Park University is known across Parkville, Mo. as a campus with great beauty and architecture. Its campus sits near the banks of the Missouri River, in the cozy town of Parkville. While the campus itself is breathtaking in any season, just behind campus lies a woodland secret that is sometimes overlooked by residents and students.

The Parkville Nature Sanctuary is a 115-acre sanctuary wedged between Riss Lake and the Park University campus. The Sanctuary has a variety of trails and attractions, such as a cascading waterfall, an old root cellar, and a few overlook spots to sit and take in the nature around you. The trails found in the Parkville Nature Sanctuary vary from short to long and intense to easy, and you can always be sure to see plenty of wildlife, as long as you are quiet.

If you aren’t necessarily an ‘outdoors’ person, don’t worry. The Sanctuary has trailheads, informational signs about wildlife, and well-marked trails so that the beauty of the forest can be shared by even the most inexperienced hikers. The only downside of this woodland paradise is that it doesn’t allow furry companions on the trails. This is due to the fact that the Parkville Sanctuary prioritizes the wildlife ecosystem within its trees, which means a new creature could disrupt the balance with the smells and waste it leaves behind. Some wildlife you can expect to see if you are quiet include deer, rabbits, groundhogs, woodpeckers, and wild turkeys. Being quiet is the key to spotting these animals because they are sensitive to sounds. The quieter you are, the more likely you are to see something truly remarkable.

As a student at Park University, I find myself struggling to get a break from my class load. Discovering the Nature Sanctuary actually has a connecting trail near the baseball fields behind campus was a huge relief. Nature can be a great place to forget the stresses of school and work; it connects you with the earth and allows for some peace and quiet. The nature sanctuary has many benches placed at overlooks of the forest where you can sit and meditate, read, or whatever you choose. The scenic views and tranquil atmosphere provide a much-needed detachment from the everyday stressors of life.

If you are in need of a break, look no further than Park University’s backyard. The nature sanctuary is open year-round from dawn to dusk, and you can visit its website, where you can find many annual events to attend within the sanctuary. The sanctuary is especially beautiful in the fall, so as the weather gets nicer, consider exploring and connecting with nature.