With about 500,000 visits per year, there is no way to describe Mastodon State Historic Site as a hidden gem or local secret, but I’d wager that the vast majority of Jefferson County residents rarely see it as much more than a spot in their peripheral vision.
I have been to the park a number of times through the years, most recently to participate in a First Day Hike on New Years Day several years ago. I attended a few high school cross country events there and have visited the picnic area, but I had never hiked the Limestone Hill Trail.
When I heard that the First Day Hike was returning on Jan. 1, I wanted to reacquaint myself with the place I had driven past hundreds of times. The best way would be a museum visit and a trek on the trails.
The First Day Hike at Mastodon will feature a guided walk on the Spring Branch Trail. The 0.8-mile loop is the path we used when I was there a few years ago.
Ken Smith, director of the site, said the Limestone Hill Trail has been used in the past for First Day Hikes, but the length and the levelness of the Spring Branch Trail makes it more inclusive.
“It’s considered ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. The hard-packed surface is manageable for wheelchairs and strollers,” Smith said. “We try to mix it up on which trails we use.”
The special-event hike is scheduled from 1-2 p.m. and meets at the picnic area off Seckman Road. The trail loops along Rock Creek and a small stream from one of several springs in the 418-acre park. In addition to the hike with a naturalist, participants can enjoy hot chocolate and other refreshments.
The site is open from 8 a.m. until 30 minutes after sunset every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
On a recent Sunday, I decided the almost half-mile long Wildflower Trail would be a nice warm-up before tackling the two-mile Limestone Hill Trail. December is obviously not the peak time for the Callison Memorial Bird Sanctuary and wildflower area along the trail, but the weather was perfect for the rest of my walk. The trail is considered moderate difficulty with much of its elevation change served by about 130 wooden stairs.
The Limestone Hill Trail is significantly more difficult and offers just about everything a hard-core hiker could want in a two-mile trek so close to home. There are areas that are well-worn and others that require close attention to the path.
At its highest elevation (about 250 feet above its lowest) the views of Rock Creek Valley to the south and west are long. To the north and east you can see development in Arnold across the winter landscape. The top segment of the trail is rugged and remote. Much of the lower part of the walk is along Seckman Road, but the bluffs and the need to watch your step keep you distracted from the passing cars.
Like any public place, the trail had a few people-inflicted scars. Not far into my walk along the trail edge I discovered a doggy-do disposal bag someone had abandoned, but that was not as bad as in two other places where hikers had just walked away from what their pets had left on the path. Another scourge is on the lower portion of both trails, invasive honeysuckle bushes seem to have taken over as the primary understory species in the forest.
It is the prehistoric history of the Mastodon site that makes it such a popular attraction. It is the first place in eastern North America where evidence was found of people interacting with the pre-Ice Age animals.
During the winter the museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays through Mondays until it reopens for daily use after March 15. Admission to the museum is $4 for adults, but children ages 12 and under get in free.
“It starts with about a 15-minute movie written by members of the current staff,” Smith said. “Viewing the exhibits takes another 15 to 45 minutes depending on how much you want to read. We have a mastodon tooth you can touch, bones of some of the animals found at site you can see, and the centerpiece is a full-sized replica of a mastodon skeleton.”
I crossed paths with hikers of all ages on my weekend walk.
“Based on our counts, we have nearly a half million visitors using the trails, playground, picnic areas and museum each year,” Smith said. “Sometimes in the middle of the summer, we have to direct traffic because there aren't enough parking spaces.”
For more information on the First Day Hike or Mastodon State Historic Site, visit mostateparks.com or call 636-464-2976.
John J. Winkelman is community relations manager at Mercy Hospital Jefferson. If you have news for the Leader’s Outdoor News page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com and you can follow John on Twitter at @johnjwink99.