Ozarks (Rural)
Little Prairie preserves a remnant prairie pocket in Phelps County
Little Prairie Conservation Area gives Phelps County a named prairie, woodland, and restored-grassland landscape with an MDC trail and management signs.
Little Prairie Conservation Area adds a prairie note to a county many readers may picture through karst, forest, and Route 66. Missouri Department of Conservation says the area contains the 40-acre remnant Heilbrunn prairie in the southeast corner, plus a three-mile hiking trail through woodlands, restored grasslands, and pollinator plantings.
That is useful color because it gives Phelps County a specific public-land landscape instead of a general “Ozarks outdoors” label. The area also has signs that explain habitat-management work, which helps visitors understand what they are seeing.
Before planning a walk, check MDC for the area map, hours, and permitted uses. The conservation-area page is the official source for what is public and what is managed.
Where to see it
- Little Prairie Conservation Area
Use MDC for trail access, prairie context, maps, and current area regulations.
References
More from Phelps County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: July 16, 2026.