Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is a conservation area in Missouri near where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers meet. It features wetlands and floodplain terrain with gravel roads bordered by tall sunflowers in late summer, and offers trails for walking, photography, and wildlife watching.

The area was originally planned to settle as a small town called Columbia, but all buildings were abandoned by 1870 and the site became a ghost town. The land at the river's edge is naturally very wet and floods regularly, making permanent settlement impossible.

The area was once known for hunting deer and geese but is now visited mainly by bird watchers and nature enthusiasts who follow seasonal migrations. This shift in use reflects a change where conservation and wildlife have become more important than earlier economic activities.

The site is open year-round, but requires comfortable shoes and plenty of water since trails and paths can be blocked by flooding and mud. A visit is best during drier seasons when access and visibility are better.

The land is intentionally allowed to flood in order to restore wetlands and attract wildlife. This strategy has already drawn rare birds like snowy egrets, showing how the ecosystem is adapting to more natural management.