Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas Park Lake Fort Smith Mount Magazine Village Creek Region Central Lower Delta North Central Northwest Southwest 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 Cara Curtis 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 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 Tayler Markham Tim Scott Waymon Cox Zachary Fisher Zoie Clift [X] Heather Johnson [X] Jonathan Wirges [X] Tara Gillanders Date Published August 2020 May 2020 April 2020 April 2016 March 2016 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... Draw with a Park Ranger: Let’s Draw a Raccoon Aug 2020 ⁄ Jonathan Wirges Raccoons draw attention for both their unique appearance and their antics you might see while camping at Mount Magazine State Park. In the photo essay below, join along as an interpretive park ranger guides you on how to sketch one of these nighttime hunters. 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. Animal Crossroads Video May 2020 ⁄ Jonathan Wirges Mount Magazine State Park is crisscrossed by over 15 miles of trails, connecting beautiful overlooks, tranquil forests, and the highest point in the state. Visitors from all over find their way across these trails and not just humans. Wildlife finds their way all over the park, year-round, using their own pathways. Their trails may not be as well-marked but are just as... 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... It’s School Group Season! Apr 2016 ⁄ Tara Gillanders Most of our parks have programs specifically designed for school groups that are aligned with the Arkansas K-12 and can accommodate School Groups throughout the year. Snow Business Beats No Business Apr 2016 ⁄ Tara Gillanders Last month as the snow was blanketing the park we turned cold weather into a fun opportunity by making snow mammals as part of the program. Winter on the Ridge Mar 2016 ⁄ Tara Gillanders Winter may seem an unlikely season to go exploring outdoors, but it really can be amazing. This is the time of year to experience the geologic structure of Crowley’s Ridge in northeast Arkansas.
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...
Draw with a Park Ranger: Let’s Draw a Raccoon Aug 2020 ⁄ Jonathan Wirges Raccoons draw attention for both their unique appearance and their antics you might see while camping at Mount Magazine State Park. In the photo essay below, join along as an interpretive park ranger guides you on how to sketch one of these nighttime hunters.
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.
Animal Crossroads Video May 2020 ⁄ Jonathan Wirges Mount Magazine State Park is crisscrossed by over 15 miles of trails, connecting beautiful overlooks, tranquil forests, and the highest point in the state. Visitors from all over find their way across these trails and not just humans. Wildlife finds their way all over the park, year-round, using their own pathways. Their trails may not be as well-marked but are just as...
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...
It’s School Group Season! Apr 2016 ⁄ Tara Gillanders Most of our parks have programs specifically designed for school groups that are aligned with the Arkansas K-12 and can accommodate School Groups throughout the year.
Snow Business Beats No Business Apr 2016 ⁄ Tara Gillanders Last month as the snow was blanketing the park we turned cold weather into a fun opportunity by making snow mammals as part of the program.
Winter on the Ridge Mar 2016 ⁄ Tara Gillanders Winter may seem an unlikely season to go exploring outdoors, but it really can be amazing. This is the time of year to experience the geologic structure of Crowley’s Ridge in northeast Arkansas.