Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

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

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!

Searching for a diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Photo Essay: Winter Birding at Lake Dardanelle State Park

Nov 2022

In this photo essay, join us for a virtual winter walk along the shores of the lake to discover a few of the birds found on Lake Dardanelle during the winter.

Two pelicans and a cormorant swim in the water in the foreground with other out of focus birds in the background.

Video: Cruising Lake Dardanelle

Feb 2021

Exploring Lake Dardanelle by boat allows you to surround yourself in the beauty of the Arkansas River Valley, an area that a wide variety of wildlife depends on for survival. These waters are home to an array of aquatic species, with a multitude of other animals in the forests surrounding the lake, and skies overhead. Lake Dardanelle State Park sits along the shores of 34...

Photo Essay: Churn Your Own Butter

Nov 2020

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...

A loaf of bread on a table with a container of butter and a piece of bread off to the side with butter on it

Hiking With Man’s Best Friend

Nov 2020

Lake Dardanelle State Park, located in Russellville, Arkansas, provides a quiet and relaxing setting to enjoy the outdoors with the entire family, including man’s best friend. The park features a large amount of pet-friendly space including open grassy fields, picnic areas, and the Meadowbrook Trail, an easy ¾-mile walk through a wooded section of the park. Responsibly...

Rivers as Transportation

Jul 2020

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...

Photo Essay: Life Below Lake Dardanelle

May 2020

What lives in a lake? If you are like most of us, your first thoughts were fish, snakes, and turtles. Believe it or not, that’s only a small part of the life below Lake Dardanelle!

Lake Dardanelle State Park Sunset

Apr 2020

Lake Dardanelle State Park sits along the edge of Lake Dardanelle, a 34,300-acre reservoir on the Arkansas River. Lake Dardanelle’s diverse habitats in and around the lake will surround you in natural beauty and a top-notch fishery. Enjoy this sunset view from the Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center.

The sun sets over a wide area of Lake Dardanelle on a cloudless night. A wooden pier and rock jetty can be seen on the right, as well as distant hills on the horizon.

Awaken Your Nocturnal Nature

Sep 2016