Tuesday, 17 December 2019 11:37

Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department to Celebrate New Year with First Day Hikes Across State on Jan. 1 Featured

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Beavers Bend State Park Hiking Beavers Bend State Park Hiking

Press release from Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department


OKLAHOMA CITY — In keeping with an annual tradition, Oklahoma State Parks will again host First Day Hikes on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. The free, guided hikes present an opportunity to begin the new year on a healthy perspective by getting outdoors, connecting with nature and promoting year-round recreation.

“The First Day Hikes continue to be a great resource for our guests and state park personnel to gather in the fresh air and beautiful surroundings of the parks,” said Oklahoma State Parks Director Kris Marek. “We enjoy making new friends and meeting those who come to the state parks for this event.”

Nineteen state parks will host hikes on New Year’s Day. Park staff and volunteers will lead the free hikes. For information on the individual parks, visit TravelOK.com.

First Day Hikes will be held in the following Oklahoma State Parks:

Southeastern Oklahoma
Arrowhead Area at Lake Eufaula State Park, Canadian: Meet at the park office at 10 a.m. for a moderate, 1/2-mile hike on the Trivia Trail. 918-339-2204
Beavers Bend State Park, Broken Bow: Meet at 11 a.m. at the Forest Heritage Center for an easy, 1-mile hike along the Forest Heritage Center Tree Trail. 580-494-6300
Lake Eufaula State Park, Eufaula: Meet at 10 a.m. at the Visitor Center for an easy, 1.5 mile hike on the Chinkapin Trail. 918-689-5311
Robbers Cave State Park, Wilburton: Two separate hikes will be held simultaneously. Meet at Community Room #1 at 9:30 a.m. and choose from two different hikes. The moderate-to-strenuous Mountain Trail is three miles long and will take approximately 2 hours to complete. The 1-mile Outdoor Classroom hike will take approximately 45 minutes. 918-465-2565
McGee Creek State Park, Atoka: Meet at 1 p.m. at T-Hill in the park for an easy, 1.4-mile walk through the Potapo Campground. 580-889-5822

Southern and Central Oklahoma
Lake Murray State Park, Ardmore: Meet at the Nature Center at 11 a.m. for an easy-to-moderate, 1.5-mile hike along the Nature Center Loop. 580-223-4044
Lake Thunderbird State Park, Norman: Meet at 11 a.m. at the Discovery Cove Nature Center for three different hikes. The first will take guests on the Nature Trail while the second will take guests on a paved, accessible trail. The third hike is across the dam. 405-360-3572.

Western Oklahoma
Alabaster Caverns State Park, Freedom: Meet at the park office at 10 a.m. for an easy, 1/2-mile hike on the cavern trail. 580-621-3381
Boiling Springs State Park, Woodward: Meet at 2 p.m. at the trailhead of the Scout Trail for a moderate, 1-mile hike. 580-256-7664
Fort Cobb State Park, Fort Cobb: Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Eagles’ Nest Pavilion at CS2530 and Eagle View Road for a moderate, 3-mile hike on the Western Oaks Heart Healthy Trail. 405-643-2249
Foss State Park, Foss: Meet at the Cedar Point shelter at 2 p.m. for a moderate, 2-mile hike on the Great Western Trail. 580-592-4433
Great Plains State Park, Mountain Park: Meet at the park office at 10 a.m. for a moderate, 5-mile hike on the Healthy Heart and Nature Trail. 580-569-2032
Roman Nose State Park, Watonga: Meet at noon in the lodge lobby for a moderate, 3-mile hike to Inspiration Point. 800-892-8690.

Northeastern Oklahoma
Keystone State Park, Mannford: Meet at the park office. The first hike begins at 12:01 a.m., and the second begins at 10:30 a.m. The moderate, 1.25-mile hikes will be held on the Rangers Pass Trail. Afterwards, hikers can enjoy coffee and hot chocolate. 918-865-4991
Osage Hills State Park, Pawhuska: Meet at the ball field at midnight for the first hike. A second hike will be held at 1 p.m. The easy, 1-mile hikes will be along the Creek Loop Trail. 918-336-5635
Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park, Bernice: Meet at 11 a.m. at the nature center for an easy, 1-mile hike along the paved Heart Healthy Trail. 918-257-8330.
Grand Cherokee Golf Course at Grand Lake State Park, Langley: Meet at 2 p.m. at the pro shop for an easy, 2.2-mile walk along the paved cart path below the Pensacola Dam. 918-435-8727
Greenleaf State Park, Braggs: Meet at 10 a.m. at the park office for an easy, 1-mile hike along the paved Family Fun Trail. 918-487-5196
Sequoyah State Park, Hulbert: Two different hikes are scheduled. The 11:30 a.m. hike is an easy, 1-mile hike. The 1:30 p.m. hike is a moderate, 2-mile hike. Following each event, participants are invited to enjoy warm refreshments at Three Forks Nature Center. Bring your own mug and help us reduce waste! 918-772-2108.

Hikers should remember to wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes. Bring a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing, and don’t forget water and snacks. Pets on leash are welcome at most hikes. Participating Oklahoma State Parks are offering hot chocolate and warm beverages after completion of the hikes and encourage visitors to stay and explore other areas or enjoy the quiet beauty of the parks in the wintertime.

In the event of inclement weather, information about cancellation of hikes will be available by calling the state park listed or checking Facebook.com/OklahomaStateParks.

David Deaton

Digital Editor at Oklahoma Welcome

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