Ever been there? I went the other day and it was pretty relaxing. I’ll give you a quick rundown on what the State Park offers…

Douthat is home to several campgrounds, but I use the word “campground” loosely. This is the type of camping that I think just about anybody could tolerate. I, personally, would prefer something a little more off-the-grid, but it’s great for families with little kids and/or adults who are trying to ease their way into the world of the outdoors.

Beyond the campgrounds, though, Douthat is good for day trips, too. Douthat Lake allows for a variety of potential activities, such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboating, or any other form of watercraft that doesn’t involve a disruptive motor. Of course, where there are lakes, there are also creeks, streams, and rivers. And where there are tributaries, we fish. I didn’t fish when I was up there, but I still saw some nice-sized trout and bass hanging out in the shallows. Specifically, the waters of Douthat are home to rainbows, browns, and brooks, as well as largemouth, crappie, sunfish, channel cats, and even some chain pickerel. I definitely plan on returning to do some fishing up there.

Winding throughout the State Park are a number of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Specifically, there are more than 40 miles of wooded hiking trails to choose from throughout the year, ranging from easy to difficult, and six miles of bridle trails. Many, but not all, of these paths are open to mountain bikers. If you do plan on down-hilling at Douthat, keep in mind that the authorities maintain hikers have the right-of-way.

So I’d recommend this destination at the very least as a day trip. Try to decide before you go, though, how you’re going to spend your time. I left for my adventure up there without researching or much preparation, so I unfortunately didn’t bring my mountain bike or fishing poles. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed my time there just exploring the grounds and waters.

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