Henry County: Nature, Wildlife, and History

Henry County offers a variety of ways to tailor your trip to your interests: nature watching, fishing, hiking, and cycling are all on the agenda, alongside historic buildings and local history. Clinton is located at the junctions of Highways 7, 13, and 52. To plan your route, you can group stops by landscape and activities, then add cultural attractions.

Nature and Wildlife in Henry County

Clinton provides access to 56,000-acre Truman Lake. Montrose Lake offers good opportunities for catfish fishing. The Montrose Conservation Area covers 2,750 acres in Henry County and attracts waterfowl, waterfowl hunters, and birdwatchers. The waterways therefore offer options for different interests: fishing at Montrose Lake and nature watching in the Conservation Area.

The La Due Bottoms Conservation Area covers 361 acres and consists of three noncontiguous sections. The eastern section lies along the flight route of waterfowl traveling between the Montrose Conservation Area and Truman Lake. The two western sections provide habitat for quail, rabbits, deer, turkeys, and doves. The details about the separate sections give the area different focal points for wildlife watching, rather than describing it as a uniform landscape.

The Chapel View Prairie Conservation Area spans 384 acres in Henry County and consists mostly of native tallgrass prairie. In June, the area attracts birdwatchers and people interested in wildflowers. Those also interested in the history of the landscape will find a historical connection at the headwaters in the Connor O. Fewel Conservation Area: an Osage trail once ran there, connecting Kansas City with Warsaw.

Out on the Katy Trail

Katy Trail State Park is specifically designed for hiking and cycling. Near Clinton, the Katy Trail follows the former route of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, also known as the MKT or Katy. The trail stretches 240 miles between Clinton and Machens. Along the trail are 26 access points and four fully restored railroad depots.

Other visitor details also relate to the Clinton area: the city’s Parks and Recreation Department offers basic camping facilities at the Community Center along the Katy Trail. The horse-trailer parking area at the Henry County Fairgrounds is opposite the Clinton Trailhead, across Price Lane. The trail is designed for hiking and cycling; the horse-trailer parking area is a separate landmark to keep in mind when planning.

Buildings and History

The Henry County Museum features five historic buildings and thousands of artifacts about the history of Henry County, Missouri. Tours last an average of one to two hours. So, if you plan to take a tour, you can allow an average of one to two hours.

The Clinton Square Historic District offers a different view of history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 and includes 85 Victorian and Italianate-style buildings spread across about ten blocks. At the museum, historic buildings and collection pieces related to county history are the focus; in the district, the architecture and the scale of the ensemble shape the visitor experience. This makes it easy to plan a museum visit and a look around the historic downtown as distinct cultural stops.

The options range from prairie and wildlife habitats to a historic trail, museum artifacts, and architecture. For a nature-focused stay, you can distinguish waterways, Conservation Areas, and the Katy Trail by the activities listed for each; for a cultural focus, add the museum and Historic District.

Explore more destinations: Clinton, Douglas, Taney, Greene, Crawford County, Ripley County, Callaway, St. Francois County.

For the broader travel overview: Missouri.