I had the chance to visit Douthat State Park before the January snow melted and found the park completely empty with the exception of the park rangers and a few folks meandering by the lake. The lake, along with the surrounding streams, was frozen over with a coating of fresh snow on top. The trails were also covered with a few inches of snow, adding an extra challenge to biking in the park.
The park is best experienced by bike and is, in fact, an IMBA Epic Ride. The system of trails amounts to over forty miles of terrain to suit any rider or ability. I traveled on the intermediate trails, which were almost unclimbable for me because of the added resistance of pushing through the snow.
All those steep climbs allow you to gain the tops of ridges pretty often, offering views of the surrounding landscape.
The trails are all blazed with metal strips; in addition there are guide posts placed at regular intervals
along the trails. I'm planning on visiting again and doing some
greater distances once the trails are clear and the temperatures are
warmer. There are several campgrounds along the main road that offer access to the trail heads. The park is fairly developed, with a restaurant, store, visitor center, etc. However, once you get away from the campgrounds, the wilderness areas are remarkable. The snow made animal tracks clearly visible, evidence of the rich and varied wildlife in this isolated part of the state.
