So as the weather slowly begins to get colder, perhaps taking a walk outdoors doesn't appeal as much to you as it would now.  I took a brisk walk on the Katy Trail the other day and it felt great.  But it may get too cold for some, and others will say "Bring It On!".  If you are the latter, a popular Missouri state park has an event for you this Christmas season.

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This is info from a press release courtesy of Knob Noster State Park:

Winter hiking is where it’s at – no ticks, mosquitoes or humidity! Knob Noster State Park encourages hikers to participate in a fun challenge this chilly season.

Seasoned hikers, as well as those who are just enjoying the outdoors, can participate in the Jingle Bell Hike challenge. On each of Knob Noster State Park’s seven trails, team members have placed a set of jingle bells. Seven sets of bells can be found either on the main loops or white connector trails. Trails are open from sunrise to sunset daily, but be sure to check for closures following wet weather.

To participate, hike the seven trails, find and ring the bells, take a photo and then share it on social media using the hashtag #JingleBellHikes or email it to chris.edmondson@dnr.mo.gov. The challenge starts
Nov. 21 and runs through Jan. 6, 2023.

Knob Noster State Park is located near Knob Noster and Whiteman Air Force Base, two miles south of Highway 50 along Highway 23 at 873 SE 10 Road in Knob Noster. The GPS coordinates for the WPA parking lot are 38.750246-93.583645. 

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

For those of you who are not as familiar with Knob Noster State Park, their website describes it as a tranquil retreat of open oak woodland with a few patches of prairie along both sides of the meandering Clearfork Creek. It’s a place for fishermen to wet a line, for mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders to get some trail time, and for families to spend quality time together. The park also features an oxbow slough, which has been officially designated as Pin Oak Slough Natural Area.

Are you an outdoors kind of person? Like a good hike? Think you can handle the challenge?  Share your thoughts.

RANKED: Here are the most popular national parks

To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

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