| Maple Woods Natural Area | |
|---|---|
| IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
  Location in MissouriShow map of Missouri Location in United StatesShow map of the United States | |
| Location | Clay County |
| Nearest city | Gladstone, Missouri |
| Coordinates | 39°13′52″N 94°32′54″W / 39.231125°N 94.548288°W / 39.231125; -94.548288 |
| Area | 39.3 acres (15.9 ha) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Governing body | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Maple Woods |
| U.S. National Natural Landmark | |
| Designated | 1978 |
The Maple Woods Natural Area is a natural area located in Clay County in the U.S. state of Missouri. The natural area is characterized by sugar maples. The 39.3-acre forest is recognized by the United States National Park Service as a Significant Natural Area. The small forest is a National Natural Landmark.
The Maple Woods, purchased by the state of Missouri in 1978, was designated as a natural area in 1980. Owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDOC), the small forest is in the suburban municipality of Gladstone, Missouri and is maintained by the Gladstone park staff by agreement with MDOC. The Maple Woods also contains a significant subpopulation of bitternut hickory as a reminder of its former standing as an oak-hickory forest. In the absence of wildfire, the oak trees of this small forest are thinning out due to mesic succession.
The Maple Woods Natural Area is on NE 76th Street adjacent to Shoal Creek. With the bright colors displayed by the sugar maple, Kansas City media recommends the Maple Woods as a place to enjoy local, accessible fall foliage colors.
References
- Protected Area Profile for Maple Woods Natural Area from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved May 16 2023.
- ^ "Maple Woods Natural Area". mdc.mo.gov. Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
- ^ "Maple Woods". mdc.mo.gov. Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
- Hawley-Bates, Savannah (October 23, 2022). "Kansas City's peak fall foliage season is getting shorter. Here's where to enjoy the colors". KCUR-FM. Kansas City. Retrieved May 15, 2023.