What is a bryophyte crawl? They used to be called hikes, but since we never seem to get very far, and we spend a lot of time on our knees and bellies looking at these tiny beings, it made more sense to call them crawls.

What is the goal of a bryophyte crawl? The goal is to expose people to this fascinating little world, and to share what roles bryophytes play in the ecosystem. What better way to learn about them than out in the field? Crawls are by RSVP only and are limited to 15-20 participants depending on the location. This helps to ensure that we are as respectful to the ecosystem as possible, and it allows me a better opportunity to interact with everyone!

Do I need to be an expert on bryophyte ID? NO!!! Any experience level is welcome!

What do I need to bring to a bryophyte crawl? A hand lens, small water bottle to hydrate dry mosses, drinking fluids with a snack or lunch, sunscreen, bug deterrent, and always be sure to dress appropriately for the weather.

How do I join the Bryophyte Crawl Club? Simply fill out the response form below with your name and email, and you will be on the bryophyte crawl e-mail list where you will receive information about upcoming crawls. There should be no more than one or two emails a month. Please be sure to check your email’s junk mail as it may appear there based on your settings the first time through.

In case of inclement weather: I always keep an eye on the weather leading up to the crawl. If it looks like storms or is too cold or hot, I will cancel at least 24hrs ahead of time. If possible, a new date/time might be set to try again. I will reach out via email, make updates on this website, as well as on my FB page (Lena Lichenpold).

To Join the Bryophyte Crawl Club, please fill out the form below.

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Check out our Previous Hikes!!

Saturday March 21st, 2026: Dadeville MO. Corry Flatrocks CA. See the write up here.

Sunday October 26th, 2025 at 10:00 am. Farmington MO. Pickle Springs Natural Area. See my write up here.

Sunday October 5th, 2025 at 1:00 pm. Columbia MO. We will meet at Wild Haven Nature Area, a property owned by the Audubon Society, and follow the moss trail that Louise Flenner so beautifully designed as a self-guided moss walk identifying 10 moss species. This moss walk follows the white loop trail which is about 0.5 miles long. It meanders past a pond, over a seasonal creek, and winds its way through oak woodlands, a restored savannah, and a small, sandstone glade. There will be several additional species of bryophytes from those listed in the self-guided hike, that we can see and learn about.

Saturday September 6th, 2025 at 9:30 am. Leesburg MO. Onondaga State Park. See my write-up here.

August 23rd 2025, Saturday at 9:00 am. Danville MO. We will hike the Fern Ridge Trail at Graham Cave State Park and see what species we can find on the sandstone vertical wall. If time and weather allow, we can continue on to the Graham Cave trail and inspect the water loving bryophytes in and around the waterfall.