Happy Trails

If you must hike in August, try Collins Creek on Hatchery Road below Greers Ferry Lake. It’s short, shady and the ambient air temperature is always about 15 degrees cooler.
If you must hike in August, try Collins Creek on Hatchery Road below Greers Ferry Lake. It’s short, shady and the ambient air temperature is always about 15 degrees cooler.

HAPPY HIATUS

Location: Anywhere near an air conditioner.

GPS: Any cool spot will do, but Collins Creek at Heber Springs is at 35.515035, -91.990446.

Length: How far is it to the fridge and back?

Main attractions: Happy Trails, in wisdom born of diaphoretic discomfort, takes August and a chunk of September off. Hiking in Arkansas’ heat and humidity is only for the naively young and well-hydrated.

Hazards: Arkansas’ August average maximum temperature is 91.7 degrees, with triple digits and heat advisories not uncommon. Humidity frequently reaches sauna level. Early September is only marginally better, but October brings fall colors and high temps in the 70s.

Dog, bike, tyke friendly? Dogs and babies know better, but my biking friends boast that the activity creates its own breeze. But when the “breeze” is 101 degrees, what good is it?

Video: ArkansasOnline.com/happytrails. Pick one of the cool ones and watch it over and over until Happy Trails returns in the fall.

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