Arkansas State Parks will continue a New Year’s tradition Tuesday by inviting the public to venture forth on guided hikes.

With group outings offered at 31 of the state’s 52 parks, even if there’s not an outing to suit everybody, there’s an outing near most everybody.

At Jacksonport State Park in Newport, Kimberly Skaggs notes that state parks have assets and events year-round that could help anyone keep a resolution to be more active, but many taxpayers have no idea what resources the people own. “Gas prices are high, and Arkansas has some beautiful places that are not too hard to get to,” Skaggs says.

Lake Ouachita State Park in Mountain Pine has announced the most elaborate First Day plan.

Park interpreters will share trailguide duties with members of the Ouachita Mountain Hikers club. Visitors can join any of three outings on the Caddo Bend Trail, walks at distances from one to four miles, all beginning at 10 a.m.

Or they can take a half-mile self-guided stroll on the Dogwood Trail.

Complete any of Lake Ouachita’s hikes on New Year’s Day and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a carved hiking stick. One person will win the stick, but everyone who joins the hikes will get a souvenir button.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lake Ouachita’s interpreters will hang out around a campfire, waiting to hear about visitors’ resolutions and dishing up hot beverages and snacks. “Here you can ceremoniously burn your burdens away while reconnecting with nature and recharging your body, mind and spirit,” park interpreter Susan Adkins suggests in a news release.

Except for a hike planned at Logoly State Park in McNeil (west of El Dorado) and a four hour outing at Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area in Wickes, none of the day’s events require that visitors make reservations. Visitors who want to hike from 10 to 11 a.m. on Crane’s Fly Trail at Logoly should call the visitor center to sign up; the number is (870) 695-3561.

And Cossatot announced that its 3 ½-mile hike from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday on the Harris Creek Trail required registration by Dec. 28; but it’s not too late to call (870) 385-2201.

Here’s the list of the other hikes:

Bull Shoals-White River State Park (Bull Shoals), meet Interpreter Dru Edmonds at 10 a.m. for a moderately strenuous, 1 ¾-mile hike on Big Bluff Trail.

Cane Creek State Park (Star City), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., meet at Pavilion 1 for a six-mile hike on the Delta View Trail, Timberland Trail and Cane Creek Lake Trail. Another outing on the Delta View Trail is planned from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Crater of Diamonds State Park (Murfreesboro), 2 to 3 p.m. on the 1.2-mile Little Missouri River Trail, which has exercise stations as well as the longest wheelchair-accessible path in a state park.

Crowley’s Ridge State Park (Paragould), meet at the visitor center at 2 p.m. for a one-hour hike on the Dancing Rabbit Trail.

Davidsonville Historic State Park (Pocahontas), meet at the visitor center at 2 p.m. for one hour on the Trapper Lake Trail; this walk will include geocaching. Pets are welcome on a leash; children younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

DeGray Lake Resort State Park (Bismarck), 2 to 3 p.m., walk along the shore of DeGray Lake.

Delta Heritage Trail State Park (Barton) plans a walk and then a bike ride along the trail that once upon a time held the tracks for the Missouri Pacific’s Delta Eagle passenger train. Meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. for the 45-minute walk, followed at 1:30 p.m. by a two hour bike tour. Bicycles can be rented for $10.

Devil’s Den State Park (West Fork), visitors and their dogs (on leashes) can meet beside the visitor center’s flagpole at 10 a.m. for a two-hour, 1 ½-mile walk on the Devil’s Den Trail; learn how the park got its name as well as how the odd rock formations came about. Another two-hour hike, moderately strenuous and on the Yellow Rock Trail, begins at 3 p.m. at the Yellow Rock trailhead near Area A.

Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area (Rogers) has two hikes: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Shaddox Hollow Trail; 3 to 3:45 p.m. on the Sinking Stream Trail.

Jacksonport State Park (near Newport) has two hikes: 10 to 11 a.m., a low-impact walk on the Tunstall Riverwalk Trail; 2 to 4 p.m., a “Mighty Hike” to explore woods at the confluence of the White and Black rivers (meet on the boat ramp parking lot).

What makes the hike “mighty”? Skaggs explains that “we will be walking literally in the woods,” for 3 ½ miles. That constitutes a “moderate impact” outing, she says, so it will be important to wear appropriate clothing and carry water. Also, given recent flooding, hikers should be prepared for a little mud.

But she says, don’t let that dissuade you: “Our park is a very - I don’t want to use the word spiritual - but it’s a very wonderful place.”

Lake Catherine State Park (Hot Springs), meet at 3 p.m. at the Fall Branch trailhead for one peaceful hour on half a mile of the Falls Branch Trail - taking the easy shortcut to view the falls.

Lake Charles State Park (Powhatan), 2 to 3 p.m. on White Oak Trail.

Lake Chicot State Park (Lake Village) has two outings: meet at the visitor center at 10 a.m. for one hour on the Delta Woodlands Trail; meet at 3 p.m. behind Campsite 127 to stroll along the shore for an hour.

Lake Dardanelle State Park (Russellville), meet at the amphitheater at 10 a.m. for one hour on the Meadowbrook Trail.

Lake Fort Smith State Park (Mountainburg), meet at the visitor center at 9 a.m. for a 3 ½ hour outing on the Ozark Highlands Trail.

Lake Poinsett State Park (Harrisburg), 2 to 4 p.m. on the Great Blue Heron Trail.

Millwood State Park (Ashdown) meet at Waterfowl Way Trailhead at 1 p.m. for a 1 ½-hour walk on the Waterfowl Way Trail, which is on easy terrain. In case of rain, hikers will walk around the campground.

Mississippi River State Park (Marianna) plans two walks: 11 to 11:45 a.m. on the Bear Creek Lake Nature Trail; and for beginners, a half-mile on the easy Trotting Fox Trail at 2 p.m.

Moro Bay State Park (Jersey), 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Deer Run Trail.

Mount Magazine State Park (Paris), meet in the lobby of The Lodge at Mount Magazine at 10 a.m. for a one-hour walk up the Signal Hill Trail to the highest point in the state.

Mount Nebo State Park (Dardanelle), meet Park Interpreter Jeremiah Donahou on the visitor center parking lot at 1 p.m. for two hours on the Summit Park Trail.

Petit Jean State Park (Morrilton) has four hikes: meet in the CCC Room at Mather Lodge at 8:30 a.m. for two hours of learning about how the park maintains the Cedar Falls Trail; meet in the visitor center parking lot at 11:15 a.m. for a 45-minute history hike; meet in the parking lot near Bear Cave at 1:30 p.m. for 45 minutes of guided walking around Bear Cave; meet at the lot for the Rock House Cave Hike at 3 p.m. for a 45-minute tour of Rock House Cave.

Pinnacle Mountain State Park (Roland) plans two hikes: meet Interpreter Mary Anne Stansbury at the East Summit Trail at 9 a.m. for three moderately strenuous hours on the mountain; meet at the visitor center parking area at 2 p.m. for two hours on a hike that includes the Rocky Valley Trail and the East Quarry Trail.

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park (Prairie Grove) employees won’t lead you around their park, but you can park your car and take a self-guided walk along the one-mile Battlefield Trail or drive the five-mile motor tour, stopping to read interpretive signs.

See? Something for everybody.

Queen Wilhelmina State Park (Mena), 9 to 11 a.m. on the Lover’s Leap Trail. No leaping, please.

Village Creek State Park (Wynne), meet at the Lake Austell boat ramp at 2 p.m. for two hours on the Military Road Trail.

Withrow Springs State Park (Huntsville), meet Assistant Superintendent Daniel Godwin at the Dogwood Trail trailhead just past the Keith Ham Pavilion on Arkansas 23 at 10 a.m. for a brief but strenuous hour up and down the War Eagle Trail. He suggests packing a camera.

Woolly Hollow State Park (Greenbrier) has three hikes that range from a half mile to 3½ miles, but are all on the Huckleberry Trail beginning at 8 a.m.

More information is at ArkansasStateParks.com.

ActiveStyle, Pages 25 on 12/30/2013