Ultraviolet irradiation of the surface of graphite leads to the enhancement of the reaction of graphite with hydrogen to form methane under conditions where photo-induced thermal effects are negligible. Wavelength dependence of the photoenhancement correlates with excitation of the π-valence to π-conduction transition of graphite centered at 260 nm. Subsequent formation of some reactive excited state species leads to enhanced reaction rates. Likely candidates for such reactive species have been identified by comparative kinetic studies of the thermal and the photoenhanced reactions. For example, at low temperatures (< 500 K), the rate-limiting step of the thermal reaction is addition of H to surface CH3 groups, and the observed photoenhancement can be explained by activation of these CH3 groups.