Each season is an opportunity to experience our Arkansas State Park in a different light. Winter offers its own particular charm for those making a venture to one. 

“Relatively mild weather and panoramic views make The Natural State a winter destination,” said Kayla Gomance, Assistant Chief of Interpretation for the Division of Arkansas State Parks. “Couple this with our variety of lodging options and anyone can find their adventure here. You can get outside and experience the outdoors before warming back up at your serene campsite, cozy cabin, or inviting lodge room.”

For those on family vacations, embarking on solo excursions, traveling with friends, or simply looking for a winter adventure, the season is a shining time to visit our Arkansas State Parks. “Our parks have something for everyone,” said Gomance. “This winter you can find yourself hiking through open views, cooking over a warm fire, searching for bald eagles on a lake tour, or even learning new skills at a hands-on workshop. Outdoor recreation is our specialty all year long.”

Below are a few winter weekend itineraries to help kindle ideas for your own Arkansas State Park experience. Before embarking on a winter excursion to a park, please be sure to check weather conditions. For overnight lodging, check out this link for a current winter promo taking place: arkansasstateparks.com/deals. 

Mount Magazine State Park

Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, birding, or simply relaxing and taking in scenic views from Mount Magazine are all experiences that await at Mount Magazine State Park. The park has many trails to hike on including the North Rim Trail, the famous Signal Hill Trail, which leads one to the highest point in the state, and more.

While hiking, be sure to keep a lookout for the many birds that can be found here. 

“One might not think of birding as a winter activity, but there are plenty of birds that stand out amongst the absent leaves,” said Alex Hedegard, Park Interpreter at Mount Magazine State Park. “Downy woodpeckers, titmice, Northern cardinals, and brown creepers are just a few of the birds you can spot while enjoying the wintery outdoors. Bald eagles are more frequently spotted gliding over the bluff lines this time of year as well.”  

Overnight options at the park include a lodge, which has a heated indoor swimming pool, and cabins, which have outdoor hot tubs. “I think the view from the Lodge and cabins stands out in its uniqueness during the winter months, just in how much it contrasts with the other seasons,” said Hedegard. “With the lack of foliage, one can more easily see the gorgeous outcropping of Hartshorne sandstone like no other time of year. The distance one can scan through the woodlands and possibly see wildlife greatly increases as well.”

For all the lodging options available at the park check out reserve.arkansasstateparks.com/mount-magazine/.

“At the Lodge's elevation, guests will frequently enjoy the beauty of an icy winter, as the rest of Arkansas remains unfrozen,”Hedegard said. “On the way to the highpoint, which can be accessed easily from the Lodge, sometimes one can witness "frost flowers.” These are thin layers of frost emerging from the cracks of dormant plants that give the illusion of flower petals.” 

Another item Hedegard noted is that park interpretive programming continues during the winter. “Guests can check out ArkansasStateParks.com for current programming, or take a look at a monthly program schedule when they check in,” she said. “These programs have a heavy focus on fulfilling our mission of highlighting both nature and culture, most oftentimes in an outdoor recreation scenario.”

Unwinding by a fire is also a comforting way to experience the season at the park.    

“There is nothing quite like a cozy fire at Mount Magazine, whether you are spending time in our Hearth area, the Skycrest Restaurant, or staying in one of our fantastic, works progress era-inspired cabins,” said Hedegard.

Mount Nebo State Park

Mount Nebo State Park, which is located near Dardanelle, is another mountain park that offers a stellar selection of outdoor fun throughout the year, including winter.  

There are many trails to hike and bike on to enjoy the beautiful mountain views that can be found at the park. The Rim Trail is a popular trek to take in views. You can learn more about winter hiking at Arkansas State Parks in this article on winter hiking, which includes a section on Mount Nebo State Park: arkansasstateparks.com/articles/winter-hiking-arkansas-state-parks 

According to Scott Waniewski, Superintendent at Mount Nebo State Park, the views from the cabins, campground, point and trails make this state park stand out in the winter. “[At] Waterfall/Gum Springs trail, the waterfall is usually frozen which makes for awesome photographs,” he said.  

The park, which is among the Arkansas State Parks that have Monument Trails, is around an hour from Arkansas Wine Country and near other state parks like Lake Dardanelle State Park, Mount Magazine State Park and Petit Jean State Park. In downtown Dardanelle there is access to local eateries to check out too. 

Staying overnight is an added way to experience winter here, whether via camping or at a cabin. This park is home to Cabin 1, which is a historic cabin for Arkansas State Parks as it was the first cabin rental. Many cabins here have views including cabins 2,3,4,5,8,9,10,and 11 through 15. “You really can’t go wrong booking one,” Waniewski said. “My favorites are 2,3,5,14 and 15.”  Further details about cabin rentals at Arkansas State Parks can be found in this article: arkansasstateparks.com/articles/cabin-rentals-arkansas-state-parks.

Petit Jean State Park

During the winter season, the beauty of Petit Jean State Park can be experienced in many ways.

According to Joe Buckley, Superintendent at Petit Jean State Park, winter at Petit Jean State Park is his favorite time to be outdoors. It is a chance to see the terrain of the park through trees that are now bare, there is a lack of mosquitos and ticks, and there are cooler temperatures for moderate outdoor activities. While winter days can be beautiful, he also advised watching the forecast too for winter weather conditions. 

There are many trails to visit while at Arkansas’ first state park, including the Seven Hollows Trail, where you can hike and also find access to rock climbing routes. This trail has many picturesque features to see including a natural stone arch. 

The Cedar Falls waterfall is also a highlight at the park, which can be seen via an overlook or by hiking the Cedar Falls Trail. “Cedar Falls, as far as the amount of flow coming over the falls, is completely dependent on seasonal rainfall and runoff,” said Buckley. “So, if we have had some regular rains, the falls will be beautiful.”

Hiking these trails in the winter can provide an interesting glimpse at the landscape. 

“Winter, provided there is not snow or ice on the ground,  is a great time to hike these trails,” said Buckley. “These are both difficult trails, and the mileage is not equivalent to “sidewalk miles” due to the rough terrain and constant up and down of the trails. That said, hikers can really see the terrain and geographical reliefs through the trees. On sunny days the wildlife and bird watching are superior.”

For details on other trails available at the park, check out arkansasstateparks.com/parks/petit-jean-state-park.

There are a mix of overnight options at Petit Jean State Park too including a lodge, cabins and camping. The lodge rooms are under renovation at the moment but people can still visit the lodge and eat at the Mather Lodge restaurant. “The cabins range from rustic CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps] built with kitchens to duplex style with two full beds. We have one 3 bedroom cabin, two cabins with hot tubs and cabins 1-19 have a great view off into the canyon.” For reservation details to stay overnight at Petit Jean State Park, check out reserve.arkansasstateparks.com/petit-jean.

DeGray Lake Resort State Park

DeGray Lake Resort State Park near Bismarck is a lake state park where one can relax and take in the beauty of DeGray Lake and nature in general.   

“DeGray Lake Resort State Park Lodge is a lakeside retreat with beautiful, year-round lake views from its guest rooms, full-service restaurant, convention center, and lobby,” said Dru Edmonds, Park Superintendent at DeGray Lake Resort State Park. “All are comfortable spaces, but the lobby and its fireplace are especially enjoyed this time of year.” 

 The season brings its own flavor to the park. “Birding, especially eagle watching, is a big draw in the winter,” Edmonds said. “We offer weekend eagle watch cruises and we will be celebrating our nation’s symbol January 23–26, 2026 [during Eagles Et Cetera]. Cooler weather also makes for great hiking conditions. We have five trails to explore. In addition, our golf course is open year-round, and the course plays well in winter.”

Along with the lodge, there is also camping and yurts available to overnight at. “Winter is a great time for campfires, and less occupancy means it's easier to grab your perfect lakeside campsite or yurt,” Edmonds said. 

For more details on overnight options at the park, visit reserve.arkansasstateparks.com/degray-lake/. The park is also near popular destinations like Hot Springs and Hot Springs National Park for those wanting to further explore the region while staying here.   

This is just a glance at the many winter getaway options available at Arkansas State Parks. For more ideas and inspiration, visit arkansasstateparks.com/.

The winter season is a great time to experience the lodges and cabins of Arkansas State Parks. To learn more about cabins at Arkansas State Parks visit arkansasstateparks.com/accommodations/cabins or this Arkansas State Parks article: arkansasstateparks.com/articles/cabin-rentals-arkansas-state-parks.

More details about all the park lodges available to stay at can be found at arkansasstateparks.com/accommodations/lodges.