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.

Click on the park names below to learn more about each hike. To find more hiking opportunities near you, check out our statewide trails map or our list of all upcoming guided hikes.

News release: Start 2026 on the right foot with a First Day Hike

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	10 a.m. to noon
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 lotSpring 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.
Rock Island Trail State Park, Owensville	Trailhead	11 a.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	Table Rock Lakeshore Trail trailhead at State Park Marina	Noon to 2 p.m.
Thousand Hills State Park, Kirksville	Red Bud Trail trailhead by the lake	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.