Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! We have all seen changes this year due to COVID-19, and many of us are still adjusting. Guidelines and restrictions—detailed on the park’s website at https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/crater-diamonds-state-park--have been put in place to help protect our visitors and staff. With the many disruptions we have faced this...

Crater of Diamonds State Park Search Field with family searching for diamonds in the background

Tiny Tough Skinks: 3 Tips for Nature Observers

Aug 2020

The varied and rugged terrain of the Ozarks at Lake Fort Smith State Park in northwest Arkansas offers suitable homes for many different types of animals. Large animals like black bears, deer, and bobcats thrive in this mountainous region. The commonly known larger animals often take the spotlight away from the smaller creatures who also dwell in the area, but the smallest...

Two Visitors Find Large Diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Jul 2020

Confirmation of two large diamonds found at Crater of Diamonds State Park made for a busy week last week at the park, one of the only places in the world where the public can search for diamonds in their original volcanic source.

Serendipity diamond next to quarter for scale

Visitor Finds 2.23-Carat Diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Jun 2020

The summer of 2020 started with a sparkling surprise for one western Arkansas woman. Fifty-six-year-old Beatrice Watkins, of Mena, visited Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, on Saturday, June 20, with her daughter and granddaughters. Within 30 minutes of arriving, she had unknowingly picked up the largest diamond found there, so far this year.

Lady Beatrice brown diamond next to a quarter to show scale

Diamond Search Field to Re-open on May 22 at Crater of Diamonds State Park

May 2020

The very popular diamond search field at Crater of Diamonds State Park will open May 22 with some restrictions, announced Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.

Crater of Diamonds State Park Search Field

Promethea Silkmoth Video

May 2020

Lake Fort Smith State Park in western Arkansas offers a variety of habitats for many different wild creatures. The forest here is a perfect home for the extraordinarily large promethea silkmoth, Callosamia promethea. At nearly four inches, the adults’ wings exhibit extraordinary camouflage to avoid predators.

Video: Stream at Lake Fort Smith State Park

Apr 2020

As the spring rain settles in on the Boston Mountains of Lake Fort Smith State Park, the rainwater finds the quickest routes down the mountainsides to form hundreds of bubbling, temporary streams. The flowing waters breathe life into the forest by providing new water sources for plants and animals and providing habitat for aquatic insects and amphibians. The gentle streams...

Living Hillsides Virtual Hike

Apr 2020

Lake Fort Smith State Park is a beautiful oasis nestled in the Boston Mountains of Northwest Arkansas. The lake is pristine and teeming with life, but this outstanding water reservoir would not be as special as it is without its surrounding hillsides. These living, tree-covered hillsides protect the lake from erosion and deep within the forest are many hidden treasures.

Spring Mining Tips

Feb 2020

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! Over the next few weeks, travelers across the country will be making plans for spring break travel, and many will choose to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park. Spring break can be a great time to visit Arkansas’s diamond site, and the following tips can help you make the most of your diamond-searching adventure!

Searching for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Winter Forecast for Crater of Diamonds State Park

Dec 2019