What better way to start 2023 than with some gorgeous weather and a New Year’s hike? What’s even better? Finding a new (to me) nature park just 20 minutes from home!
I hadn’t heard about the Ray Harral Nature Park in Broken Arrow before visiting last weekend, so I wasn’t sure exactly what the day would hold. I hoped that we’d find some pretty trails for our hike, that the park would be safe and clean, and that we might find some signs of wildlife along the way.
One thing I was certain of: the weather was too nice to stay indoors, so we decided to try something new and have a small adventure on a Sunday afternoon to the park to see what it was all about. And just in case it didn’t live up to expectations, I threw out a random challenge on the drive there: whoever finds the most animal tracks wins.
(Z: What do I win? Me: Uh…the game.)
About The Ray Harral Nature Park
Arriving at the park, we were instantly charmed by the old-fashioned feel of the place. An inviting little nature center sits on an expansive green space perfect for picnics, although sadly it was closed on the day (Sunday) we went. We peeked in the windows to see terrariums of education animals and taxidermied creatures of all kinds, so we’ll have to plan for another visit to explore more.
There are several trails to choose from, both paved and gravel, with enough hilly twists and turns to be both adventurous and accessible for most people. There’s great signage all along the way, so there’s no need to pull out the compass (unless you want to). We saw several families with small children, and lots of people out walking their dogs (which are allowed but must stay leased in the park).
It was a very clean park, with almost no trash, no dog poo, and no graffiti anywhere, which was absolutely wonderful. It’s the way things should be, but sadly not the way things often are nowadays.
We crossed a suspension bridge to start the trail. As we looked through the gaps in the wood planks to creek bed below and felt the boards bend and flex with our weight, I remembered doing the same thing with my Papa, walking the old pedestrian bridge across the Arkansas River on Sunday afternoons. There’s just a feeling you get crossing an old wood bridge on foot – a mix of exhilaration, nerves, curiosity, and adventure – that will never get old to me.
What We Saw at the Park
Oklahoma winter isn’t the most obvious time to enjoy the beauty of nature, but I think there’s a lot to appreciate if you look more closely. The rustle of leaves, the sounds of woodpeckers and squirrels, the green hints of moss and new growth peeping out from the brown winter blanket covering them until Spring…these small delicate things are hiding all around the park, waiting to be found and appreciated.
Did we find any tracks? Oh MY, yes! I noticed the first sets of tracks on a creek bed near the old spring house. I thought I was doing pretty well until Z pointed out a different area of the creek, with too many overlapping tracks to count…she definitely won that game!
What We Learned at the Park
I didn’t know that there were natural springs in Broken Arrow! A sign in the parking lot tell the story of the area: “For years, beginning in 1909, pure sparking water from a spring here was piped to the water tower behind City Hall. The city grew Christmas trees here during the Depression and sold them in town. As new water sources were secured for the growing town, this area was landscaped for the beautiful Ray Harral Nature Park” (B.A. 100 Year History, Page 156).
And further into our New Year’s hike, we found the old pump house and another sign sharing more history: “Ray Harral Nature Park was the site for the original water source for the city of Broken Arrow. Throughout the park are remnants of infrastructure used to deliver water to the city.”
Ray Harral Nature Park – Worth a Visit?
Absolutely! We plan on going more often, especially as the seasons change. I’d love to see how the landscape changes over the year, and we didn’t come close to exploring everything in the park.
About the Park
Location: 7101 South 3rd Street, Broken Arrow, OK
Cost: Free
Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. daily
Website: Ray Harral Nature Center and Park
Learn More: Discover Oklahoma – Ray Harral Nature Center
