Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas Park Lake Fort Smith Mississippi River Village Creek Region Lower Delta North Central Northwest Upper Delta Park Activity Trail Type Trail Difficulty Author Adam Leslie Alex Hedegard Amy Griffin Amy Griffin Arkansas State Parks Staff Billy Nations Bonnie Marberry Brian Whitson Cathy Combs 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 Jenn Menge Joe Jacobs John Morrow Jonathan Wirges Josh Williams 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] Cara Curtis [X] Heather Johnson [X] Kara Helton Date Published June 2021 February 2021 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 Educator Lesson: Taste of the Land Mississippi River State Park Jun 2021 ⁄ Cara Curtis In this short video, join Park Interpreter Cara for a virtual experience using a cast-iron Dutch oven to create a squirrel and rice meal. By exploring the story of this regional comfort food, you’ll see that each ingredient reflects how past communities used the land that became Mississippi River State Park. While the food cooks, you’ll even travel to different locations... Photo Essay: Creek Crawl Feb 2021 ⁄ Kara Helton Located in northeast Arkansas on Crowley’s Ridge, Village Creek State Park encompasses nearly 7,000 acres with steep forested hills and creek-fed valleys. Part of our mission is to protect the park’s natural resources, and one way for park staff to do that is to monitor the biodiversity of our creeks. Since our creeks provide water to most of the park, when it is time to... 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... Remember T.R.A.I.L.S. and Be a Safe Hiker Jun 2020 ⁄ Kara Helton In this article, we will cover some helpful tips and habits a potential hiker like you can incorporate into your routine. Whether you are an experienced hiker or not, these habits can help you make the most of your adventure while hiking our trails. Video: Kayaking Among Flooded Cypress Jun 2020 ⁄ Cara Curtis Kayaking on Hornor Neck Lake, within the park, is always an adventure that takes you through beautiful Delta scenery and stories. Gliding among large bald-cypress trees, you’ll find wildlife making homes and get to glimpse into the history that this rare, naturally formed lake holds. 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...
Educator Lesson: Taste of the Land Mississippi River State Park Jun 2021 ⁄ Cara Curtis In this short video, join Park Interpreter Cara for a virtual experience using a cast-iron Dutch oven to create a squirrel and rice meal. By exploring the story of this regional comfort food, you’ll see that each ingredient reflects how past communities used the land that became Mississippi River State Park. While the food cooks, you’ll even travel to different locations...
Photo Essay: Creek Crawl Feb 2021 ⁄ Kara Helton Located in northeast Arkansas on Crowley’s Ridge, Village Creek State Park encompasses nearly 7,000 acres with steep forested hills and creek-fed valleys. Part of our mission is to protect the park’s natural resources, and one way for park staff to do that is to monitor the biodiversity of our creeks. Since our creeks provide water to most of the park, when it is time to...
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...
Remember T.R.A.I.L.S. and Be a Safe Hiker Jun 2020 ⁄ Kara Helton In this article, we will cover some helpful tips and habits a potential hiker like you can incorporate into your routine. Whether you are an experienced hiker or not, these habits can help you make the most of your adventure while hiking our trails.
Video: Kayaking Among Flooded Cypress Jun 2020 ⁄ Cara Curtis Kayaking on Hornor Neck Lake, within the park, is always an adventure that takes you through beautiful Delta scenery and stories. Gliding among large bald-cypress trees, you’ll find wildlife making homes and get to glimpse into the history that this rare, naturally formed lake holds.
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...
