands,” Saxton says, “and the flora changes constantly. Every week, something new is going to seed; every week, something new is flowering. The landscape goes from green to bronze, short to tall. Whether you’re visiting weekly, monthly or seasonally, the view will never be the same.”

Springtime brings Virginia bluebells to the bottomland forests along the river, while glade coneflowers and Missouri primroses carpet the glades between late May and early June. That said, it’s always a stunning scene at the Reserve. Add meandering trails, peaceful picnic areas and impressive overlooks, and you’ll find that half a day slips by in the blink of an eye.

The diverse habitats at Shaw Nature Reserve attract a wide variety of wildlife, as well – if you’re part of the current birding bonanza, you’re in luck! Among woodland birds such as Cooper’s hawks, Downy woodpeckers and ruby-throated hummingbirds, you might spot grassland birds such as Henslow’s sparrows, grasshopper sparrows, dickcissels and bobolinks, which aren’t common in regional parks. Warblers also migrate through the area in spring and fall, with the former being the best time to see their vibrant breeding plumage.

Need inspiration for your home garden? Wander the paths of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden, which snake through native perennial, rock, prairie, water, woodland and rain gardens. Packed into the 10-acre area, more than 500 native Missouri plant species provide a feast for the senses.

The nearby Bascom House hosts a summer concert series, one of many events that invite people to enjoy a wild reset at the Reserve. This summer, concerts include Riley Holtz on June 27, Nick Pence and Friends on July 25 and Beth Bombara on Aug. 22.

“With events and classes, we aim to make our work in ecological restoration and native plant horticulture relevant and meaningful to people’s everyday lives,” Ellie Stevens, senior manager of education, events and visitor operations at Shaw Nature Reserve, explains. “We want visitors to understand how the landscapes at the Reserve can be both beautiful and beneficial.”

Solitary journeys encourage exploration, relaxation, self-reflection and personal growth, but if you’re looking to learn more about Shaw Nature Reserve and the natural world, plan your visit around a prairie hike, daffodil dash, sunset stroll or canopy climb.

“The health benefits of spending time in nature – improved cognitive function, decreased stress levels, increased energy levels, boosted immune system – are difficult to dispute,” Stevens says. “Beyond that, the landscapes, plants and animals that make up the Reserve are unique to Missouri, and we think they’re as iconic as, say, toasted ravioli. When you visit St. Louis, you have to try toasted ravioli, and now you know that you can’t leave St. Louis without exploring Shaw Nature Reserve.”