ATLANTA, Texas-A walk in the woods with a beautiful setting and mysterious sights and sounds in the darkness make the Night Hike at Atlanta State Park tonight a unique night out.
The state park hosts an easy, one-mile hike through the forest with moderately hilly terrain. It starts at 9 p.m. at the Volksmarch Trail. Maps can be found at the trail headquarters and also online at the park's website.
"It's something a lot of folks don't tend to do on their own," said Kelsey Johnson, park interpreter for both Atlanta and Caddo Lake state parks. But the park's Night Hike gives people a chance to enjoy a guided tour.
Because this hike is held at night, it provides different sights and sounds than those found during daylight hours. Hikers will encounter nocturnal animals, and Johnson will discuss the survival skills that allow them to flourish during the night.
Owls, coyotes, frogs, spiders, raccoons, armadillos are just some of the creature a hiker can find at when the sun goes down. "If we get lucky, we may see some of those animals," said Johnson, who recommends people bring a flashlight.
The park has been holding these hikes a couple of years, part of an effort to get people to the state park with new programs, Johnson said. They're held every few months.
"We're hoping to start offering more programs in the fall," the park interpreter said.
The Atlanta State Park is a prime example of the Piney Woods ecosystem, which includes tall, old growth pine trees not often found now. Beautyberries, a purple berry, are plentiful there, Johnson said.
"They tend to start bearing fruit in the fall and winter," she said about the shrubs , noting they're a good food source when other vegetation starts to fade away. Walking through the forest at night like this, it's a rare treat, particularly with this type of tree coverage. In addition to pines, hardwoods populate the park. The park is situated alongside Wright Patman Lake.
"You don't see those large stands of pine much anymore," Johnson said.
She recommends arriving a bit early. Bring exact change or a check for the admission payment noted below.
"It's important to be at the trailhead before we leave," Johnson advised.
Recommended wear for the hike consists of long pants and closed-toe shoes. Water is another recommendation.
(Admission is $3 per person, 13 and older, and free for those 12 and under. The hike may be cancelled if there's rain or high winds.)