Rockwoods Reservation: hunting and access
Rockwoods Reservation is 1,923 acres of MDC land in St. Louis County, next to Wildwood. MDC lists deer hunting here only on managed hunts. Hunters checked 1,922 deer in St. Louis County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MDC's conservation area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: MDC deer harvest summaries, 2021 to 2025.
MDC conservation areasState parks and historic sitesOther state landCounty, city and regional landRockwoods ReservationCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,923 acres |
|---|---|
| County | St. Louis County |
| Deer harvest unit | St. Louis County |
| MDC area number | 5405 |
| MDC region | St. Louis |
| MDC managed hunts | deer |
| Camping (MDC) | designated camping sites and special use permit required |
| Nearest towns | Wildwood (next to it), Ellisville (3 mi) and Eureka (4 mi) |
What is Rockwoods Reservation like?
It's hard to believe you could find a place like Rockwoods Reservation in busy west St. Louis County. But it's a sample of the Ozarks right in the middle of the suburbs. The area harbors a rich diversity of plant and animal life as well as springs, caves, and rock formations. Cool, moist, north facing ravines and lush creek bottoms contrast with the nearby arid, rocky ridge tops, and south slopes. The terrain is reminiscent of the Ozark hills and many plants and animals found in hill country are also found here. Rockwoods reservation features about 13 miles of foot trails of varying length and difficulty. These convey hikers by caves, along Hamilton Creek which flows during wet weather, scenic overlooks, and a giant historic lime kiln.
In MDC's words, from the Rockwoods Reservation page.
What are the rules on Rockwoods Reservation?
Closings: Special hours apply on this department area. This area is open to public use only as authorized by posting.
Every conservation area also follows MDC's standard rules in Chapter 11 of the Wildlife Code; the area's full rules are on MDC's site.
How many deer are taken around Rockwoods Reservation?
Rockwoods Reservation lies in St. Louis County. Hunters checked 1,922 deer in St. Louis County in 2025, against 1,917 in 2024.
| County | Rockwoods Reservation acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | 1,923 | 1,922 | 1,917 | 2,015 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Rockwoods Reservation?
MDC's directions: In Wildwood from Highway 100, take Highway 109 south for 2 miles, then Woods Avenue west 50 yards, and Glencoe Road north to Rockwoods.
Nearest towns: Wildwood (next to it), Ellisville (3 miles), Eureka (4 miles) and Clarkson Valley (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 50, I-44, MO 100, US 66 and MO 340.
What other public land is near Rockwoods Reservation?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Rockwoods Range: 1,461 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Roger Klamberg Woods Conservation Area: 68 acres, 3 miles away
- Howell Island Conservation Area: 2,707 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Weldon Spring Conservation Area: 8,539 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Engelmann Woods Natural Area: 155 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Pacific Palisades Conservation Area: 732 acres, 5.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rockwoods Reservation
Counting Rockwoods Reservation itself, 7,122 of the 36,733 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (19.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 3,247 |
| County, city and regional land | 2,128 |
| State parks and historic sites | 1,747 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rockwoods Reservation?
In St. Louis County, next to Wildwood.
Can you deer hunt on Rockwoods Reservation?
Only on MDC managed hunts, by MDC's page. Managed hunts are applied for through MDC.
How much public land is around Rockwoods Reservation?
7,122 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rockwoods Reservation included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Rockwoods Range (1.4 miles).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Missouri are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Missouri included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Rockwoods Reservation; MDC conservation area boundaries.
- Boundary and acres: MDC's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and MDC conservation area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Check MDC's rules and posted signs before you go.