Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

Noreen Wredberg of Granite Bay, Calif., found the 4.38-carat yellow diamond sitting on top of the ground within an hour of searching. It’s the largest diamond found so far this year at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Noreen Wredberg's yellow diamond sitting next to a marble for scale

Find Mesmerizing Mimetoliths at Crater of Diamonds

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! Have you ever looked at clouds and imagined dogs, elephants, or dragons? Have you noticed faces or creatures in the knots and holes of a tree trunk? If so, you have experienced pareidolia, the ability to see meaningful shapes or patterns in everyday objects. Most of us experience pareidolia at some level. Certain rocks and...

Crater of Diamonds State Park mimetolith

Pollinator Party

Sasha Bowles

Arkansas State Parks are committed to protecting our natural resources within the parks, including the native plants and their pollinators. That is why we are partners with the Arkansas Monarch and Pollinator Partnership. Lake Dardanelle State Park in Russellville has many “garden” areas throughout the park that are planted and maintained to benefit pollinators...

Two bumble bees with pollen sacks full of bright orange pollen fly in to collect nectar and pollen from the deep purple blooms of a lead plant.

Get Back to Nature This Fall

Arkansas State Parks Staff

As bright mornings give way to chillier weather and the leaves start to turn to auburn, garnet and gold, you’ll feel the pull to get outside. Whether you want to spend an entire weekend living around nature’s beauty or want to feel the thrill of speed as you race down a Monument Trail, Arkansas State Parks has something for everyone this autumn.

Fall camping at White Oak Lake State Park

Fall Getaways

Arkansas State Parks Staff

Hop on a scenic road, kick up some golden leaves and make your way to a fresh-out-of-your-favorite-fall-movie getaway. Arkansas State Parks has something for everyone — are you more of a cabin or lodge person? — so book your stay now because fall is in season.

Sifting Gravel for Diamonds

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! Visitors at the Crater of Diamonds get to do something here they can’t do at most other state parks – take the rocks and minerals they find home with them. There are specific rules regarding the type and amount of materials that can be removed from the park. They not only benefit the park but also the thousands of people who...

Sifted gravel from Crater of Diamonds State Park

Photo Essay: The Secrets of the St. Francis

Rachel Lewis

Parkin Archeological State Park in eastern Arkansas focuses on protecting cultural resources. The St. Francis River, a very large and mostly overlooked resource here, has proved to be a lifeline for past cultures that lived on this site. And, it continues to be a valuable resource today. These photos will guide you through past cultures of Parkin to show how the St...

Painting of five American Indians in a canoe traveling on the river.

The Most Colorful Time of the Year

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! Over the next few weeks, visitors will travel to Arkansas to enjoy cooler weather and beautiful fall foliage. Though the colors of autumn are fleeting, you can collect many colorful minerals at Crater of Diamonds State Park to enjoy all year long!

Basic Angling Tips for White River Trout Fishing