Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas Park Lake Fort Smith Lake Ouachita Village Creek Region Central North Central Northwest Upper Delta Park Activity Kayaking / Canoeing Watchable Wildlife Trail Type Trail Difficulty Author Adam Leslie Alex Hedegard Amy Griffin Amy Griffin Arkansas State Parks Staff Billy Nations Bonnie Marberry Brian Whitson Cara Curtis Chris Adams Chris Pistole David Armstrong Devin Moon Don Simons Elizabeth Kimble Grady Spann Haley Johnson Heather Runyan Ivory Detter Jackie Rupp Jason Baumgartner Jason Parrie Jeanette Larson Jeanette Larson Joe Jacobs John Morrow Jonathan Wirges Josh Williams Kara Helton Kayla Gomance Kelly Farrell Kristina Root Kylee Cole Leita Spears Leita Spears Maggie Howard Mary Buchman Matt Manos Megan Ayres Moore Meg Matthews Melissa Ray Monika Rued Mystina Swaim Paul Butler Pearl Jangjiravat Pete Salmon Rachel Lewis Randy Pearson Rebekah Spurlock Robin Gabe Ron Salley Ryan Smith Sarah Reap Sarah Wells Sasha Bowles Seth Boone Shelley Flanary Tara Gillanders Tayler Markham Tim Scott Waymon Cox Zachary Fisher Zoie Clift [X] Cathy Combs [X] Heather Johnson [X] Jenn Menge Date Published May 2023 December 2021 February 2021 January 2021 August 2020 May 2020 April 2020 A State for the Birds - World Migratory Bird Day 2023 in Arkansas State Parks May 2023 ⁄ Cathy Combs For both Arkansans and out of state visitors, water is vital to recreational activities our state is known for–fishing, kayaking, swimming, and so much more. In preserving these waters, your parks invite you and future generations to make memories in the natural state. Video: The Creek Speaks Dec 2021 ⁄ Cathy Combs The multi-use trails at Village Creek State Park offer many opportunities to discover the beauty of Crowley’s Ridge. Village Creek State Park, located in eastern Arkansas just 40 miles of Memphis, has a mission of connecting visitors with a unique feature of the Delta: Crowley’s Ridge. The park offers over 33 miles of trails through ridge tops, ravines, and valleys. Video: Purple Martins on Lake Ouachita Feb 2021 ⁄ Jenn Menge Part of our mission at Lake Ouachita State Park is to provide access to Lake Ouachita, which is filled with many wonderful natural resources. One of the most unique sights – a huge roost of purple martins – is only visible for a small portion of the year. From mid-July to mid-August, thousands of purple martins flock to a small island on the lake to gather and rest before... Video: Double Rainbow After the Storm Jan 2021 ⁄ Jenn Menge Though it is a human-built lake by the Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Ouachita in southwest Arkansas is filled with plenty of natural beauty. Lake Ouachita State Park exists, in part, to provide access to this lake and all its resources. With its clear, open water and mountainous surroundings, Lake Ouachita is the perfect place to watch a storm roll in or enjoy a red-orange... Photo Essay: Island Adventures on Lake Ouachita Aug 2020 ⁄ Jenn Menge Arkansas’s largest lake, Lake Ouachita, has 1000 miles of pristine shoreline and over 200 different islands to explore. Lake Ouachita State Park, located in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, exists in part to provide access to the lake’s recreational and educational opportunities. Tiny Tough Skinks: 3 Tips for Nature Observers Aug 2020 ⁄ Heather Johnson The varied and rugged terrain of the Ozarks at Lake Fort Smith State Park in northwest Arkansas offers suitable homes for many different types of animals. Large animals like black bears, deer, and bobcats thrive in this mountainous region. The commonly known larger animals often take the spotlight away from the smaller creatures who also dwell in the area, but the smallest... Video: The Historic and Healing Three Sisters Springs May 2020 ⁄ Jenn Menge Though the area is no longer used as a resort, the three individual springs still flow freely for Lake Ouachita State Park visitors to enjoy to this day. As you enjoy the video of the Three Sisters Springs, imagine the rejuvenating power of the cool water. Promethea Silkmoth Video May 2020 ⁄ Heather Johnson Lake Fort Smith State Park in western Arkansas offers a variety of habitats for many different wild creatures. The forest here is a perfect home for the extraordinarily large promethea silkmoth, Callosamia promethea. At nearly four inches, the adults’ wings exhibit extraordinary camouflage to avoid predators. Living Hillsides Virtual Hike Apr 2020 ⁄ Heather Johnson Lake Fort Smith State Park is a beautiful oasis nestled in the Boston Mountains of Northwest Arkansas. The lake is pristine and teeming with life, but this outstanding water reservoir would not be as special as it is without its surrounding hillsides. These living, tree-covered hillsides protect the lake from erosion and deep within the forest are many hidden treasures. Video: Stream at Lake Fort Smith State Park Apr 2020 ⁄ Heather Johnson As the spring rain settles in on the Boston Mountains of Lake Fort Smith State Park, the rainwater finds the quickest routes down the mountainsides to form hundreds of bubbling, temporary streams. The flowing waters breathe life into the forest by providing new water sources for plants and animals and providing habitat for aquatic insects and amphibians. The gentle streams...
A State for the Birds - World Migratory Bird Day 2023 in Arkansas State Parks May 2023 ⁄ Cathy Combs For both Arkansans and out of state visitors, water is vital to recreational activities our state is known for–fishing, kayaking, swimming, and so much more. In preserving these waters, your parks invite you and future generations to make memories in the natural state.
Video: The Creek Speaks Dec 2021 ⁄ Cathy Combs The multi-use trails at Village Creek State Park offer many opportunities to discover the beauty of Crowley’s Ridge. Village Creek State Park, located in eastern Arkansas just 40 miles of Memphis, has a mission of connecting visitors with a unique feature of the Delta: Crowley’s Ridge. The park offers over 33 miles of trails through ridge tops, ravines, and valleys.
Video: Purple Martins on Lake Ouachita Feb 2021 ⁄ Jenn Menge Part of our mission at Lake Ouachita State Park is to provide access to Lake Ouachita, which is filled with many wonderful natural resources. One of the most unique sights – a huge roost of purple martins – is only visible for a small portion of the year. From mid-July to mid-August, thousands of purple martins flock to a small island on the lake to gather and rest before...
Video: Double Rainbow After the Storm Jan 2021 ⁄ Jenn Menge Though it is a human-built lake by the Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Ouachita in southwest Arkansas is filled with plenty of natural beauty. Lake Ouachita State Park exists, in part, to provide access to this lake and all its resources. With its clear, open water and mountainous surroundings, Lake Ouachita is the perfect place to watch a storm roll in or enjoy a red-orange...
Photo Essay: Island Adventures on Lake Ouachita Aug 2020 ⁄ Jenn Menge Arkansas’s largest lake, Lake Ouachita, has 1000 miles of pristine shoreline and over 200 different islands to explore. Lake Ouachita State Park, located in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, exists in part to provide access to the lake’s recreational and educational opportunities.
Tiny Tough Skinks: 3 Tips for Nature Observers Aug 2020 ⁄ Heather Johnson The varied and rugged terrain of the Ozarks at Lake Fort Smith State Park in northwest Arkansas offers suitable homes for many different types of animals. Large animals like black bears, deer, and bobcats thrive in this mountainous region. The commonly known larger animals often take the spotlight away from the smaller creatures who also dwell in the area, but the smallest...
Video: The Historic and Healing Three Sisters Springs May 2020 ⁄ Jenn Menge Though the area is no longer used as a resort, the three individual springs still flow freely for Lake Ouachita State Park visitors to enjoy to this day. As you enjoy the video of the Three Sisters Springs, imagine the rejuvenating power of the cool water.
Promethea Silkmoth Video May 2020 ⁄ Heather Johnson Lake Fort Smith State Park in western Arkansas offers a variety of habitats for many different wild creatures. The forest here is a perfect home for the extraordinarily large promethea silkmoth, Callosamia promethea. At nearly four inches, the adults’ wings exhibit extraordinary camouflage to avoid predators.
Living Hillsides Virtual Hike Apr 2020 ⁄ Heather Johnson Lake Fort Smith State Park is a beautiful oasis nestled in the Boston Mountains of Northwest Arkansas. The lake is pristine and teeming with life, but this outstanding water reservoir would not be as special as it is without its surrounding hillsides. These living, tree-covered hillsides protect the lake from erosion and deep within the forest are many hidden treasures.
Video: Stream at Lake Fort Smith State Park Apr 2020 ⁄ Heather Johnson As the spring rain settles in on the Boston Mountains of Lake Fort Smith State Park, the rainwater finds the quickest routes down the mountainsides to form hundreds of bubbling, temporary streams. The flowing waters breathe life into the forest by providing new water sources for plants and animals and providing habitat for aquatic insects and amphibians. The gentle streams...
