Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas Park Crater of Diamonds Historic Washington State Park Petit Jean Cossatot River Daisy DeGray Lake Resort Devil's Den Lake Catherine Lake Fort Smith Moro Bay Mount Nebo White Oak Lake Woolly Hollow Region Southwest Central Northwest Lower Delta Park Activity Diamond Digging Hiking Watchable Wildlife Kayaking / Canoeing Swimming Boating / Marinas Fishing Horseback Riding Trail Type Trail Difficulty Author Arkansas State Parks Staff Billy Nations Waymon Cox Sarah Reap Tayler Markham Date Published May 2025 April 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 [X] February 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 [X] April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 September 2018 May 2018 March 2018 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 When boring is not boring Feb 2023 ⁄ Billy Nations All the shotguns you see here evolved from the less reliable and less effective guns of an earlier period to the reliably accurate and artistic designs of modern firearms. All it took was a little-known gunsmith with some knowledge and patience to change the shotgun forever. You can see several shotguns at the B.W. Weapons Museum at Historic Washington State Park in... Visiting the Crater during the Spring Feb 2023 ⁄ Tayler Markham It’s hard to believe that spring break is just around the corner, after the icy weather the park has received in recent weeks. Looking forward to warmer weather, families from all over the country are planning spring break trips in the coming days, and several will choose to spend time at the world-famous Crater of Diamonds State Park. For those who plan to visit the park... You Couldn’t Make This Story Up! Feb 2023 ⁄ Billy Nations Black History Month is upon us, we think it appropriate to remind our would-be visitors to Historic Washington State Park of the program opportunities that lay in store for them as related to the African-American component of the Washington story. Waterfalls of Arkansas State Parks Feb 2023 ⁄ Arkansas State Parks Staff Hiking to waterfalls is a great way to get out into nature and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. It can be a calming and peaceful experience, or an adrenaline-filled adventure depending on how you approach it. You can get some great exercise and fresh air, and you may even spot some wildlife along the way. The sound of a rushing waterfall is also incredibly soothing, and... A year of celebration and diamond discoveries Feb 2023 ⁄ Sarah Reap 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. Walking in Mud at Crater Apr 2021 ⁄ 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. Petit Jean State Park Dr. T.W. Hardison Visitor Center Apr 2021 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. Tips for Finding Diamonds on the Surface Apr 2021 ⁄ 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... 7 Staycations at Arkansas State Parks Apr 2021 ⁄ 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...
When boring is not boring Feb 2023 ⁄ Billy Nations All the shotguns you see here evolved from the less reliable and less effective guns of an earlier period to the reliably accurate and artistic designs of modern firearms. All it took was a little-known gunsmith with some knowledge and patience to change the shotgun forever. You can see several shotguns at the B.W. Weapons Museum at Historic Washington State Park in...
Visiting the Crater during the Spring Feb 2023 ⁄ Tayler Markham It’s hard to believe that spring break is just around the corner, after the icy weather the park has received in recent weeks. Looking forward to warmer weather, families from all over the country are planning spring break trips in the coming days, and several will choose to spend time at the world-famous Crater of Diamonds State Park. For those who plan to visit the park...
You Couldn’t Make This Story Up! Feb 2023 ⁄ Billy Nations Black History Month is upon us, we think it appropriate to remind our would-be visitors to Historic Washington State Park of the program opportunities that lay in store for them as related to the African-American component of the Washington story.
Waterfalls of Arkansas State Parks Feb 2023 ⁄ Arkansas State Parks Staff Hiking to waterfalls is a great way to get out into nature and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. It can be a calming and peaceful experience, or an adrenaline-filled adventure depending on how you approach it. You can get some great exercise and fresh air, and you may even spot some wildlife along the way. The sound of a rushing waterfall is also incredibly soothing, and...
A year of celebration and diamond discoveries Feb 2023 ⁄ Sarah Reap 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.
Walking in Mud at Crater Apr 2021 ⁄ 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.
Petit Jean State Park Dr. T.W. Hardison Visitor Center Apr 2021 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.
Tips for Finding Diamonds on the Surface Apr 2021 ⁄ 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...
7 Staycations at Arkansas State Parks Apr 2021 ⁄ 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...
