State Park News March 2024
Here are the top state park news stories for March 2024. Every month, we bring you a sample of interesting stories and events from state parks throughout the US. If you have a state park news story we missed, let us know by leaving a comment.
Ahupua’a ‘O Kahana State Park
Ahupuaʻa ʻO Kahana State Park is located on the windward side of O’ahu. It is about 26 miles from Honolulu. Kahana is a relatively unspoiled valley, and one of only a few publicly owned ahupuaʻa, or ancient Hawaiian land divisions, in the state.
The park is almost 5,300 acres and covers land from Kahana Bay to a mountain peak at 2,670 feet. This park serves to faster native Hawaiian cultural traditions. It is unusual in that it is a “living park”. Thirty-one families live in the park and help provide education an interpretive programs about the Hawaiian values and lifestyle.
You have a chance to make a difference for Ahupua’a State Park. On March 10-11 from noon to 3, you can help remove invasive species from the park. You’ll need to register in advance on the Hawaii Parks website. And, be prepared for wet or muddy conditions. Wear boots & bug spray and be sure to have some drinking water. As this is one of the wettest valleys on Oʻahu, be prepared for rain.
Oak Mountain State Park Trail
A new trail opened Saturday, Feb. 24, at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, AL. The new 1.5-mile multi-use trail connects the Slingshot and Centipede trails. While it is primarily intended for mountain biking, the trail is also available for hiking. This new trail is rated as an easy to intermediate trail.
The trail is located at Oak Mountain State Park which is Alabama’s largest state park. At over 11,000 acres, this is a big park. And, it features more than 100 miles of trails.
While you are there, you may want to check out the Alabama Wildlife Center which helps heal injured birds. Birds can be viewed from the Tree Top Nature Trail, an elevated boardwalk winding through a secluded woodland valley. Learn more at the Oak Mountain State Park website.
Sounds like another great park we’ll have to check out with our bikes.
Elijah Clark State Park
We had a good time recently – hiking the three-mile trail at Elijah Clark State Park in Georgia. This park is located on the shore of Clarks Hill Lake near the South Carolina border.
In addition to the hiking trail, we were able to check out a replica of the log cabin that Elijah and his family lived in. It was interesting to see two living quarters separated by a breezeway. General Craig served in the Revolutionary War and there some interpretive signs telling the story. While the cabin wasn’t open on our visit, you may have the chance to see the inside of the cabin.
While this park is very popular with fisherman, we noticed another fun amenity not normally found in a state park – a putt putt or miniature golf course.
Add this to your list of interesting places to visit on your next trip to Georgia.
Manatee Webcams
Sometimes you want to enjoy nature but aren’t able to get outside. A group called Save the Manatees might offer an interesting solution. They are installing manatee cameras in various locations. The newest is located at Silver Springs State Park, near Ocala. There are above water and underwater views. What a great way to enjoy some nature from your home.
First Landing State Park Yoga and Hike Event
Get ready to be mentally and physically fit. On Sunday, March 17 at First Landing State Park, you can do a yoga routine followed by an 8 mile hike. The event, organized by Care More Community, starts at 7:15 with a yoga class. At 8:15, the 8 mile hike starts. You can stick with the group or go on your own. At noon, lunch will be provided. If you want to join in, you’ll need to register on the eventbrite website by March 15. Tickets range from $10-35.
We love First Landing State Park. It is a great mix of woods, trails, and beach access located in Virginia Beach. If you want to learn more about this park, check out our First Landing blog post and First Landing YouTube video.
State Park News on YouTube
We share state park news on our YouTube channel. Check out our March 2024 state park news video.
We started sharing our State Park News posts & videos at the start of 2023. We have been enjoying learning about state parks all across the US and sharing what we learned with you. Hopefully you are finding it interesting and helpful. Let us know what you think. We’d sure appreciate the feedback. And If you have a state park news story to share, we’d love to hear it. Leave a comment to let us know.
We love state parks. We shared six reasons why we love state parks in our recent post and video. If you love state parks, too, let us know your favorite.
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