Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

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...

Fishing is a favored pastime at Lake Dardanelle State Park, making people the top of this food chain. We love to catch fish, but often don’t think of all the creatures it took to build that strong healthy fish on the end of our fishing line. Mayflies are an essential part of the food chain that keeps the fishery at Lake Dardanelle State Park healthy. In this photo essay...

In this article, we will cover some helpful tips and habits a potential hiker like you can incorporate into your routine. Whether you are an experienced hiker or not, these habits can help you make the most of your adventure while hiking our trails.

Village Creek State Park offers a chance for survival to many white-tailed deer. Natural resources that are protected here give the deer plenty of spaces to make their homes. The wide variety of plants that grow here provide the deer with food. Also, deer, like all wildlife in the park, are protected from hunting and harassment. All these things together mean that our deer...

What lives in a lake? If you are like most of us, your first thoughts were fish, snakes, and turtles. Believe it or not, that’s only a small part of the life below Lake Dardanelle!

Escape to Lake Dardanelle State Park’s largest aquarium exhibit and see some of our native fish from a unique underwater perspective. Inside Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center is 7,000 gallons of aquarium exhibits that provide an up-close connection with Lake Dardanelle’s native fish species.

What is now the body of water called Lake Dardanelle was once simply the Arkansas River, a life source to plants and wildlife, as well as the Native Americans and settlers who migrated here. One river many voices.

Crowley’s Ridge State Park in Northeast Arkansas is rich in natural, cultural, and historic resources. We tell the stories of the unique formation of Crowley’s Ridge, our historic Civilian Conservation Corps structures from the 1930s, and of natural beauty found here. Protecting these resources is part of our mission. We strive to honor this mission by celebrating Earth...

Lake Dardanelle State Park sits along the edge of Lake Dardanelle, a 34,300-acre reservoir on the Arkansas River. Lake Dardanelle’s diverse habitats in and around the lake will surround you in natural beauty and a top-notch fishery. Enjoy this sunset view from the Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center.

One of the most awe-inspiring birds you can witness is the Bald Eagle. Once endangered, the Bald Eagle has made an encouraging comeback and now nests along rivers and lakeshores throughout the state. Now, you can find our national emblem in dozens of sites across Arkansas, particularly along shores of lakes and rivers. The most common time to experience Bald Eagle...