First Day Hikes at Oklahoma State Parks

Photo Courtesy: Sequoyah State Park

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.)  Start 2022 off on the right foot with a rewarding hike through one of Oklahoma's scenic state parks. Get a head start on those fitness resolutions, embark on a guided nature-watching adventure, or simply enjoy the crisp January air with friends and family. 

These hikes are part of the America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative that takes place in all 50 states and encourages individuals and families to stay active with a hike outdoors. Whatever your motivation, an Oklahoma hike makes for a New Year’s Day you won’t regret. 

Embark on a simple walk close to geological wonders at Alabaster Caverns, encounter wildlife and waterside views on the trails near Grand Lake and everything in between on one of these invigorating excursions. With 20 participating parks across the state, there’s sure to be a hike happening near you. Dress warm, wear sturdy shoes and get ready to develop a healthy habit while discovering Oklahoma’s abundant nature.

Northwest

Alabaster Caverns State Park - Freedom

• Time: January 1 at 2pm
• Meeting location: Park Office
• Trail: Raptor's Roost Heart Healthy Trail sponsored by AARP Oklahoma 
• Degree of difficulty: Easy
• Minimum age for kids: All ages welcome, parent participation required for those under eight years
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 0.5 mile
• Things to bring: Water, binoculars, camera, hiking stick
• Cancelation information: Check 580-621-3381

Black Mesa State Park - Kenton

• Time: January 1 at 2pm
• Trail: Rock Garden Trail
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1.25 mile
• Things to bring: Water, binoculars, camera
• Cancelation information: Check 580-426-2222

Boiling Springs State Park - Woodward

• Time: January 1 at 2pm
• Meeting Location: Trailhead of River Trail
• Trail: River Trail
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate
• Minimum age for kids: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by parent.
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1 mile
• Things to bring: Water, binoculars, camera, hiking stick, snacks.
• Cancelation information: Check 580-256-7664

Roman Nose State Park - Watonga

• Time: January 1 at 1pm
• Meeting location: Lodge
• Trail: Canyon Spur
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate
• Minimum age for kids: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by parent.
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1.5 miles
• Things to bring: Water, binoculars, camera, hiking stick, snacks.
• Cancelation information: Check 580-623-7281

Northeast

Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park - Bernice

• Time: January 1 at 11am
• Meeting location: Nature Center
• Name of trail: Heart Healthy Trail (paved)
• Degree of difficulty: Easy
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Length of trail: 1 mile
• Things to bring: Water bottle, binoculars, camera, hiking stick
• Cancelation information: Check 918-257-8330

Greenleaf State Park - Braggs

• Time: January 1 at 9am, 10am & 1pm
• Meeting location: Park Office
• Name of trail: Greenleaf Lake Trail (9am & 1pm) and Family Fun Trail (10am)
• Degree of difficulty: Strenuous (9am & 1pm) and Easy (10am)
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 5.5 miles (9am & 1pm) and 1.5 miles (10am)
• Things to bring: Water bottle, binoculars, camera, hiking stick
• Cancelation information: Check 918-487-5196

Keystone State Park - Sand Springs

• Time: January 1 at 12:01am & 10:30am
• Meeting location: Park Office
• Name of trail: Rangers Pass Trail
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1.25 mile
• Things to bring: Water bottle, binoculars, camera, hiking stick, weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
• Cancelation information: Check 918-865-4991
• Other information: Complimentary hot chocolate and coffee will be available after the hikes.

Lake Eufaula State Park - Checotah

• Time: January 1 at 10am
• Meeting location: Visitor Center
• Name of trail: Chinkapin Trail
• Degree of difficulty: Easy
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1.5 miles
• Things to bring: Binoculars, camera, water, weather-appropriate clothing
• Cancelation information: Check 918-689-5311 or Lake Eufaula State Park's Facebook page.

Osage Hills State Park - Pawhuska

• Time: January 1 at midnight & 10am
• Meeting location: Creek Loop Trail
• Degree of difficulty: Easy
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1 mile
• Things to bring: Water and weather-appropriate clothing and shoes.
• Cancelation information: Check 918-336-5635

Sequoyah State Park - Hulbert

• Time: January 1 at 11:30am & 1:30pm
• Meeting location: Trailhead by the Chickasaw entrance (11:30am) & Three Forks Nature Center (1:30pm)
• Degree of difficulty: Easy and moderate, depending on hike.
• Minimum age for kids: Age six for hike, but all ages welcome in the Nature Center.
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1 mile (11:30am) & 2.4 miles (1:30pm). Both hikes are one-way, which will double the distance overall.
• Things to bring: Water bottle. Wear sturdy shoes.
• Cancelation information: Check 918-772-2108 and check Sequoyah State Park's Facebook page.

Tenkiller State Park - Vian

• Time: January 1 at 10am & 2pm
• Meeting location: Nature Center
• Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderately strenuous, depending on hike.
• Length of trail: Hike one will be 1.5 miles on the multi-use trail; hike two will be on the Whispering Leaves Trail
• Things to bring: Water bottle. Wear sturdy shoes.
• Cancelation information: Check 918-489-5025
• Other information: Each hike is limited to 25 people. Reservations for each hike are required by December 15 by calling 918-489-5025, ext 6. In addition, hot cocoa, lemonade and a dutch oven demonstration will be provided after each hike.

Southeast

Arrowhead Area at Lake Eufaula State Park - Canadian

• Time: January 1 at 10am and 1pm
• Meeting location: Arrowhead Park Office
• Name of trail: Trivia Trail
• Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1.3 miles
• Things to bring: Water bottle, binocular, camera, hiking stick
• Cancelation information: Check 918-339-2204 or check the Arrowhead State Park and Golf Course's Facebook page.

Beavers Bend State Park - Broken Bow

• Time: January 1 at 11am
• Meeting location: Forest Heritage Center
• Name of trail: Heritage Tree Trail
• Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Minimum age for kids: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by parent.
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1 mile
• Things to bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, camera
• Cancelation information: Check 580-494-6556

Lake Wister State Park - Wister

• Time: January 1 at 1pm
• Meeting location: Heart Healthy Trail
• Degree of difficulty: Easy
• Minimum age for kids: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by parent.
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 0.5 mile
• Things to bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, camera
• Cancelation information: Check 918-655-7212

McGee Creek State Park - Atoka

• Time: January 1 at 1pm
• Meeting location: Potapo Campground at T-Hill
• Name of trail: T-Hill Loop
• Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1.5 miles
• Cancelation information: Check 580-889-5822

Robbers Cave State Park - Wilburton

• Time: January 1 at 9:30am (two hikes available)
• Meeting location: Nature Center
• Degree of difficulty: Hike one is easy, hike two is moderate.
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: Hike one is the 1 mile Outdoor Classroom Trail; Hike two is the 3 mile Mountain Trail
• Things to bring: Binoculars, camera, hiking stick
• Cancelation information: Check 918-465-2565
• Other information: Children must be carefully supervised along the Mountain Trail due to high elevation and cliffs.

South Central

Lake Murray State Park - Ardmore

• Time: January 1 at 10am and 1:30pm 
• Meeting location: Lake Murray Nature Center at Tucker Tower
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate
• Minimum age of kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 1 mile
• Things to bring: Water bottle, camera, binoculars
• Cancelation information: Check 580-223-4044

Southwest

Fort Cobb State Park - Fort Cobb

• Time: January 8 at 10am
• Meeting location: Eagle's Nest Pavilion
• Name of trail: Western Oaks Heart Healthy Trail sponsored by AARP Oklahoma
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 3 miles
• Things to bring: Comfortable hiking shoes, binoculars, water, camera
• Cancelation information: Check 405-643-2249 or Fort Cobb State Park's Facebook page.
• Other information: Guests might see eagles, deer, turkey, water fowl and other wildlife!

Foss State Park - Foss

• Time: January 1 at 2pm
• Meeting location: Enclosed Cedar Point shelter above the marina.
• Name of trail: Great Western Heart Healthy Trail sponsored by AARP Oklahoma
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: 2 miles
• Things to bring: Water bottle, binoculars, camera, hiking stick
• Cancelation information: Check 580-592-4433 and Foss State Park's Facebook page

Great Plains State Park - Mountain Park

• Time: January 2 at 10am
• Meeting locations: Park office
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate
• Minimum age of kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trails: 2 mile hike to Upper Mountain entrance. Optional 5-6 mile hike to the dam and back.
• Things to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing
• Cancelation information: Check 580-569-2032

Quartz Mountain State Park - Lone Wolf

• Time: January 1 at 11am & 2pm
• Meeting location: Hike one meets at the lodge lobby; hike two meets at the park office and caravans to the Baldy Point Trail
• Name of trail: Sunrise Trail (11am) and Baldy Point Trail (2pm)
• Degree of difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
• Minimum age for kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trail: Hike one is a 0.5 mile loop; hike two is a 2 mile hike to the summit
• Things to bring: Comfortable hiking shoes, binoculars, water, camera
• Cancelation information: Check 580-563-2238
• Other information: Some portions of the Baldy Point Trail are steep with an elevation gain of roughly 300 feet.

Central

Lake Thunderbird State Park - Norman

• Time: January 1 at 10am (two hikes available)
• Meeting locations: Discovery Cove Nature Center
• Name of trails: Fawns Rest Accessible Trail, the Dam and Nature Center Trail. 
• Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Minimum age of kids: All ages
• Pets on leash allowed: Yes
• Length of trails: Fawns Rest Accessible Trail is 0.5 mile, and the Nature Center Trail is 2 miles.
• Things to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing
• Cancelation information: Check 405-360-3572