First Day Hike

1/1/2020 | Graham Cave State Park | Danville, MO

Help us celebrate New Year's Day with a First Day Hike in Graham Cave State Park, one of Missouri State Parks’ most significant archaeological sites and once the seasonal home of Indigenous peoples living as far back as 10,000 years ago.

Park naturalists will start the First Day Hike with the Graham Cave Story Hike at 1 p.m. at the Lower Picnic Area Interpretative Shelter, located at the east end of the Graham Cave Parking lot. This is a 0.3-mile moderate level hike on Graham Cave Loop Trail that will last about 30 minutes. During this hike, you will hear how early inhabitants lived and adapted to environmental changes over a course of 9,000 years. The interpretative talk is based on archaeological research from materials uncovered in the cave.

If you then decide you want to hike more, you may join park staff on a roughly 2.0-mile-long hike through upland and bottomland forests on Indian Glade and Loutre River trails. This hike provides a rare look at the park’s backcountry forest, glades and riparian zones.

Please follow interpretive signs to the First Day Hike meeting location. Hikers should bring drinking water and sunscreen and wear comfortable hiking shoes and weather-appropriate gear. The First Day Hike may be canceled in the event of extremely cold, icy or snowy weather. Please call the park office on Monday, Dec. 30 or Tuesday, Dec. 31 to check for cancellations.

Hike Time: 1 p.m. | Meeting Location: Lower Picnic Area Interpretive Shelter

First Day Hikes are promoted by America's State Parks, and you will be joining hikers from all 50 states. Click here to view more First Day Hikes at Missouri State Parks.