As I sat down to write my annual roundup of places to get the new year off on the right foot, I discovered another reason to encourage people to find their way outside in the early winter days of 2023.
Now in their 12th year, the First Day Hikes promoted by America’s State Parks have grown to include more than 400 hikes in all 50 states. Missouri will host 30 events at 25 different locations. Most of the walks are led by a park naturalist who provides a wealth of information about the parks. Several are within a short drive of Jefferson County.
More on that in a minute. Now in its third year, the Bows for Birds program, sponsored by the Audubon Center at Riverlands, welcomes hikers to 12 parks and natural areas in the St. Louis region for a little exercise, a chance to win prizes, and some bird education.
Using clues to a mystery bird and its whereabouts, hikers search for a bow attached to a tree and a wooden cutout of the bird in each location. Walkers who complete a scavenger hunt worksheet can submit it for a chance to win raffle prizes.
Places where the 12 birds and bows can be found include Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood; the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park; Jefferson Barracks; Laumeier and Tilles parks in south St. Louis County; Missouri Botanical Garden; Forest, Lafayette and Bellerive parks in St. Louis; St. Ferdinand Park in Florissant; Spanish Lake Park in north St. Louis County and the Audubon Center in West Alton, near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
Participants have until Feb. 5 to find the bows and birds and submit their scavenger hunt form. Those who find at least seven and email the information to bows4birds@gmail.com are entered in a drawing. The grand prize basket includes a $680 pair of binoculars, and other donated prizes include a Big Muddy River adventure, gift cards, bird feeders, St. Louis Cardinals tickets and more. Participants also are encouraged to share images on social media, using the hashtag #BowsForBirds23.
You can find all the details, the scavenger hunt form and clues for each park at riverlands.audubon.org. The prize drawing is scheduled for Feb. 10 during the organization’s Great Backyard Bird Count virtual training. Happy hunting.
Now back to the First Day Hikes.
Closest to home is a tandem event at Washington State Park, just across the county line off Hwy. 21, planned for 1 to 2 p.m. on New Year’s Day. The park will hold a road-surface hike to accommodate strollers and other wheeled conveyances, and at the same time hold a guided walk along its popular Trail of 1,000 Steps. Following these excursions, a warming station and snacks will be available at Thunderbird Lodge.
For the more hearty hikers, a three-plus mile walk on the Swimming Deer Trail at St. Francois State Park is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. The trail follows the Big River and climbs the bluffs overlooking the stream valley. The water is turned off at the park this time of year, so the adventure is certain to offer a rustic appeal, along with a significant workout.
Somewhere in between, and a few more miles south, are a pair of hikes planned at St. Joe State Park and Missouri Mines State Historic Site in Park Hills. The 9 a.m. event on the two-mile interpretive trail at the historic site is mostly paved and gravel. The hike at the Lakeview Trail in the adjacent state park is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. The Lakeview Trail is considered an easy walk, including a partially paved trail for a quarter mile, plus a mile of natural surface hiking. For more information, call the park office at 573-431-1069.
Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park in Wildwood will host a First Day Hike on the 1.25-mile Hawthorn Trail, considered moderately difficult. The planned hike is scheduled for 10 a.m. beginning at the Alta Shelter parking lot. Snacks will be available at the shelter.
Advanced registration is required for all First Day Hikes. Visit mostateparks.com for more information on registration for any of the state park hikes. For those looking for a first day adventure outside our area, I can personally recommend – after visiting them myself – 15 of the 25 state parks on this year’s list. Among my favorites are Ha Ha Tonka near Lake of the Ozarks, Rock Bridge near Columbia and Hawn State Park in Ste. Genevieve County.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and is the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.