A Winter getaway: Outdoor fun in Jonesboro

The holidays are over and now is a great time to get out and have some relaxing fun after the holiday hustle and bustle. And Jonesboro is a great place to enjoy some outdoor fun. Visitors will find a wonderful city park, a beloved Arkansas State Park and a state-of-the-art shooting sports complex. Not to mention great attractions, restaurants and shopping. But for now, let’s focus on the great outdoors around Jonesboro.

Located along Crowley’s Ridge in Jonesboro is Craighead Forest Park, a nearly 700-acre city park offering beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities galore. For cyclists, there’s nearly 15 miles of mountain biking trails to explore, allowing riders to experience the beauty and terrain of Crowley’s Ridge. The park offers picnic facilities, walking trails, fishing, hiking and camping. But that’s not all. It’s a great location to do some bird watching. Take the kids (or kids at heart) to enjoy the playgrounds. There are also softball and volleyball areas available and areas for horseshoes and disc golf.

Lake Frierson State Park is located just a short drive north of Jonesboro. The park is located alongside its namesake, Lake Frierson, a 335-acre lake known for year-round fishing for bream, catfish, crappie and bass. Visitors will also find picnic sites, a pavilion, playground, hiking trails, a launch ramp and fishing pier.

The Jonesboro Shooting Sports Complex features a 200-yard rifle range, a 50-yard pistol range, three trap/skeet fields, a 70-yard archery range, and a 50-yard archery range. The state-of-the-art shooting complex offers shooters and archers a safe place to practice and enjoy.

Don’t let winter be a deterrent for some outdoor exploring. Grab a coat or a jacket, get outside and enjoy yourself.