Logoly State Park (Blog Hike #1006)

Trails: Crane's Fly, Magnesia Springs, and Spring Branch Trails
Hike Location: Logoly State Park
Geographic Location: northeast of Magnolia, AR (33.34733, -93.18402)
Length: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2024
Overview: A round-the-park loop passing a large pond and Magnesia Springs.
Park Information: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/logoly-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=957058
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming February 28, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 82 and US 79 on the northeast side of Magnolia, take US 79 north 3.5 miles to CR 47 and turn right on CR 47.  Drive CR 47 east less than 1 mile to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, and park in the perpendicular parking lot in front of the playground and Visitor Center.

The hike: Consisting of 368 rolling acres in the coastal plains east of Texarkana, Logoly State Park (pronounced like LAW-go-lie) was the first environmental education state park in Arkansas.  The park gets its name from 3 families who used to own this land: the Longinos, the Goodes, and the Lyles.  Those families owned the land in 1940, when the Boy Scouts of America leased the land to create Camp Logoly.  The camp closed in 1967.  In 1974, the former camp was purchased by The Nature Conservancy and transferred to the State of Arkansas to create the park we visit today.

            True to its primitive camp history, the park has few amenities.  On point, Logoly State Park offers only a small group camping area, some picnic areas, a playground, and 3 fairly easy hiking trails.  The 3 trails offer quite different scenery, and this hike combines parts of all 3 trails to create a round-the-park journey.

Trailhead near Visitor Center

            From the main parking area, head east to walk past the playground to the Visitor Center, and stop in the Visitor Center to view the exhibits and pick up a trail map.  Next continue east to start the Crane's Fly Trail, which begins at a large colorful sign.  Named for a type of orchid, the Crane's Fly Trail descends slightly before it splits to form its loop around the park's pond.  Turn right to begin a counterclockwise journey around the pond.

View down park's pond

            At 0.25 miles, you reach a short boardwalk that gives nice views down the length of the pond.  The tall pine trees reflect nicely in the pond, making for a tranquil setting.  Next the trail meanders and undulates slightly as it explores the small streams that feed the pond.  Just past 0.5 miles, you reach a trail intersection.  The Spring Branch Trail exits right here, but you want to angle left to keep following the Crane's Fly Trail.

            After tracing the pond's east shore, you reach another trail intersection near the pond's dam.  The Crane's Fly Trail turns left here to cross the dam and quickly close its loop, and you could go that way if you wanted a short and easy hike.  To see more of the park's trails, turn right to begin the Magnesia Springs Trail.

Hiking the Magnesia Springs Trail

            0.8 miles into the hike, you reach this trail's namesake Magnesia Springs.  In the early 1900s these springs emitted a constant flow of clear water, and the concrete catchment you can stand in today would have been knee-deep with water.  Unfortunately, due to both natural and man-made reasons, water tables in this area have lowered; today the springs are more or less dry.  Take some time to imagine what this area might have been like when the springs were flowing.

Magnesia Springs catchment

            Past the springs, the Magnesia Springs Trail climbs gradually on a wide two-track path that looks like an old road.  At 0.9 miles, you reach the east end of the Magnesia Springs Trail where it intersects the Spring Branch Trail.  Turn left to begin the Spring Branch Trail, which is this park's longest trail.

Spring Branch

            The Spring Branch Trail follows the ridge at first, but soon it descends to pass under a high voltage power line and cross its namesake stream on a wooden footbridge.  Some big pine trees live here, and I did some nice wildlife viewing in this part of the park.  The trail curves left and starts heading back uphill.  Some unofficial trails also curve around this area, so you want to watch for the white paint blazes that mark the Spring Branch Trail.

View from observation and photo blind

            After passing back under the high voltage power line, you reach a wooden observation and photo blind.  The power line corridor should be a good place to spot birds and other wildlife, but nothing was visible on the late afternoon that I came here.  Continuing past the blind returns you to pavement at 1.8 miles, and a short road walk brings you back to the parking area to complete the hike.