Cross Timbers Hiking Trail

  • Hikers from all over the country visit Cross Timbers Hiking Trail. Crystal Burnezky-Robertson • The Madill Record
    Hikers from all over the country visit Cross Timbers Hiking Trail. Crystal Burnezky-Robertson • The Madill Record
  • Hikers from all over the country visit CrossTimbers HikingTrail. Crystal Burnezky-Robertson • The Madill Record
    Hikers from all over the country visit CrossTimbers HikingTrail. Crystal Burnezky-Robertson • The Madill Record

    By Crystal Burnezky Robertson reporter@madillrecord. net

    Construction at the Willis Bridge in Marshall County is finally wrapping up. Over the last two weeks motorists are sure to have noticed that traffic has been shifted from theshoulderontothefinished lanes leading up to the bridge on both sides.

    With the constitution finishing, the entrance to JuniperPointrecreationarea on the Texas side is now more accessible. The Juniper Point recreation area is a small hidden gem with first-comefirst- servecampsites,dayuse picnic areas, a public boat ramp, and where the trail entrance to the Cross Timbers Hiking Trail is located.

    Heading west on the trail, it runs for approximately 15 miles along the southern shoreline of Lake Texoma. The Cross Timbers Hiking Trail has elevations with different trails in the beginning that will lead hikers to Cedar Bayou, Rock Creek, and Paw Paw Creek Resorts.

    There is trail access at all of those locations, making it easy to hike from anywhere along the long stretch of trails. The main shoreline trail was originally built by the Corp of Engineers in 1969.

    The trail was cared for and maintained by the local Scouting groups, Dallas Chapter of the Sierra Club, Texoma Outdoor Club, and the Corp from 1969 until 1975.

    Then, in late 1975, the trail was remarked, wilderness campsites were added, and it was officially named. The trail is marked and well maintained, and with recent ‘In the Arms of Lake Texoma’ efforts put forth by local scouts the trails have been repaired and manicured.

    With the help of DORBA, new signs have been put up to mark the main shoreline trail along the other offshoot trails as well. Since CTHT is so close to Oklahoma, hikers will definitely see a mix of car tags in the parking area.

    Ofcourse,thereweremany Texas Oklahoma plates, but there were people from New York and Kansas, as well. There was a mix of newcomers and more experienced hikers on the trails talking to each other as though they all already knew each other.

    One couple from Plano Candy and Rob Downs with their dog Xena were there for the first time and were more than impressed with what the trail had to offer. Candy expressed her enthusiasm of finding the trail.

    'Welovedthetrail,”Candy said. “It was beautiful, and we really enjoyed the various changes in elevation. Our dog enjoyed it, too. We will be back.'

    Rob noted that he and his wife Candy are avid hikers, andtheyenjoyedthelocation.

    'We have hiked in various places around Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas and found this to be equally enjoyable,” he said. “We loved hearing the waves crashing and catching great views of the lake.'