Balltown Access
Managed by Missouri Department of Conservation
184 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in Metz Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Metz Township
2% of Metz Township’s land is conserved, about 669 acres. 180 acres are parks and preserves, 1,033 per 1,000 residents. 16 miles of mapped trail cross Metz Township, 0.3 per square mile of land.
Conserved land
2%
669 acres · of 47.5 sq mi of land
Trails
16 mi
0.3 per sq mi of land
Park land
180 ac
1,033 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
under 1%
of residents within ½ mile
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Gama Grass Prairie Conservation Area
Managed by Missouri Department of Conservation
81 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Who protects it
669 conserved acres
2% of Metz Township’s land. Who manages Metz Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
USDA easements (NRCS)347 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service65 ac
Not recorded256 ac
Conservation Easement · 413 acState Recreation Area · 179 acState Conservation Area · 78 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 413 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balltown Access State Recreation Area | Not recorded | 179 | Open |
| Gama Grass Prairie Conservation Area State Conservation Area | Not recorded | 78 | Restricted |
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
Prairie View Stock FarmDistrict · listed 2015
About itWhen to get out
The walking year in Metz Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.8 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 14.8 | 14.5 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.1 | 9.5 |
| High (°F) | 42 | 47 | 58 | 68 | 76 | 85 | 90 | 89 | 81 | 70 | 57 | 46 |
| Rain (in) | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 4.5 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 2.2 |
January is the driest month (1.6 in) and July the warmest (highs of 90 °F). 6.1 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 90 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Metz Township →
Next door
Metz Township and its neighbors
Metz Township has the second most mapped trails of the 6 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Henry Township24 miMetz Township16 miOsage Township13 miLake Township12 miOsage Township6.6 miHoward Township1.2 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metz Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Osage Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Osage Township | 6% | 0.2 | 154 | 68% | B+ |
| Henry Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Howard Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Lake Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Metz Township
Are dogs allowed on Metz Township’s trails?
Balltown Access and Gama Grass Prairie Conservation Area don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Metz Township?
945 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Metz Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 180 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Metz Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →