Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center452

The nature center at this park is first rate. Lots of exibits (some hands on), a large aquarium, terrariums, and a nice bird viewing area. The trail system is varied, with a lot of opportunities to see wildlife. We walked to within 10 feet of a mature doe last week. There is a pond located in the park(get map at nature center) that does not allow fishing but the fish will swim right up to you. I asked the staff if they fed them and they said no, so maybe visitors feed them. That is not a good idea and I strongly discurage it, but the kids sure got a kick out of seeing they fish up close. At the entrance to the park, there is a small parking area. If you enter the woods at that point, you will encounter a large planting of pines (possibly an old christmas tree farm), that is, besides the trees, nearly lifeless and eerily silent. It was a good lesson for us on the practice of monoculturing clearcut forests by the logging companies. I live in Jackson county so the park is convienient to my family and am thrilled to have such a nice resource at our disposal.

I would have rated this as 4 stars if I could have narrowed the age group. The nature trails at Burr Oak Woods are beautiful and decently maintained. They are an excellent, quiet way to appreciate local landscape -- but they are not for everyone. Very young children (under about age 8) might have difficulty with some portions of most trails, as would anyone who is not in pretty good physical shape. I don't regularly work out, but I can handle the trails just fine. Also, the trails are at their best when appreciating them quietly. Noisy groups might annoy. The nature center is small, but its staff is very friendly. I wouldn't make a special trip to visit Burr Oaks unless you live in Eastern Jackson County, but it's a fine destination for local folk or those traveling through the area.