If you live in Louisiana (especially in the north or west), keep reading because these state parks are a perfect weekend getaway for you!

Now that Eric and I have three-day weekends twice a month, we can explore hiking options a little further out.  The ideal driving distance is no more than 6hrs, something we can do on a Thursday night after work.  This gives us two full days of adventure and enough time to leisurely return on Sunday.  We already have at least one favorite (see Texas Hiking Weekend Getaway), but recently we added a new state to our list:  OKLAHOMA!

I’ll confess, I had some preconceived notions about the state.  After all, I grew up memorizing the lyrics to the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical.  I visualized flat, dry land with cowboys and Indians.  I did NOT expect pristine mountain waterways, lush forests, and a town called Hochatown packed full of women driving BMWs touring wineries and distilleries.  My personal favorite was the hot pink Girls Gone Wine shuttle bus…

Hochatown is just a short stretch of rural highway on the Southeastern border of Oklahoma.  It’s just a blip on the map, but it packs in some great eating options and activities in just a few miles of road.  What draws the tourists here isn’t the food & beverage scene, however, it’s Beaver’s Bend State Park.  This park has EVERYTHING, including plenty of hiking along diverse terrain.  I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…

IF YOU GO…

Stay @ Cabins 36-39 in Beaver’s Bend State Park (beautifully situated directly on the river) OR choose from the many options available on AirBnB (we found a cozy cottage in Hochatown).

Eat @ Grateful Head Pizza (great atmosphere & equally great pizza) or pick up healthy deliciousness @ Rolling Fork Takery.  Get your caffeine fix @ Adam & Eve’s or Okie Girls Coffee & Ice Cream or Hochatown Trading Post.  Hangout @ Hochatown Saloon (we didn’t go but their parking lot was packed all day & night, so they must be doing something right).

Hike, fish, kayak, ride a horse or train through the woods — it’s all here!

We hiked the Beaver Creek, Lookout Mountain, Heritage Tree, South Park, & Lakeview Lodge Trails in just one day.  When you want more, drive about an hour east into Arkansas to Cossatot River State Park Natural Area or head north towards Talimena State Park.  We hiked Cossatot (& loved it) but next trip I think we’ll explore the Talimena National Scenic Byway (it looks beautiful)!

I’ll conclude this post with photos from Cossatot, along the Harris Creek Trail & a portion between Cossatot Falls & Sandbar Bridge.  The Harris Creek Trail is now one of my favorite hikes in Arkansas.  Hope you enjoy…