First Day Hikes
Celebrate the beginning of 2026 by taking a guided hike in a Missouri state park or historic site on Jan. 1. Start a new tradition with your friends and family as you get some healthy exercise and enjoy the great outdoors. First Day Hikes are promoted by America’s State Parks and are held throughout the country. For more information, click here.
Click on the park names below to learn more about each hike.
To see more hiking opportunities near you, check out our statewide trails map. For a list of all upcoming guided hikes at Missouri State Parks, click here.
Park/Historic Site | Meeting Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Wildwood | Hawthorn Trail trailhead | 10 a.m. |
| Bennett Spring State Park, Lebanon | Savanna Ridge Trail trailhead | 1-4 p.m. |
| Big Sugar Creek State Park, Pineville | Ozark Chinquapin Trail trailhead | 10 a.m. to noon |
| Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site, Ash Grove | Picnic shelter | 10 a.m. to noon |
| Bryant Creek State Park, Ava | Trailhead | Noon to 3:15 p.m. |
| Crowder State Park, Trenton | Shelter 3 parking lot | 2-4 p.m. |
| Cuivre River State Park, Troy | Visitor center | 1 p.m. |
| First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site and Katy Trail State Park, St. Charles | St. Charles Veterans Memorial | 10 a.m. to noon |
| Hawn State Park, Ste. Genevieve | Spanish Land Grant Trail trailhead | 1-3:45 p.m. |
| Jefferson Landing State Historic Site/Missouri State Museum, Jefferson City | Lohman Building | 1-2:30 p.m. |
| Knob Noster State Park, Knob Noster | Clearfork Shelter | 1-2 p.m. |
| Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Brumley | Hidden Springs Trail trailhead | Noon to 1:45 p.m. |
| Mastodon State Historic Site, Imperial | Limestone Hill Trail hike: museum parking lot | 10 a.m. to noon |
| Spring Branch Trail hike: Spring Branch Trail trailhead | 10 a.m. to noon | |
| Meramec State Park, Sullivan | Visitor center | Noon to 2:30 p.m. |
| Missouri Mines State Historic Site, Park Hills | Office/gatehouse | 9-10:30 a.m. |
| Montauk State Park, Salem | Naturalist's office/nature center | 10 a.m. to noon |
| Onondaga Cave State Park, Bourbon* | Vilander Bluff Trail trailhead | 10 a.m. to noon |
| Roaring River State Park, Cassville | Lower level of the CCC Lodge | 10 a.m. to noon |
| Robertsville State Park, Robertsville | Lost Hill Trail trailhead in the campground | 10 a.m. to noon |
| Rock Bridge Memorial State Park – Deer Run Trail, Columbia | Playground | Noon to 3:30 p.m. |
| Rock Bridge Memorial State Park – Gans Creek Wild Area, Columbia | Wagon Wheel Trailhead (Gans Creek Wild Area Trail) | Noon to 3:30 p.m. |
| Rock Bridge Memorial State Park – Grassland Trail, Columbia | Grassland Trail trailhead | 2:30-4:30 p.m. |
| Rock Bridge Memorial State Park – Sinkhole and Devil's Icebox trails, Columbia | Devil's Icebox parking lot | 9:30-11:30 a.m. |
| Rock Bridge Memorial State Park – Sinkhole and Devil's Icebox trails, Columbia | Devil's Icebox parking lot | 12:30-2:30 p.m. |
| St. Francois State Park, Bonne Terre – hike | Swimming Deer Trail trailhead | 1-3:30 p.m. |
| St. Francois State Park, Bonne Terre – walk | Shelter 2 | 10:30 a.m. |
| St. Joe State Park, Park Hills | Shelter 6 | 1-3 p.m. |
| Stockton State Park, Dadeville | Sortor's Bluff Trail trailhead | 9-11:30 p.m. |
| Table Rock State Park, Branson | Lakeshore Trail trailhead at State Park Marina | Noon to 2 p.m. |
| Thousand Hills State Park, Kirksville | Red Bud Trail trailhead | 10-11 a.m. |
| Harry S Truman State Park, Warsaw | 1000th Mile Trail trailhead | 1-2 p.m. |
| Wakonda State Park – Agate Lake Trail, La Grange | Agate Lake Trail parking area | 2-3:30 p.m. |
| Wakonda State Park – Jasper Lake Trail, La Grange | Jasper Lake Trail parking area | 10:30-11:45 a.m. |
*The Onondaga State Park office is located near Leasburg, Missouri, but the starting point for the hike is near Bourbon, Missouri.