White Rock

Description

White Rock hosts extremely rare natural habitats. The White Rock tract is located within the Hill Prairie Corridor, a 25-mile stretch of ribbons and patches of hill prairie perched on top of the Mississippi River bluffs, looming above the flood plain. The nature preserve contains 7 acres of loess hill prairie and is also a part of a large, unfragmented, upland forest—one of the largest contiguous blocks of woodlands in the state. The high quality natural habitats of White Rock and adjacent natural areas host a wealth of wildlife. More than 800 species of plants, 200+ species of migratory or breeding birds, 43 species of mammals, and 62 species of reptiles and amphibians may be found here. Several state-listed threatened or endangered species make their home here, including Wooly Buckthorns, Missouri Coneflowers, Cerulean Warblers, Great Plains Rat Snakes, Eastern Timber Rattlesnakes, Eastern Narrowmouth Toads, Common Striped Scorpions, and the increasingly rare Coachwhip Snakes. White Rock Nature Preserve contains a 2-mile non-looping trail system though dense and healthy woodlands. Both the Ridgetop North and Ridgetop South trails terminate at hill prairies. The trails are open from dawn until dusk, 365 days a year.