First Day Hikes at Oklahoma State Parks

Start 2023 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.

Embark on a scenic First Day Hike at the nearest Oklahoma State Parks destination.
Photo Credit: Sequoyah State Park

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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 21 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

Boiling Springs State Park - Woodward

  • Time: January 1 at 2pm
  • Meeting Location: Scout Trail Head
  • Trail: Scout 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: 1 mile
  • Things to bring: Water, binoculars and camera
  • Cancellation information: Call 580-256-7664

Roman Nose State Park - Watonga

  • Time: January 1 at 1:30pm
  • Meeting Location: Lodge
  • Degree of difficulty: Moderate
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: Paved ADA trail is just over a mile long
  • Things to bring: Water, binoculars and camera
  • Cancellation information: Call 580-623-7281

Northeast

Arrowhead State Park - Canadian

  • Time: January 1 at 10am & 2pm
  • Meeting location: Park Office
  • Name of trail: Trivia Trail
  • Degree of difficulty: Easy
  • Minimum age for kids: All ages
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: 1 mile guided followed by optional 10 miles
  • Things to bring: Binoculars, camera, water, weather-appropriate clothing
  • Cancellation information: Call 918-339-2204 or check the Arrowhead State Park Facebook page.

Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park - Bernice

  • Time: January 1 at 11am
  • Meeting location: Nature Center
  • Name of trail: Heart Healthy Trail
  • Degree of difficulty: Easy
  • Minimum age for kids: All ages
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: 1 mile
  • Things to bring: Binoculars, camera, water, weather-appropriate clothing
  • Cancellation information: Call 918-257-8330 or check the Bernice State Park Facebook page.

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
  • Cancellation information: Call 918-689-5311 or check the Lake Eufaula State Park Facebook page.

Natural Falls State Park - West Siloam Springs

  • Time: January 1 at 10am
  • Meeting location: Dripping Springs Trail
  • Degree of difficulty: Easy
  • Minimum age for kids: All ages
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Things to bring: Water and weather-appropriate clothing and shoes.
  • Cancellation information: Call 918-422-5802

Osage Hills State Park - Pawhuska

  • Time: January 1 at 1pm
  • Meeting location: Creek Loop Trail
  • Degree of difficulty: Moderate
  • Minimum age for kids: All ages
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: 1 mile
  • Things to bring: Water bottle. Wear sturdy shoes.
  • Cancellation information: Call 918-336-5635

Sequoyah State Park - Hulbert

  • Time: January 1 at 11am & 1pm
  • Meeting location: Trailhead by the Chickasaw entrance (11am) & Park Office (1pm)
  • Degree of difficulty: Easy and moderate, depending on hike.
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: 5 miles (1pm).
  • Things to bring: Water bottle. Wear sturdy shoes.
  • Cancellation information: Call 918-772-2108 or check the Sequoyah State Park Facebook page.

Tenkiller State Park - Vian

  • Time: January 1 at 1pm
  • Meeting location: Driftwood Nature Center
  • Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderately strenuous, depending on hike.
  • Name of trail: Whispering Leaves Trail
  • Things to bring: Water bottle. Wear sturdy shoes.
  • Cancellation information: Call 918-776-8180
  • Other information: If conditions become icy, the hike will be held along a paved trail. After the hike, enjoy a cup of cocoa, cider or cookies and if conditions permit, a campfire and s'mores.  

Southeast

Beavers Bend State Park - Broken Bow

  • Time: January 1 at 10am & 1pm
  • Meeting location: Forest Heritage Center at 10am & Broken Bow Dam parking lot at 1pm
  • Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderate
  • Name of trail: Heritage Tree Trail & Rattlesnake Bluff Trail
  • Minimum age for kids: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by parent.
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: 1 mile and 4 miles
  • Things to bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, camera
  • Cancellation information: Call 580-494-6300
  • Other information: Hot dogs will be served noon at the Forest Heritage Center.

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
  • Cancellation information: Call 918-655-7212

McGee Creek State Park - Atoka

  • Time: January 1 at 1pm
  • Meeting location: T-Hill Loop on the campground
  • 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, snacks, binoculars, camera
  • Cancellation information: Call 580-889-5822
  • Other information: Snacks and hot beverages will be provided after the hike.

Robbers Cave State Park - Wilburton

  • Time: January 1 at 9am
  • Meeting location: Lodge
  • Degree of difficulty: Moderate to difficult
  • Minimum age for kids: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by parent and carefully supervised along Mountain trail.
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: Outdoor Classroom trail is one mile, Mountain trail is 2.5 miles
  • Things to bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, camera
  • Cancellation information: Check the Robbers Cave State Park Facebook page

Talimena State Park - Talihina

  • Time: January 1 at 9am
  • Meeting location: Ouachita Trailhead
  • 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: 200 miles; guests choose their distance
  • Things to bring: Water, snacks, binoculars, camera
  • Cancellation information: Check the Talimena State Park Facebook page

South-Central

Lake Murray State Park - Ardmore

  • Time: January 1 at 10am and 1pm
  • Meeting location: Lake Murray Nature Center at Tucker Tower for the Nature Center Trail and the Park Office for the Buckhorn Trail
  • Things to bring: Water bottle, camera, binoculars Cancellation information: Call 580-223-4044

Lake Texoma State Park - Kingston

  • Time: January 1 at 10am Meeting location: Trailhead in Ben’s Campground Degree of difficulty: Easy
  • Minimum age of kids: Six and above
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: 1.6 miles
  • Things to bring: Water bottle, camera, binoculars Cancelation information: Call 580-564-2566

Southwest

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
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: 2 miles
  • Things to bring: Water bottle, binoculars, camera, hiking stick
  • Cancellation information: Call 580-592-4433 or check the Foss State Park Facebook page.

Fort Cobb State Park - Fort Cobb

  • Time: January 7 at 10am
  • Meeting location: Eagles Nest Community Building
  • Name of trail: Western Oaks Heart Healthy Trail
  • Degree of difficulty: Moderate
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trail: 3 miles
  • Things to bring: Water bottle, binoculars, camera, hiking stick
  • Cancellation information: Call 405-643-2249 or check the Fort Cobb State Park Facebook page.

Great Plains State Park - Mountain Park

  • Time: January 7 at 9am
  • Meeting locations: Park Office
  • Degree of difficulty: Moderate
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trails: 5 mile hike on the Heart Healthy and Nature Trails
  • Things to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing
  • Cancellation information: Call 580-569-2032

Quartz Mountain State Park - Lone Wolf

  • Time: January 1 at 11am & 2pm
  • Meeting locations: Lodge at 11am. Park office at 2pm.
  • Degree of difficulty: The 11am hike is easy and paved; the 2pm hike is strenuous
  • Length of trails: The 11am trail is one mile
  • Things to bring: For the 2pm hike, bring trekking poles and a sturdy pair of boots
  • Cancellation information: Call 580-563-2238 or check the Quartz Mountain State Park Facebook page.

Central

Lake Thunderbird State Park - Norman

  • Time: January 1 at 1pm
  • Meeting locations: Discovery Cove Nature Center
  • Degree of difficulty: Two hikes are available: an easy, paved trail or a more moderate hike
  • Pets on leash allowed: Yes
  • Length of trails: 2.5 miles on the moderate hike
  • Things to bring: Camera, binoculars, water and appropriate dress for cold weather
  • Cancellation information: Call 405-360-3572

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