Graham Cave State Park is right off Interstate 70 and is a hike into ancient history. Hiking through the park you walk in the footsteps of hunters-gathers thousands of years ago who found shelter in Graham Cave.

This state park also has waterfalls when it rains and babbling brooks along with a river nearby. 

Luckily the day we went as a family the waterfalls were flowing.

Graham Cave Trail

It is a .30-mile trail and is rated moderate and begins to the right of the parking area.

We first pass by an interpretive shelter with wayside exhibits on the cave and the ancient people that lived in it.

Then we cross a wooden bridge over a pebble filled brook that leads to an overhanging cliff with water pouring down.

A wet-weather waterfall can be seen here and was flowing the day we were here.

Graham Cave

Next, we walked up wooden stairs to the view of the Graham Cave. It is shallow but has an enormous entrance of 120 feet and 16 feet high. It extends into the hillside for at least 100 feet.

Artifacts that have been uncovered in Graham Cave reveal the lives of people occupying the cave 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Excavations found stone tools and a structure once built into the rock shelter for housing.

Archeologists Finds

As we stand in front of the rock cave we can imagine Native American lives. Using chert or flint for making projectile points, woodworking, and digging tools. 

Other types of stone were used for making tools by grinding. Stone was used for making mortars, grinding slabs, hammerstones, axes, whetstones, and hand stones. 

Bones and antlers were used for tools such as awls, punches, beamers (for removing fat from hides), combs, and eating utensils.

I talked about these things to my son Andrew as we walked along the trail.

On Top of the Cave

You can walk on top of the cave and look down at the open field below. It sort of walking like walking over a cement area and was fascinating and worth doing. It was the best part of the cave area.

Once we were up here there is not a trail. Yet, you can walk around here easily on the stone face and look for lizards, and here I found a prickly pear cactus.

I had to keep Andrew away from the edge but he liked being up here.

After scurrying about and taking photos of the pockmarked rocky terrain we headed down the paved trail that led back to the parking area. 

Look for the thong tree, these man-made shaped trees were trail markers left by Native Americans pointing to salt licks, springs, medicinal herbs, and here the cave.

Loutre River Trail

The Loutre River Trail begins near the boat dock in a field. The trail is a loop and about 2.50 miles long. The trail passes through bur oaks and Kentucky coffee trees. You can also find pawpaws, Ohio buckeyes, spicebush, and wildflowers such as the blue-eyed Mary. We didn’t have time to explore it today.

Fern Ridge Trail

This trail is half a mile one-way. It passes through the Graham Cave Glades. Here you might spot a slender glass lizard or a prairie lizard. The narrow trail winds just below the ridge top then descend into a timbered valley containing wet-weather waterfalls and there are sandstone ledges often covered with lichens, mosses, and ferns. It leads from the lower parking lot near the playground to the intersection with Graham Cave Trail.

We explored this short trail. Andrew liked going up into the cliffs and checking out the boulders. The trail does have some elevation gain so be aware of that when you are hiking it.

Indian Glade Trail

We parked in the camping area to walk part of the .9 mile Indian Glade Trail. I wanted to do the most interesting section with sandstone and limestone geologic features.

This trail goes by some lichen filled boulders and yellow wildflowers cliff side as it goes down towards a wet water waterfall.

Then we passed a cliff that juts out over the brook below.

On the cliff, you can see a small keyhole. I checked it out, but it was a bit steep for Andrew to be at and I just pointed it out to him.

Wet Weather Waterfall

I headed down into the area that the water tumbles into a small pond. Down here it was cool and you can hear the water going over the cliff. It is not easy to get down here so only do it if you are careful. David and Andrew stayed on top while I checked it out.

Back on the Trail

We walked a little further then noticed we were coming out of the cliff and brook area and decided to turn back to parking.

The Indian Glade Trail continues to the Graham Cave Trail.

Besides seeing the cave, this was probably my favorite hike. It was a ways from the main area of the park and included the waterfall and babbling brook.

NOTE: The park is close to the interstate, so you can hear highway noise along the Fern Ridge Trail and by the cave area.

DETAILS

Drive: Graham Cave State Park is a bit over an hour’s drive from the St. Louis area on Interstate 70. 

It is probably one of the easiest hiking destinations to get to since it is just off the interstate. Exit 170 off Interstate 70 onto Missouri 161 and look for State Highway TT on your left just after coming onto 161. Highway TT leads directly into the park.

Hours: 7 am to Sunset

Admission: Free

Address: 217 State Hwy TT, Danville, MO 63361

MORE DAD HIKES WITH CAVES

Dad Hikes: Cliff Cave Park

Near St. Louis is Cliff Cave Park with panoramic Mississippi River views and a cave to check out along its trails.

Dad Hikes: Onondaga Cave State Park

The tour cave is closed this year due to the coronavirus, but we could still look into the old cave entrance and feel the cold spray of spring at Onondaga Cave State Park.

Dad Hikes: Silver Mines

A mineshaft and a cascading river rushing through the remains of a stone cut dam are what awaits you at Silver Mines Recreation Area.

This is not a cave, but a cool mine shaft that you can checkout!

Dad Hikes — Many times I will do these hikes alone to learn the lay of the land before we do it as a family. Feel free to share suggestions for hikes to do. Also, share any questions you might have on the hikes!