Tahlequah businesses , residents prepare for fall season activities
By BRIAN KING Tahlequah Daily Press
Every year , tourists visit the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Cherokee County to watch the foliage in its bright autumn colors , and this year will be no exception . Tahlequah is prepping for different fall festivities for tourists and locals alike .
Rockin R Farms will open on Sept . 24 . The six-acre family-owned farm will host a corn maze , pumpkin patch , hayrides , barrel rides , a playground area with a jump pad and slides , barnyard billiards , horseshoes , cornhole , basketball bins , duck races , a petting zoo , and more .
Gena McPhail , Tour Tahlequah director , said many locals take time to enjoy the autumn leaves by walking or biking around Tahlequah .
“ I would recommend Sparrow Hawk and Sequoyah State Park . Sequoyah State Park is a little easier for some people than Sparrow Hawk , but Sparrow Hawk is beautiful and gives you a certain vantage point . Any of the trails around the lake are also fantastic . Or you can go out to check out our biking trails . They are open ,” said McPhail .
The Sparrow Hawk Primitive Area Trail is a 3.8 out and back walking trail along the Scenic Illinois River , which attracts thousands of visitors every year . The trail is particularly popular with college students and area residents . Hikers should expect a steep incline left early in the trail .
None of the trails within Sequoyah State Park , which is located along a peninsula , have steep inclines , which makes them perfect for beginner hikers and those who experience limited mobility . The park ’ s system consists of five trails : Eagle ’ s Roost Trail , a 1-1 / 4 mile trail that takes hikers through eagle nesting grounds ; Fitness and Nature Trail , a half a mile trail on the south end of the park ; Fossil Trail , a half a mile trail by the shore of the lake ; and Whispering Pines Mountain Bike Trail , a 2-14 mile trail wherein hikers walk or bike through a pine forest ; and Three Forks Nature Trail , a 1-1 / 4 trail
Locals are going to take advantage of the fall foliage this year by visiting different hiking trails . Sparrow Hawk is a local favorite because hikers will have the chance to glimpse autumn vistas overlooking the Illinois River .
6 Tahlequah Daily Press | Green Country Scene • Holiday Edition • October 2022