Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Region
Taberville Prairie is one of Missouri's larger native-prairie remnants
Taberville Prairie in St. Clair County is one of the largest remaining tallgrass-prairie remnants in Missouri, a National Natural Landmark managed by MDC and home to greater prairie-chickens and other grassland birds.
Taberville Prairie is a piece of native tallgrass prairie in St. Clair County, north of El Dorado Springs. Prairie like this once covered more than a quarter of Missouri. Today less than 1% of it is left, which makes places like this rare. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) calls it one of the largest remaining tallgrass prairies in the state, and it is a National Natural Landmark.
The prairie holds more than 350 kinds of native plants. It is also one of the few places in Missouri that still has greater prairie-chickens, along with other grassland birds. People come here to watch birds, take photos, and hike.
This is a conservation area, so MDC rules apply, not state-park or county rules. Hunting is allowed in season. Before you go, check the area page on mdc.mo.gov for hours, seasons, and what is allowed.
Where to see it
- Taberville Prairie Natural Area
Use MDC for the native-prairie and natural-area source trail.
- Taberville Prairie Conservation Area
Use MDC for access, recreation rules, hunting, and area maps.
References
More from St. Clair County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: June 20, 2026.