Fit4Mom August Blog Post
By Nichole Holze
Our Favorite Trails in Texarkana
When we first moved to Texarkana from Iowa, ten years ago, I was determined to explore the
city as much as I could. My daughter was born soon after we moved here and I began exploring
all the city had to offer. I loaded up our minivan with my infant daughter, my three year old
son, our German Shepherd, enough snacks to feed an army, and a change of clothes for
everyone. I made a point to explore every week, sometimes in town and sometimes beyond.
That pattern became a beloved tradition that I still hold onto today. I call it “adventure day”
and it’s still a part of our routine even now with a twelve year old and nine year old. You can
read more about that tradition HERE
All that exploring helped us find our favorite places to play in Texarkana, and you’d be surprised
how much there is to do right here! From playgrounds, to bike trails, water play, and even
unique things to do like go on a mural scavenger hunt around town. The Texarkana Chamber of
Commerce recently released a historical tour where you can “check in” around places
downtown. You can earn points and redeem them for prizes! It’s a really fun way to spend a
day, especially when the weather is cooler. Plan on coffee at Alley Cats Coffee before you take
off to explore! Learn more about that HERE
Outdoor adventures are our favorite way to play, and we’ve found more than one way to enjoy playing outside in and around Texarkana. Here are a few of our favorite things to do!
1. Bringle Lake Park East
a. The (shaded) playground and pavilion are really great in the hot summer
weather, plus there is a beautiful boardwalk that meanders right next to the lake
and through the trees. It’s a great place for strollers as well. There is also a sand
volleyball court (aka: the beach! Just watch for fire ants). For older children, you
can rent a double kayak from Paddle Texarkana (the pink storage shed) and
explore the lake. Yes, there are alligators, no they will not eat you. Scared to go
alone? Send me a message on FB or IG and I’d be happy to go out with you. The
east side also has plenty of picnic tables and a boat ramp.
2. Bringle Lake Park West
a. This is actually our favorite part of the park. The playground is lots of fun, with
plenty of seating right next to it and its’ mostly shaded. There is a paved path
and walkway all around the perimeter of the playground, with lots of picnic
tables. There’s even a small pump track for bikes and scooters now, just no
motorized wheels allowed on it, or any of the trails there. There is a little free
library that’s fun to check out, we always bring books that we’re done with there
to fill it up. You can also enjoy the small pier out over the lake, it’s a great fishing
spot.
b. Our favorite thing about Bringle Lake Park West is the trail system! There are
multiple trail options starting from this part of the park. There is the wider
nature trail, which is suitable for most strollers, and takes you back to the art
park and spillway. It’s a beautiful 2 mile walk back to the art park, 4 miles round
trip. The nature trail actually continues past the art park and completes a 7 mile
loop around the entire lake. You have to use the sidewalks and the road on
University Ave to walk back to the Bringle Lake West parking area. It’s a great
training loop for bigger hikes, and a great loop to bike with older kids. It is not
technical, just long.
c. In addition to the wider trail, there is also a series of “single track” more narrow
hiking trails that add up to over ten miles of trail! Some tips:
i. When you enter the trails, from behind the large map sign at Bringle
West, the trail will quickly split. If you’re walking, stick to the RIGHT, if
you’re biking, head LEFT. This is for safety so that you will not be
approached from the back if there are people biking. Plus, when you walk
to the right first, you’ll run right into Gnomington forest, a series of
“gnome” home doors that are dispersed throughout the first mile of the
trail. They’re so cute and my children still love opening the doors and
spotting them all.
ii. If you download an app called AllTrails you can look up trail maps and even live
track where you’re at so you do not get lost. It is one mile on the single
track, narrow trail, back to a two-way bridge. If you turn to the LEFT
before the bridge, the trail will circle back around for another mile and
bring you back to where you started.
iii. Learn more about the trail system and things to do HERE
3. Bobby Ferguson Park (Arkansas Side)
a. This is a great park for children of all ages, even older kids. The park has two
great playgrounds and multiple swings, including some inclusive playground
elements. It also has the “best climbing structures in town” according to my
children. The park has plenty of shaded areas, picnic tables, and seating. There
are two little free library locations. The park also has a paved (suitable for
strollers) trail that goes around the entire park. It’s about a one mile loop to
complete the whole thing. It’s a great place to look at wildlife, especially in the
spring when you can see all the baby ducks! The paved trail is a fun spot for
driving RC cars too.
4. Grady T Wallace (Texas Side)
a. This park is known as “the soccer and baseball park” but it’s more than that too.
There are multiple playgrounds on the west side of the park, by the pond.
There’s a bathroom, large covered pavilion, and a paved (stroller friendly)
walking trail that goes around the pond and continues all the way down toward
the baseball fields, following the fence line. I enjoy walking or running the path
while my daughter has soccer practice. There are always a lot of ducks and geese
at this park, so watch for bird poop on the sidewalks! The swings are the best in
town, according to my daughter.
5. Spring Lake Park (Texas side)
a. This large park is centrally located in Texarkana and is full of fun things to do.
There are multiple playgrounds, plus an inclusive playground! There is a little
free library near the playgrounds, a paved walking trail around the entire park, a
creek to play in, the splash pad, and a really unique fitness court suitable for
adults and older children. The park also has Texarkana’s only disc golf course,
which is a lot of fun! Check out the free app U-Disc to get a course map and
details.
Another fun option to try outdoors in Texarkana is geocaching. It’s where you can find hidden
“treasure” by using clues and gps coordinates. It’s a great activity for kids and adults of all ages
and a fun way to get moving outside. You can look up geocaches around Texarkana HERE You can create a free account. For more tips about geocaching with kids, check out this blog post.
For even more ideas of fun ways to explore downtown and around Texarkana, check out my blog post HERE
I also have a checklist with over 120 things to do in the ArkLaTex area with your family. Get that list HERE
Exploring and adventuring with your children is one of the best ways to build your relationship, make lasting memories, and have lots of FUN! I hope this list encourages you to explore all there is to do here. Have a great time!
Nichole is a writer, content creator, and avid outdoor adventure enthusiast residing in Texarkana. She’s married to Ryan and they homeschool their two children, aged twelve and nine. She has homeschooled her children from the beginning of their education and outdoor adventure and experience based learning are the cornerstones to their journey. Nichole also serves on the Executive Team for Run Wild My Child (www.runwildmychild.com) is a freelance writer for Wild and Free (www.bewildandfree.org ), and you can find her articles in books by Wild and Free in all major booksellers. Follow along with her shenanigans and adventure-schooling on Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/coleyraeh) , on Facebook (www.facebook.com/coleyraeh) or on her website (www.luckeywanderers.com)