Release Date
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 28, 2025 – Missouri’s lake area state parks and historic sites will host a wide variety of events in August.
- Friday, Aug. 1, at 9 p.m. – Night Hike at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.
Go on a guided after-dark hike to the Ha Ha Tonka Spring. Guests will explore the world of nocturnal animals and their amazing adaptations for life at night. The journey will reveal who gets up when the sun goes down. Meet at the Spring Trail trailhead to hike to the spring and back, covering about 0.8 mile. The trailhead is located in the lake parking lot in the park in Camdenton. To get there from U.S. Highway 54, turn onto state Road D and continue for approximately 2.7 miles to Tonka Spring Road. The lake parking lot will be on your right.
- Saturday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. – Guided Bison Saunter at Prairie State Park.
Has the rising heat got you down? The bison don't mind. They have shed much of their fur and are able to handle the high temperatures. For more than 5,000 years they have coped with weather extremes. Visitors should be prepared for at least a 2-mile saunter over uneven terrain. Because we won’t know the bison's location until the morning of the event, bringing water, snacks, a hat, insect repellent and sunscreen and wearing sturdy shoes is recommended. August weather can be unpredictable, so please prepare for it. Binoculars can be useful in watching the bison and other wildlife. The event is free, but registration is required and limited to 30 participants. To register, call 417-843-6711. Prairie State Park is located at 128 NW 150th Lane in Mindenmines.
- Saturday, Aug. 2, at 9 p.m. – Perseid Meteor Shower Viewing Event at Bennett Spring State Park.
Visit the park after hours to watch the annual Perseid meteor shower that occurs every August after the full moon, producing 100 to 150 meteors of different colors!
The viewing will take place in the field near the splash pad. Guests should bring chairs, blankets or beach towels for seating, as well as telescopes or binoculars for better viewing. Parking is available at the splash pad. In the event of poor viewing conditions, the park may cancel the event. The park is located at 26250 Highway 64A outside of Lebanon.
- Saturday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. – Trivia Hike and Nature Bingo at Stockton State Park.
Looking to exercise your muscles and your brain while also enjoying time outdoors? Need something to do on a Saturday evening in August? Then join us for this fun event at Stockton State Park. The event will begin with a trivia hike on Nyblad Trail. Meet at the amphitheater near the East Campground at 7 p.m. to sign in and get an answer sheet. Then, set off to test your knowledge of nature during this out-and-back hike. The hike will total about 1 mile.
Once everyone gets back to the amphitheater with their trivia sheets filled in, we will play some nature bingo. This event is free and open to the public, and there is no need to register. Stockton State Park is located at 19100 S. Highway 215 in Dadeville.
- Sunday, Aug. 9, at 8:30 p.m. – Full Moon Hike at Stockton State Park.
Join representatives from Stockton State Park and the Stockton Trails Initiative Coalition for a night hike under the full moon. This guided hike will start in the northwest part of the park, near the North Shelter and the baseball field. From there, participants will walk a short distance on Lakeview Trail before reaching Umber Ridge Trail, a 1.6-mile loop. They will hike this loop in a clockwise direction, stopping at the beach for a quick swim and a chance to bask in the moonlight. Following that, they will complete the rest of the loop and return to the starting point via Lakeview Trail. This event is free and open to the public, and there is no need to register. Participants should bring drinking water, insect repellent, water shoes and a towel. Although the moon will provide some light, a flashlight or headlamp may also come in handy. Stockton State Park is located at 19100 S. Highway 215 in Dadeville.
- Saturday, Aug. 23, at 2 p.m. – Littered Landscape at Bennett Spring State Park.
Do you know how long it takes a plastic bottle or soda can to decompose? The answers might surprise you. Join staff outside the park store to learn how long litter can last if it is not picked up. The program is free and open to the public, and there is no need to register. Bennett Spring State Park is located at 26250 Highway 64A outside of Lebanon.
- Saturday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m. – Hunkah Prairie Natural Area Saunter at Prairie State Park.
Missouri's designated natural areas represent some of the best – and last – examples of our state's original landscapes. Explore one of these areas during a guided saunter on Path of the Earth People at Prairie State Park. This 1.9-mile trail traverses the former Hunkah Prairie Natural Area, which was designated as a natural area Aug. 26, 1975, five years before the park's establishment. Hunkah Prairie was eventually combined with three other natural areas to form Regal Tallgrass Prairie Natural Area, which today comprises more than 90% of the park.
The saunter will begin at the Path of the Earth People trailhead on West Central Road. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear and bring water, snacks, insect repellent, a hat and sunscreen. Refreshments will be available in the nature center after the saunter. This event is free and open to the public, and there is no registration. More information is available by calling the nature center at 417-843-6711. Prairie State Park is located at 128 NW 150th Lane in Mindenmines.
- Saturday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. – Nature Bingo at Prairie State Park.
Instead of “BINGO,” this game uses the word "NATURE," and instead of calling out numbers and letters, a staff member will give a fact about an animal, plant or fungus. Participants will have the opportunity to guess what is being described; when someone fills in a column or row with correct guesses, that person wins a prize!
Nature Bingo will take place inside the Regal Tallgrass Prairie Nature Center at 128 NW 150th Lane in Mindenmines. This activity is free and open to the public, and there is no need to register.
- Saturday, Aug. 30, at 10 a.m. – Pollinator Garden Workday at Roaring River State Park.
The public is invited to join park team members in restoring and maintaining the native plants pollinator garden at the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center. Volunteers will discover the importance of cultivating native plants for pollinators and they will get tips and ideas for creating pollinator gardens in their own yards. Each workday will go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but volunteers are not required to stay for the entire event.
Participants should wear comfortable clothes they don’t mind getting dirty and bring garden gloves, water, snacks, lunch and sunscreen. A garden kneeler may also come in handy. The park will provide all tools. Registration is not required, but returning volunteers will be asked to sign up in the Missouri State Parks volunteer system. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a signed parental consent form. This form can be completed and signed at the nature center. Roaring River State Park is located at 12716 Farm Road 2239 in Cassville.
For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit Missouri State Parks Upcoming Events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
