Lake Frierson State Park — Attraction in Jonesboro

Went today to take a short hike down the boundary trail. I recently moved back to jonesboro and wanted to continue my avid outdoor bone and hike some. I went to frierson quite a bit as a kid and have always loved the park. However, i understand that with the corona virus lingering around everyone still is scared and wants fellow members of society to wear their masks. I recently discovered an app called all trails and have been planning a trip to hike the ozark highlands trail next spring. I have always known of the dogwood lane trail but up until recently have known nothing of the boundary trail. It was at best a 1 star review on all trails. The trail is poorly marked and many outdoorsman and women, as reviewed in the app, knew not where the trail was as far as markings and made more of the loop via the gated road which i assume is maintenance access as well as fire access. After finishing my hike on this beautiful day i stopped at the visitor center. I intended on speaking with the park interpreter about volunteering my time, tools, and effort on extending the boundary trail the rest of the way around the lake like it stated online on some of the research i did. I also intended to notify him/her that there was a tree across the trail. No i did not wear a mask nor have i worn a mask the past year. I dont believe it is necessary with social distancing. And places that have required masks have often offered a mask when you step in the door or politely expressed that a mask was required to which i often left those businesses and have not looked back. However i walked in the door of the visitor center to an absolute rude park employee. Not only did she yell at me about not wearing a mask after barely getting out a hello but after turning around to walk out the door as i have so many places she continued to yell and mouth at me. Had she been polite and respectful about it i would have grabbed a mask from my vehicle and expressed my concerns on the trail and the possibility of making frierson a better park by extending the trail. However all this being said i will not return to the visitor center nor will i offer my support...

Lake Frierson State Park is a relatively small, 114-acre, state park located on the eastern shore of Lake Frierson, about 10 miles north of Jonesboro. Lake Frierson is a 335-acre lake. Fishing is available year-round for bream, catfish, crappie, saugeye, and bass. The park fronts the western edge of picturesque Crowley’s Ridge, a geological phenomenon which rises 100-200 feet above the surrounding countryside and stretches from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to the Mississippi River at Helena, Arkansas. The State Park offers a campground with seven campsites (five Class B with water and electric, and two tent sites with no hookups). The park also features picnic sites, an enclosed, climate-controlled pavilion, playground, hiking trails, a launch ramp, and fishing pier. The visitor center includes nature exhibits and a bait shop. Fishing boats and kayaks are available for rent. The park's interpretive hiking trail, Dogwood Lane Trail, is approximately 1/2-mile long, self-guided, with a 1/8-mile spur that leads to the visitor center. Lake Frierson State Park has more dogwoods than any other state park its size and bursts into a wild array of dogwood blossoms...

Absolutely wonderful trail for hiking. We saw a plethora of spiders and some other wildlife. My only complaint is that the trail doesn't seem to be maintained very well. There's a large tree fallen across part of it that has been there for a couple weeks at least now, parts of the trail are unmarked, and some areas appear to be washed out and are difficult to traverse. By the view is wonderful, very rarely do you not have the lake on one side and lush woods on the other. The end is anticlimactic since you end up at a gate next to the road (a bit further in).

Hoping to try kayaking soon, but the ranger station had taken lunch at some point and the sign said they wouldn't be back for a good hour and fifteen minutes after we arrived.

My wife has been there when the ranger station was open and she said they also have some nice...