Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

Waymon Cox

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! On muddy days at the Crater, lots of people visit and leave with mud-caked shoes, tools, and kids. Visitors often don’t realize how muddy the search area becomes when it rains. Understanding how rain affects the diamond-bearing soil and how to navigate the muddy search area can be helpful when searching for diamonds.

mud puddle at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Petit Jean State Park Dr. T.W. Hardison Visitor Center

The Dr. T.W. Hardison Visitor Center welcomes visitors to Petit Jean State Park. The newly constructed building, which provides space for camper registration, interpretive exhibits, meetings, special events, and staff offices, is named for the man whose vision for Petit Jean State Park brought about its creation as the cornerstone in the system of Arkansas State Parks.

Petit Jean State Park Dr. T.W. Hardison Visitor Center Statue

Tips for Finding Diamonds on the Surface

Waymon Cox

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! One of the easiest ways to find diamonds here is surface searching. Many of the large diamonds people hear about in the news are found on the surface of the plowed search area. As a result, people often have the misconception that most of our diamonds are found this way. While several diamonds are found on top of the ground...

Diamond on surface at Crater of Diamonds State Park

7 Staycations at Arkansas State Parks

Arkansas State Parks Staff

Imagine waking up to the sound of waves lapping at the shore, birds chirping from tall pine trees, maybe even a boat motor quietly starting its day to bring joy to families spending the weekend away from it all. That’s the kind of wake-up you’ll receive when you staycation at an Arkansas State Park. We’ve chosen seven better-than-a-hotel locales you’re guaranteed to fall...

Paddleboarding at DeGray Lake State Park

Let’s Ride: Mountain Biking Exhibit at State Capitol

Monika Rued

“Let’s Ride: Mountain Biking in the State Parks of Arkansas” is a biking exhibit at the Arkansas Capitol, celebrating mountain biking in Arkansas State Parks.

Mount Magazine Reworks Amphitheater

Meg Matthews

There’s something special about an amphitheater experience — the expansive sky, premium acoustics, the energy in the air. It’s no wonder amphitheater events create unforgettable memories.

Music Roots Hits All the Right Notes

Monika Rued

The Music Roots Program in Stone County provides traditional folk music instruction in local schools. Skilled musicians provide youth with classes in traditional folk instruments.

More Than a Walk in the Woods at Petit Jean State Park