Best Hiking Trails Near Texarkana.

Hiking is a great way to keep moving, get outside, and enjoy some adventures. There are some wonderful places to hike around the ArkLaTex. Texarkana is a city in two states, deep in southwest Arkansas and east Texas. Our family has been hiking all over the Four States and ArkLaTex area for the last ten years. I’ve compiled all of our favorite hikes within two hours of Texarkana into one place. Grab your FREE PRINTABLE CHECKLIST of the best hiking trails near Texarkana. Keep reading for an overview of the best hiking trails near Texarkana (and my favorites!).

For a full, detailed guide of all of all the hikes across the area, get my Ultimate Hiking Guide to the ArkLaTex.

Hiking trails near Texarkana.

It may surprise you to learn that there is some great hiking right here at home. Some of the best hiking trails near Texarkana are right here in Texarkana! We are lucky to have a large trail system and several other trails in Texarkana, on both sides of state line. We use some of these trails almost every week and we are excited for the future trail development. A note: if you don’t have the AllTrails app yet, I highly recommend downloading it. It’s free to use for basic features and has maps of almost all of the trails listed.

Bringle Lake Trail System.

This trail system at Bringle Lake Park is the crown jewel (in my opinion) of the parks in Texarkana, USA. It is a spectacular park with incredible amenities as a whole, but the trail system makes it extra special. There are multiple trail options within the main trail, with a little something for everyone. The Bringle Nature Trail is a wider trail that starts on Bringle Lake East and stretches back to the spillway before following the lake all the way around to the west. It ends at University Avenue and you can walk the sidewalk back around to connect the full 7 mile loop. Additionally, there are almost 10 miles of “single track” more narrow trails that wind through the west side of the park. These trails are maintained by volunteers and they’re constantly adding more unique features like bridges and jumps.

This park and trail system is my number one favorite in Texarkana.

Bobby Ferguson.

This is a wonderful city park on the Arkansas side of Texarkana. The park features a paved hiking path that totals 1.4 miles. It’s great for walking, hiking, running, and biking. The trail has lights all along it and it’s a beautiful and scenic place to walk. It’s fun to birdwatch while you walk this trail.

Paved trails in Texarkana.

There are multiple places in Texarkana to walk on a paved trail. These trails are great for walking, jogging, biking, strollers, and more.

• Bobby Ferguson (AR side) paved path. 1 mile loop, easy.
• Nix Creek Trail (AR side) paved path. 4.4 miles one way, easy.
• Phillip McDougal Trail (TX side) paved path. Spring Lake Park. 1.8 mile loop, easy.
• Texarkana College Trail (TX side) paved path. .5 mile loop, easy.

Trails on the Arkansas side.

The state of Arkansas has some incredible places to hike. The national forests and state parks offer trails off all types, lengths and difficulties. Luckily, you don’t have to drive far to find some of the best hiking trails near Texarkana on the Arkansas side. There are several wonderful state parks, national forests, and recreation areas within a two hour drive from Texarkana.

Note – Arkansas state parks do not charge admission and are free.

Millwood Lake State Park.

This is the closest state park to Texarkana. Located in Ashdown, Arkansas, Millwood Lake is best known for fishing but it’s also a wonderful spot for birdwatching. There are two trails to enjoy at this park and they are suitable for all ages with both trails rated easy. Yes, there are alligators in this lake, no we’ve never seen any, at least not on any of the trails. These trails do get very wet and boggy after a rain or during the spring. Both trails are relatively flat and great for families as well.

• Waterfowl Way – 1.6 miles, hiking, easy.
• Wildlife Lane – 3.4 miles, open for hiking and biking, easy.

White Oak Lake State Park.

White Oak Lake State Park is a little bit of a hidden gem about an hour and a half from Texarkana. It’s an incredibly peaceful park with a lake, campground, canoe and kayak rental, small visitors center, and trails. It’s absolutely stunning in the fall with the autumn colors and has great fishing (especially bass) all year round. There are several trails at this state park, but here are two of our favorites:

• Coastal Plain – 3 miles, hiking, easy.
• Fern Hollow – 8 miles, hiking and biking, moderate.

Logoly State Park.

The first environmental education state park in Arkansas, Logoly State Park offers great hiking and learning opportunities as well. It’s a little over an hour drive from Texarkana. The visitor center is really neat and great for younger children, with hands on exploration and learning. They offer many guided and ranger led programs throughout the year. The park has a fascinating history as well with some mineral springs. There are several hiking trails but these two are our favorites, both are well suited for families with kids of all ages:

• Spring Branch – 2 miles, hiking, easy.
• Crane’s Fly – 3/4 mile, hiking, easy.

Ouachita National Forest.

The Ouachita National Forest is a massive tract of federally protected land in central Arkansas. It’s home to the Ouachita Mountain Range and has wonderful opportunities for remote wilderness exploration and outdoor recreation. One of the most iconic hikes in Arkansas, Eagle Rock Loop, is located in this forest, within the Albert Pike Recreation Area. That hike is a strenuous (and remote), 28 mile loop, thats’ a favorite among backpackers and long day hikers. There are other great hikes in the forest and for those looking for a challenge, here are two of my favorite hikes to do:

• Winding Staircase (Albert Pike) – 4 miles, hiking, moderate to strenuous.
• Buckeye Mountain to Caney Creek Loop – 10 miles, hiking, strenuous.

Trails on the Texas side.

Lucky for those of us living in Texarkana, Texas side state parks are also not very far away! Atlanta State Park is a very short, 30 minute drive from Texarkana and sits on Lake Wright Patman. It’s a beautiful and peaceful park. However, it’s not listed here because it doesn’t have any trails that I really love. Keep reading to see some of the best hiking trails near Texarkana, on the Texas side.

Note – Texas State Parks do charge an admission fee that varies per park.

Daingerfield State Park.

We love this park for so many reasons. In the warmer months, there is a swimming beach that is one of the best in the area. The water is always cool (spring fed) and it’s beautiful (with no alligators). The park always has various events happening with fun ways to explore the park with your family. Daingerfield State Park has some great hiking trails that are beautiful all year round.

• Rustling Leaves – 2.6 miles, hiking, easy.
• Mountain View – 1.1, hiking, moderate.

This park is stunning in the autumn months, especially in late October to mid November.

Tyler State Park.

Tyler State Park is a two hour drive from Texarkana. The park has a variety of recreation opportunities, including a campground, a lake with a swimming beach, fishing, and trails. Several trails are mountain biking or multi-use trails too. Two of my favorite trails are listed below. The Whispering Pines trail is unique because it was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps and offers a glimpse into some history.

• Whispering Pines – 1 mile, hiking, moderate.
• Lakeshore – 2.1 miles, hiking, easy.

Caddo Lake State Park.

A little over an hour south of Texarkana, near Karnack (TX) is Caddo Lake State Park. It sits on Big Cypress Bayou and it’s a beautiful park, with large Cypress trees, with Spanish moss dripping down from the branches. What makes this park so unique are the CCC era structures and the fact that in a bit over an hour drive south of Texarkana, you can be exploring some cypress swamps. While you’re there, be sure to walk out on the pier over the Saw Mill Pond for a beautiful view. Two of our favorite trails at this park are:

• Caddo Forest – .7 miles, hiking, easy.
• Pine Ridge – .8 mile loop, hiking, moderate.

Nearby Louisiana Trails.

Louisiana is just a short hour drive from Texarkana and there are quite a few great places to hike and explore around the northwest corner of the state as well. The geography offers a unique range of places to explore and it’s a fun place to add to your list!

Louisiana State Parks and Natural Areas.

Northwest Louisiana has several great parks and natural areas with hiking trails. It’s a short hour to hour and a half drive to most of them. Two of the areas we enjoy exploring again and again are:

• Red River Wildlife Refuge – Facebook page.
  • Yellow – 3 miles, hiking, easy.
  • Blacktop and Lake – 3.2 mile loop, hiking, easy.
• Lake Bistineau State Park – an hour and a half drive from Texarkana, east of Shreveport. This state park has it all from biking and hiking, to paddling, camping and even a. disc golf course. Two of our favorite trails are:
  • Willis Homestead – 3.8 miles, hiking, moderate
  • Pintail Loop – 1.3, hiking, easy.

Nearby Oklahoma Trails.

While Oklahoma isn’t technically considered the ArkLaTex, it is a part of our four states region and southeast Oklahoma is a short hour drive away. There are some beautiful places to hike and explore around the Oklahoma area. There are also lots of things to do in Broken Bow and Hochatown with kids. One of these great places to explore is Beaver’s Bend State Park and there are several places to hike. Two of our favorites are:

• Friend’s Trail – 1.5 miles, hiking, easy.
• Skyline Trail – 9 mile loop, hiking, strenuous.

Essential hiking gear.

I’ve always believed that the best gear is the gear you already own. There’s no need to spend tons of money on new gear, until you know what you need and what you like. That said, I don’t recommend going hiking in flip lops or Crocs. A pair of shoes with good support, grip and traction are helpful for hiking around the ArkLaTex. A more sturdy sole for rocky hikes, and something that can get wet for others. My go to shoes are my Bedrocks Sandals and Salomon Speedcross trail running shoe.

I have all of my favorite gear listed in the two posts below, including backpacks, hydration packs, ten essentials for hiking, and more. Check them out:

• Ten essentials you need for hiking in the ArkLaTex.
• Hiking essentials and other favorite gear and apparel.
• Shop my LTK Adventure + Hiking Gift Guide

The best time to hike.

Trails can vary by season, and you’ll find lots of opinions about the best time of year to go hiking. Generally, my opinion is that the best hiking weather is fall, winter, and spring. I don’t hike in the summer, unless it’s to a waterfall or swimming hole. But even then, it’s so hot, humid, full of bugs, and the snakes are moving more. If you’re. going to hike in the summer, plan for early morning hikes before it gets hot. For me, it’s the warm winter days that are the best. There may not be any leaves on the trees, but you can enjoy the views without soul crushing humidity. That’s a win for me.

More hiking related posts.

• 5 Family Friendly State Parks within 90 Miles of Texarkana
• 3 Fall Hikes Near Texarkana with Great Views
• The Best Rivers and Lakes Around Texarkana

My Ultimate Hiking Guide to the ArkLaTex has a comprehensive guide to ALL of the best hikes in the four states area, including family friendly hikes, hidden gems, waterfall hikes, and bucket list worth adventurous hikes.

Join the ArkLaTex Adventure Club.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d love to invite you to join my ArkLaTex Adventure Club on Facebook. It’s where my community and I share fun things to do in Texarkana and across the ArkLaTex. Everyone is welcome. Just please no selling things, thank you!