First Day Hikes

Celebrate the beginning of 2024 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.

Registration is required for all hikes, but participation is free. 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, visit our Guided Hikes page.

Park/Historic Site

Meeting Location

Time

Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Wildwood Guy Park Trailhead 10 a.m. to noon
Bennett Spring State Park, Lebanon Natural Tunnel Trail trailhead 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Big Sugar Creek State Park, Pineville Ozark Chinquapin Trail trailhead 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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 3:30 p.m.
Crowder State Park – Tall Oaks Trail, Trenton Shelter 3 parking lot 10 a.m.
Crowder State Park – Thompson River Trail, North Loop, Trenton Equestrian parking lot 1 p.m.
Graham Cave State Park, Danville Visitor center 9-11:30 a.m.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Camdenton Spring Trail trailhead off lake parking lot 9-11 a.m.
Hawn State Park, Ste. Genevieve White Oaks Trail trailhead 2-4 p.m.
Jefferson Landing State Historic Site/Missouri State Museum, Jefferson City Lohman Building 1-2:30 p.m.
Katy Trail and Rock Island Trail state parks, Windsor  Windsor trailhead 1 p.m.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Kaiser Parking lot at Hidden Springs Trail trailhead Noon to 2 p.m.
Mastodon State Historic Site, Imperial Spring Branch Trail trailhead 2 p.m.
Meramec State Park, Sullivan In front of the visitor center 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Missouri Mines State Historic Site, Park Hills Gatehouse 9-11 a.m.
Montauk State Park, Salem Nature center 10 a.m. to noon
Roaring River State Park, Cassville Devil's Kitchen Trail trailhead 1-3 p.m.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park – Deer Run Trail, Columbia Playground 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 Swimming Deer Trail trailhead 1-4 p.m.
St. Joe State Park, Park Hills Shelter 6 1-3 p.m.
Table Rock State Park, Branson Table Rock Lakeshore Trail trailhead Noon to 2 p.m.
Thousand Hills State Park, Kirksville Red Bud Trail trailhead by lake 10-11 a.m.
Harry S Truman State Park, Warsaw 1,000th Mile Trail trailhead Noon
Wakonda State Park, La Grange Jasper Lake parking lot 10-11:30 a.m.
Washington State Park, De Soto Thunderbird Lodge 1-3 p.m.

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