Henry Horton State Park Announces the 50-Day Challenge

Encourages Physical Fitness in Local Community

Chapel Hill, TN – Henry Horton State Park today announced its 50-Day Challenge to the local community, encouraging individuals and families to walk 50 miles in 50 days through February 28th, 2013.

“Henry Horton State Park is a terrific place to walk, with a variety of hiking trails,” said Park Manager Randy Whitworth.  “We hope members of the community will accept our challenge and also cheer on their co-workers, family members and friends to get a jump on a healthy start to 2013.”

Interested walkers are asked to visit the Henry Horton State Park office to receive a 50-Day Challenge packet, including information on trail lengths, a record sheet for daily miles and park map.  The first 100 participants to register will receive a free T-shirt.

Henry Horton State Parks boasts four great hiking trails and a one-mile picnic area loop that are available for use every day:

• The Hickory Ridge Loop (1.5 miles) is located near the campground and traverses habitats ranging from oak-hickory forest to unusual cedar glades.
• The Wilhoite Mill Trail (1 mile) follows the Duck River among second growth woods, covering an early mill community.
• The Wild Turkey Trail (2 miles) winds through rich woods and old fields.
• The Adeline Wilhoite-Horton Nature Trail (4 miles) follows the Duck River about 1.5 miles downstream from Highway 31-A and loops into an area of cedar glades.

“This time of year is when we generally consume more calories and the 50-Day Challenge will give walkers an opportunity to burn up some of those calories – all in a beautiful park setting,” added Whitworth. “We hope everyone will join us in keeping healthy and fit throughout the holiday season.”

Henry Horton is a 1,532-acre state park with four hiking trails, featuring an abundance of wildlife such as wild turkey, deer and many kinds of wildflowers. The park offers hours of family enjoyment whether it’s swimming in the Olympic-sized pool, fishing along the Duck River, playing volleyball or basketball or just having a picnic.

Henry Horton State Park also is well known for its championship 18-hole golf course, inn and cabins, campgrounds and trap and skeet range. Additional information about the park can be found at www.tnstateparks.com/HenryHorton.

For more information about Henry Horton State Park’s 50-Day Challenge, please call the park office at 931.364.2222.