Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas Park Crater of Diamonds Davidsonville Lake Ouachita Region Central North Central Southwest Upper Delta Park Activity Diamond Digging Geocaching 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 Cathy Combs Chris Adams Chris Pistole David Armstrong Devin Moon Don Simons Elizabeth Kimble Grady Spann Haley Johnson Heather 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 Wells Sasha Bowles Seth Boone Shelley Flanary Tara Gillanders Tayler Markham Tim Scott Waymon Cox Zachary Fisher Zoie Clift [X] Jenn Menge [X] Sarah Reap Date Published May 2025 August 2024 July 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 November 2023 September 2023 March 2023 February 2023 December 2022 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 Pagination Previous page ‹ Previous Page 2 A year of celebration and diamond discoveries Feb 2023 ⁄ Sarah Reap Last year was a special one for the Crater. Not only did the park celebrate its 50th anniversary, but more diamonds were registered in 2022 than the previous two years combined! Following is a recap of diamond finds and other significant events during 2022. A Good Time for a Diamond Find Dec 2022 ⁄ Sarah Reap 22,813 people entered the diamond search area in October 2021, superseding the 15,443 people we saw in October of this year. But how does that compare with diamond finds? Does higher visitation mean that more diamonds were found? Read this article to find out! 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: Churn Your Own Butter Nov 2020 ⁄ Sarah Reap Davidsonville Historic State Park in northeast Arkansas preserves Arkansas’s first platted (planned) town and the stories of the people who lived here. The people of Davidsonville churned butter as a necessary chore to keep their households running smoothly, but today is a fun activity to connect us to the past. In this photo essay, we will explore the very important task... 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. Rivers as Transportation Jul 2020 ⁄ Sarah Reap Davidsonville Historic State Park was established in 1957 to preserve the first platted (planned) town in Arkansas: Davidsonville. Established in 1815 along the Black River in northeast Arkansas Territory, the town was the site of many of Arkansas’s firsts. Davidsonville held the first county seat for Lawrence County, Arkansas’s first post office, first courthouse, and... 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. Pagination Previous page ‹ Previous Page 2
A year of celebration and diamond discoveries Feb 2023 ⁄ Sarah Reap Last year was a special one for the Crater. Not only did the park celebrate its 50th anniversary, but more diamonds were registered in 2022 than the previous two years combined! Following is a recap of diamond finds and other significant events during 2022.
A Good Time for a Diamond Find Dec 2022 ⁄ Sarah Reap 22,813 people entered the diamond search area in October 2021, superseding the 15,443 people we saw in October of this year. But how does that compare with diamond finds? Does higher visitation mean that more diamonds were found? Read this article to find out!
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: Churn Your Own Butter Nov 2020 ⁄ Sarah Reap Davidsonville Historic State Park in northeast Arkansas preserves Arkansas’s first platted (planned) town and the stories of the people who lived here. The people of Davidsonville churned butter as a necessary chore to keep their households running smoothly, but today is a fun activity to connect us to the past. In this photo essay, we will explore the very important task...
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.
Rivers as Transportation Jul 2020 ⁄ Sarah Reap Davidsonville Historic State Park was established in 1957 to preserve the first platted (planned) town in Arkansas: Davidsonville. Established in 1815 along the Black River in northeast Arkansas Territory, the town was the site of many of Arkansas’s firsts. Davidsonville held the first county seat for Lawrence County, Arkansas’s first post office, first courthouse, and...
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.
