Photographs of Columbia Bottom

Situated at the confluence of the Missouri River and the Mississippi River, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area showcases the beauty and diversity of the natural landscapes along the Mississippi River. Sloughs, marshes and wetlands can be explored as well as bottomland prairies and forests. The diversity of this area can especially be seen if one makes repeated visits during a variety of seasons.

Wild Hops In the Forest 1

Dappled light creates highlights in the woodland as wild hops overtakes the bottomland forest in summertime, creating the feel of a primeval forest.

Morning Sky and Silhouette of Lone Tree at Columbia Bottom

Clouds moving quickly across the morning sky blur and soften the warm colors of daybreak, providing a backdrop for the silhouette of a lone tree in a field.

Wild Hops In the Forest 6

Wild hops climbs the trees and forms a sea of green as it overtakes the bottomland forest in summertime, creating the feel of a primeval forest. Here, dappled light adds highlights to the contours, hinting of what may lie beneath the mass of vines and leaves.

Columbia Bottoms Slough 1

Autumn tones and dead trees piled along a dry slough create a tapestry of tones and textures in this image.

Two Trees and Morning Sky at Columbia Bottom

Clouds moving quickly across the morning sky blurring and softening the pastel colors of daybreak, providing a backdrop for the silhouette of two trees in a bottomland field.

Wild Hops In the Forest 4

Wild hops climbs the trees and forms a sea of green as it overtakes the bottomland forest in summertime, creating the feel of a primeval forest.

Winter Woodland at Columbia Bottoms 1

Wild Hops In the Forest 2

Dappled light creates highlights in the woodland as wild hops overtakes the bottomland forest in summertime, creating the feel of a primeval forest.

Morning Sky and Field of Trees at Columbia Bottom

Clouds moving quickly across the morning sky blurring and softening the pastel colors of daybreak, providing a backdrop for the silhouette of trees in a bottomland field.

Wild Hops In the Forest 5

Wild hops climbs the trees and forms a sea of green as it overtakes the bottomland forest in summertime, creating the feel of a primeval forest.

Columbia Bottoms Slough 2

Backlighting enhances the golden autumn colors which shimmer on the waters of a slough along the Mississippi River in late afternoon.

Wild Hops In the Forest 3

Winter Woodland at Columbia Bottoms 2

The primeval looking bottomland forest of summer, covered by wild hops, takes on a vastly different appearance in wintertime. Trees stripped bare and the invasive vines add a surreal look to the woodlands.

Woodland Engulfed By Wild Hops

Seen from across a field of brown clay, wild hops forms a sea of green as it begins to overtake the bottomland forest.