Crater of Diamonds to host First Day Hike in 2018

MURFREESBORO — Crater of Diamonds State Park will host a morning hike around the park’s Little Missouri River Trail as part of the nationwide First Day Hikes initiative on New Year’s Day.

Hikers of all ages are welcome to meet by 8 a.m. at the Little Missouri River Trailhead, located across from Site

22 in the park campground. Limited parking is available at the trailhead and at the nearby bath house. Hikers should wear sturdy walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring drinking water. Note that all park facilities, including the diamond search area, will be closed New Year’s Day.

The Little Missouri River Trail at Crater of Diamonds State Park is open daily during daylight hours. It winds its way through the forest from the campground to a scenic overlook on the Little Missouri River. This 1.2-mile loop provides a relaxing, onehour hike over level terrain. Half the trail features paved, barrier-free access, and the unpaved section of the trail is also easily traversed.

First Day Hikes originated more than 25 years ago at a state park in Milton, Mass. On New Year’s Day 2017, nearly

28,000 people participated in guided hikes covering more than 66,000 miles across the country.

Call Crater of Diamonds State Park at 870-285-3113 or visit http://www.CraterofDiamondsStatePark.com for more information or directions.

Diamond finds for the weeks of Nov. 26 and Dec. 3 included the following:

• Nov. 26 — Denise Hall, Palmyra, Mo., 3-point white; Jack Pearadin, Murfreesboro,

44-point white; Jason Ivins, Saint Jo, Texas, 13-point white; Cal Powell, Purvis, Miss.,

45-point white.

• Nov. 28 — Denise Hall,

20-point brown.

• Nov. 29 — Adam and Michelle Carey, Norman, Okla.,

5-point yellow; Elsa Heird, Las Cruces, N.M., 5-point white.

• Nov. 30 — William Sobiek, Chicago, 20-point white.

• Dec. 2 — Troy Savage, Antlers, Okla., 16-point white,

8-point yellow.

• Dec. 3 — Bryan Pettit, Georgetown, N.Y., 24-point yellow.

• Dec. 5 — Scot Darling, Duluth, Minn., 3-point white,

4-point brown.

Submitted photo FIRST DAY: Crater of Diamonds State Park will host a morning hike around the park’s Little Missouri River Trail as part of the nationwide First Day Hikes initiative on New Year’s Day.