Indian Glade and Graham Cave Loop Dog Hike: Moderate 2.5 Miles

From Alltrails:
Head out on this 2.5-mile loop trail near Montgomery City, Missouri. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 58 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, camping, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

Graham Cave Trails natural surface section leads to Graham Cave, passing by an interpretive shelter with wayside exhibits and an overlook at a wet-weather waterfall. The Indian Glade trail at Graham Cave State Park is a .9 mile point to point trail located near Montgomery City, Missouri. The trail is used for hiking. It connects the camping area to the entrance of Graham Cave traveling through semi-rugged Oak woodlands on the way to the cave. Indian Glade Trail leads to the entrance of Graham Cave. It connects the camping area and lower (south) parking lot and intersects with Woodland Way and Graham Cave trails and is near connections to Loutre River Trail. As hikers follow the natural surface trail to Graham Cave, they will be hiking along the edge of the Graham Cave Glades Natural Area. As part of the Missouri Natural Area System, this area still possesses much of the same character experienced by American Indians when they inhabited the region. Ascending from the valley, there will be views of sandstone ledges, often covered with lichens, mosses and ferns. Above the ledges are open, rocky glades. Plants such as prickly pear cactus, rushfoil, pinweed, rose verbena, fame flower, Missouri brown-eyed Susan, hairy lip fern and adders tongue fern are well adapted to life in the extremely hot and dry glade environment.

Length: 2.5 mi
Elevation gain: 242 ft
Route type: Loop

Alltrails has this marked as an easy trail, but the reviews have mixed feelings about that, so I marked it as moderate. This will be my first time here.

This will not be a power hike. We stop frequently for pictures and general shenanigans. We will hike at a pace the group is comfortable with, with no pup left behind.

Requirements:
Great Attitude and Sense of Humor
Hiking Boots are strongly recommended, poles if you use them
Dog Necessities and Plenty of Water
Snacks, if desired

There are restrooms here. I am unsure of cell reception, so please plan to be a few minutes early so we can start on time.

**Please do not be a no-show. My pups will have to listen to me complain about it the whole way home. Don’t make those sweet pups have to deal with that.**