Earth Day is a great reminder to protect our environment. And what better way to do that than to get outside and bask in nature! To celebrate Earth Day, you could make plans to watch the sunrise, document a nature journey with your family, make crafts out of items found on a hike, etc. all right here within Cape’s 25 parks!

Cape has 25 parks? Yes! The Cape Girardeau Parks Department maintains the parks which cover more than 662 acres. Visit the link above for a listing and locations of all the parks to plan your outing. A park that has something for everyone is Capaha Park, the oldest park in Cape Girardeau’s park system. Located near Southeast Missouri State University, the park is home to a 3.5 acre fishing pond with a trail around it, play areas, shelters and a disc golf course.

Walking along the Mississippi River and taking in the awe of the rushing water is another great way to appreciate nature! Now home to a new mural, Cape’s Riverfront Park is a 1.5-acre park with terraced seating and a bike/walking trail.

For a longer path, the City of Cape Trail System features the popular Cape LaCroix Trail from Shawnee Park through the city of Cape to Osage Park, with several locations to park and hop on the trail. You’ll see walkers, runners, bikers, etc. as people exercise along the paved trail. As flowing creeks and thick woods flank the trail in places, it’s a great place to appreciate where we live and the beauty of the outdoors.

See you on the trail! Remember to check out the VisitCape Outdoors Guide on our website for even more ideas!