For the last week, we’ve been averaging a “RealFeel” of around 110⁰ for a high… in September. The pumpkin spice might be out, but the only thing feeling seasonal right now is my depression.

Summer days can be a stunning 75⁰, so what do you do when it’s hot, humid, and buggy? In this article, I’ll walk you through some of the activities at the top of my list, how I beat the heat, and how we do our best to ensure that any dog-friendly activities are actually dog-friendly.

And as always, if you’re doing anything outdoors, then use your best judgment, stay hydrated, and stay safe.  

Picking the Right Adventure 

The trick to enjoying summer outdoors isn’t necessarily learning to tolerate the heat. Sometimes it’s choosing an adventure that works with it.

Short hikes or Nature trails 

Short hikes or nature trails are an excellent way to get outdoors during the summer. Not every adventure needs to be a 6-hour hike. Sometimes the best adventure is short, nearby, and simply gets you out the door. 

During the work week, when time is limited, I rely heavily on my city parks and local conservation areas to get outdoors in the evening. Depending on the time of day, cloud cover, and overall temperature, we might have to prioritize tree cover, but either way we are looking for nearby options that provide a little more stimulation (for us and Dutch) than what we might get hanging out in the backyard. 

You can always check AllTrails for shorter and lower-difficulty hikes in your area, too! 

Water Recreation 

Fishing, kayaking, float trips, swimming, or maybe just a chill day on the gravel bar. 

Missouri is home to 4,400 freshwater springs, roughly 276,000 acres of public lakes, and over 110,000 miles of rivers and streams. Trust me, you have options! 

We just got back from Montauk State Park, and we did a lot of river wading while fishing. It was August. It was hot. We happily fished for hours. How? 

The Upper Current River that flows through Montauk is fed by the Montauk Spring, which keeps the water temperature nice and cool. Pair that with shade provided by the tree line that hugs much of the river, and you’ve got a great way to stay cool even on a hot day. 

A few weeks ago, it was still hot and humid, and we just had to get out of the house before the work week started again. We had about 2 hours left of daylight and decided to pack up the kayaks to head to a new-to-us river access nearby. The sun was just above the tree line when we started, so we had ample, but not harsh, light for our trip.

This was a great reminder of how a little adventure can have a big impact. We kayaked for about an hour and left thinking, “Wow, this was here the whole time? And it was that easy?” 

No big plans, no big lists. Just a decision to enjoy the outdoors. 

Caves

Okay, this one is really cool. Literally. 

Missouri has about 7,500 caves, and about 20 of them are commercial or “show caves” that offer professional, guided tours rather than simply being caves you might happen upon while hiking. The show caves range from roughly 50⁰ – 60⁰ year-round, so this is my only summer activity that I recommend packing a light jacket for even when it’s mid-August! 

We’ve participated in guided tours at Onondaga State Park and Stark Caverns. Both experiences were led by an expert guide, and we learned about the cave’s history, its formations, and the critters that dwell there. Notably, we were able to escape the heat in July and the bitter cold of February! 

This can be a really great, year-round activity for the whole family, but make sure to double-check the accessibility rating for the specific cave you’re interested in exploring. Stark Caverns was largely wheelchair accessible, while Onondaga Cave had steeper inclines and slippier surfaces that are not recommended for wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers.  

And no, you will never see a “Spelunking” article from me. 

How to Beat the Heat

As always, this is a guide that works for me, and it may work for you, too, but it’s not medical advice or a rigid set of rules. 

That being said, I’ve already alluded to some of the ways that I beat the heat, but let’s dig a little deeper (not a cave pun).

Timing

Timing is imperative, but the window changes depending on the time of year and location. During the summer, we generally try to avoid doing anything strenuous outdoors from about 12 to 5 in the afternoon. Why? For starters, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses are no joke. Beyond that, it’s just not as enjoyable. 

We’re all different, but I’m not going outdoors and doing these activities because I’m an adrenaline junkie or trying to push my limits. 

I’m out here because I enjoy nature, pretty things, and the general sense of awe that comes with feeling small in a vast landscape. 

Sometimes that involves doing hard things, but it doesn’t have to, and it certainly can be made easier by adapting for the time of day or time of year. 

Hydration

I generally aim for around 0.5 L of water per hour when hiking or doing most things outdoors. This amount increases with the temperature, altitude, and difficulty of the activity. 

The heat and humidity cause me to sweat more. More sweat means more sodium loss, so there are times I’ll pack an electrolyte packet or some salty snacks to replenish that sodium loss. 

Shade 

The more shade, the better! 

Take a page from my lessons learned at Clifty Creek Conservation Area. If you’re in a heavily forested area, then you’ll absolutely have great shade, but it will also make it feel like sunset comes a lot earlier. 

Difficulty 

Heat adds difficulty all by itself. A trail that feels easy when it’s 65⁰ can feel considerably harder when it’s 90⁰ with high humidity. I don’t necessarily change what we want to do, but I do change how much of it we’re willing to do.

A five-mile hike might become two miles. A steep trail might become a flat one. Or a hiking day might become a fishing day.

There’s no prize for being miserable.

Dog Days of Summer

This one is pretty simple. Dog-friendly doesn’t mean dog-obligatory. If it’s too hot for Dutch, he’s not going. There will always be another trail, another river, another campground – and there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing air conditioning instead.

If you’re thinking about bringing your pup along, always always always do what is safest for your pup versus what might be best for you. Sometimes our “dog-friendly, outdoor adventure” is just going for a couple of air-conditioned laps around large, dog-friendly stores like Lowe’s, Buchheit, or, our local favorite, Premium Pets. 

We try to avoid overgrown trails as much as possible, but especially for Dutch’s sake. Fortunately, he’s pretty easy to carry, so if we do go through an overgrown stretch I pick him up and just hope any ticks bounce off of the cocktail of bug spray I have layered on. 

Pack It Up

Summer doesn’t have to mean staying inside until September or forcing yourself to suffer through the heat just to say you did it.

For me, enjoying summer outdoors is mostly about being willing to adapt. Go earlier. Stay in the shade. Get in the water. Pick the shorter trail. Find a cave. Bring the dog when it’s safe for him, and leave him home when it isn’t.

The goal isn’t to conquer the heat. It’s to find ways to enjoy being outside without making yourself miserable in the process.

Because there are plenty of beautiful summer days worth getting outside for. You just might have to approach them a little differently.

What are your favorite summer activities or tricks to beat the heat?

~ Mo