Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

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

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

Village Creek State Park Scavenger Hunt

Because Village Creek State Park is here to conserve the natural, cultural, and historical resources of Crowley’s Ridge, there is always something new for you to discover. Many of our guests come for specific reasons—camping, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding—but there are so many more things to do here. You can download and print this scavenger hunt, which reveals...

Even More Answers to Common Crater of Diamonds State Park Questions

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! First-time visitors often have a lot of questions for our staff. The following are a few of the more common inquiries we hear at the park, along with answers.

Crater of Diamonds State Park Search Field

Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area Wildflower Walk

Wildflowers paint the landscape in magnificent splashes of color, all while working diligently behind the scenes to safeguard the very ecosystems they call home. The miles of hiking trails at Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area in southwest Arkansas not only give you amazing views of this National Wild and Scenic River, but also of the surrounding habitat that is home...

Yellow and Red wildflower at Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area

Photo Essay: Island Adventures on Lake Ouachita

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.

Sunset at Bird Island at Lake Ouachita State Park

Logoly Nature Notes

Even brief observations of nature provide incredible insights and memorable moments at Logoly State Park. Use this sheet to focus your thoughts and unlock unexpected details. You can download and print this Nature Notes form to help you take notes, sketch specimens, and aid the park in community-based science.

Amid Change, Some Things Remain the Same at the Crater of Diamonds