DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail – 1 mi

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The view of the bay is shown along Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park.

The Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park (near Caddo Valley and Arkadelphia) is a scenic roughly mile-long lollipop loop.

It begins behind the Visitor Center and is a nice wide, flat path that is great for viewing wildlife.

Getting to Green Heron Trailhead

To get there from Interstate 30, take Exit 78 and head north on Highway 7 for about 6 miles.

Then take a left on Edgewood Drive. After about 300 feet, take another left onto State Park Road and follow the signs to the visitor center.

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The trailhead for the Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park leaves from behind the visitor center.
DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The Green Heron Trail DeGray Lake Resort State Park is marked with red diamonds.

On the Trail

You begin by walking from the mowed yard of the Visitor Center into the thick forests of the Ouachitas. It kind of has the feel of a children’s book where you walk into another world.

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
A footbridge crosses over a creek that flows into the lake on the Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park.
DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
Remnants of an old farm? The Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park passes by a pond.

You will immediately pass a pond to your left. When I hiked the trail, it was covered in a green algae film, that was quite pretty.

Shortly after you pass the pond, you cross a bridge and get your first glimpse of the lake. This a great place to keep your eyes out for wildlife and waterfowl.

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The forest is lush and green in the spring on the Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park.
DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park follows the lake for a little ways. This section is a great place to watch for wildlife.

At mile 0.2, you come to an intersection. This is the end of the “stick” of the lollipop loop.

There is a sign that points you toward the right to complete the trail. However, if you choose to go to the left, you will end up back at the same spot.

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park is a nice wide path that is kept mowed by the park.
DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
Another view of the lake along the Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park.

After you make a right at the intersection, the trail heads back toward the lake and follows it pretty closely for a little bit.

At mile 0.3 there’s a spur trail to the right to a watchable wildlife station where you can hike and view the wildlife that calls DeGray Lake home. There are some very nice views of the lake here.

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The wildlife viewing station on the Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park is a great place to spot birds and other animals that call DeGray Lake home.
DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
View of DeGray Lake from the wildlife station area. (Stitched photo taken in Sept. 2015 by Mike Newman.)

Once you complete the spur trail, make a right to finish out the trail.

Right around the half-mile point, there is another intersection with a trail going toward the left. This is a shortcut trail that will take you back to the trailhead. I chose to not take it so I could finish the trail.

The trail gets close to the lake again and you can see it through the trees. When I was there some of the woodlands were flooded, and it was really pretty.

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
In the spring the wildflowers are very nice along the Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park
DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
Sometimes the lake comes up into the forest along the Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park making it a beautiful wetland.

At mile 0.6 the trail seems to end at the edge of the woods and the dike on the road. This area was difficult to follow because the red blazes just ended. There were no more markers or beaten paths to follow.

I took a guess and hiked through the high grass of the road’s right-of-way, which is how the trail goes.

Around mile 0.75 (about 0.1 miles along the grassy area), there is a sign pointing you back in the forest to complete the trial.

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park is mostly flat and easy walking.
DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park follows along the roadway. The trail can be kind of hard to spot, but the park has a sign directing you.

At mile 0.8 you intersect with the shortcut trail. You will want to go to the right here to get back to the trailhead.

You will quickly come back to the first intersection where you will want to turn right to finish and hike along the “stick” of the lollipop look to finish out the trail.

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The area for the Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park is lush and green.
DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
The Green Heron Trail at DeGray Lake Resort State Park is a wonderful short lollipop loop.

Final Notes

The total length of the hike is about .9 miles. It is an easy hike with no more than 40 feet or so of elevation change.

These photos are from my April 25, 2020 hike.

Click below for full-screen photo gallery.

Map

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
DeGray Lake Resort State Park – Green Heron Trail – Contour Map. PDF LINK
DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail - 1 mi photo
Approximate elevation profile based on GPS data.

DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail

LocationDeGray Lake Resort State Park, Hot Spring County, Arkansas (The park is in Clark and Hot Spring Counties.)
Hike Length/Type1 mile semi-loop. There is an initial spur of .2 miles.
DifficultyEasy (1 of 5).
Other Permitted UsagePets on a leash.
Gpx file by MikeLink
Date HikedApril 26, 2020
Directions Google Maps Directions to DeGray Lake Resort State Park Visitor Center
Official Info(501) 865-5810 Website Official Degray Lake Resort State Park Brochure (pdf)

[A version of this post was originally published on April 30, 2020 in the blog “Right Kind of Lost.”]

By Mara Kuhn

Mara Kuhn is a communications professional from Hot Springs, Arkansas who loves to spend time hiking, camping, and kayaking in the Natural State. Mara is also the author of the blog Right Kind of Lost.

2 replies on “DeGray Lake: Green Heron Trail – 1 mi”

I think this is pretty awesome and you did a good job taking picks to explain the trails would love for you to send more

I love it my wife and i love to see gods beauty on all of these nature hikes please keep sending me new information

What do you think? (Leave a comment.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.