Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas Park DeGray Lake Resort Petit Jean Lake Dardanelle Ozark Folk Center Pinnacle Mountain Lake Ouachita Plum Bayou Mounds Lake Fort Smith Village Creek Woolly Hollow Bull Shoals - White River Devil's Den Hobbs State Park Conservation Area Mount Magazine Mount Nebo Cossatot River Daisy Davidsonville Historic Washington State Park Moro Bay Withrow Springs Cane Creek Crowley's Ridge Lake Catherine Lake Chicot Millwood Mississippi River White Oak Lake Delta Heritage Trail Hampson Museum Jacksonport Lake Frierson Plantation Agriculture Museum Powhatan Courthouse Prairie Grove Battlefield Conway Cemetery Lake Charles Lake Poinsett Louisiana Purchase Lower White River Museum Mammoth Spring Parkin Archeological Queen Wilhelmina Region Southwest [X] Central Northwest Upper Delta [X] North Central Lower Delta Park Activity Watchable Wildlife Hiking Kayaking / Canoeing Fishing Mountain Biking Boating / Marinas Swimming Climbing Geocaching Horseback Riding Backpacking Diamond Digging Motorcycling Road Cycling Lake Tours Snorkeling / Scuba Diving Hang Gliding River Running Trail Type Day Hikes Mountain Biking Backpacking Barrier Free (ADA) Horseback Riding Kayaking/Water Trails Wilderness ATV Trail Difficulty Moderate Strenuous Easy Author Arkansas State Parks Staff Meg Matthews Monika Rued Grady Spann Jenn Menge Megan Ayres Moore Sasha Bowles Zoie Clift David Armstrong Heather Johnson Jonathan Wirges Kayla Gomance Matt Manos Robin Gabe Amy Griffin Jackie Rupp Jason Baumgartner Jason Parrie Jeanette Larson Jeanette Larson Joe Jacobs Kelly Farrell Leita Spears Maggie Howard Melissa Ray Ron Salley Sarah Reap Tara Gillanders Zachary Fisher Date Published September 2025 August 2025 October 2024 September 2024 January 2024 March 2023 February 2023 October 2022 June 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 November 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 Pagination Previous page ‹ Previous Page 3 Next page Next › Trail of Tears Across Arkansas State Parks Mar 2021 ⁄ Sasha Bowles Arkansas has hundreds of miles of the Trail of Tears, and of the nine states traversed by the trail, is the only state that witnessed the removal of all five of the Southeastern tribes as they moved west. Arkansas State Parks has five parks that lie along these removal routes. These parks have been certified as National Park Service Trail of Tears National Historic Trail... Video: Cruising Lake Dardanelle Feb 2021 ⁄ Megan Ayres Moore Exploring Lake Dardanelle by boat allows you to surround yourself in the beauty of the Arkansas River Valley, an area that a wide variety of wildlife depends on for survival. These waters are home to an array of aquatic species, with a multitude of other animals in the forests surrounding the lake, and skies overhead. Lake Dardanelle State Park sits along the shores of 34... Video: Purple Martins on Lake Ouachita Feb 2021 ⁄ Jenn Menge Part of our mission at Lake Ouachita State Park is to provide access to Lake Ouachita, which is filled with many wonderful natural resources. One of the most unique sights – a huge roost of purple martins – is only visible for a small portion of the year. From mid-July to mid-August, thousands of purple martins flock to a small island on the lake to gather and rest before... Video: The Rhythm of Rattle Making Jan 2021 ⁄ Melissa Ray In this video, meet Park Interpreter Melissa Ray from Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park and learn how to recreate the rhythmic sound of American Indian rattles. They are simple to make but deep in meaning. Video: Just Roll with It! Jan 2021 ⁄ David Armstrong Along the DeGray Lake Resort State Park's trails and throughout the forest floors, the humble humpback dung beetle (Deltochilum gibbosum) faithfully carries out its repetitive, rather repugnant, responsibilities without reservation. Few species in the park’s elaborate food chain can rival the curious, hard-working star of this short video and the unique “role” it plays. Video: Double Rainbow After the Storm Jan 2021 ⁄ Jenn Menge Though it is a human-built lake by the Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Ouachita in southwest Arkansas is filled with plenty of natural beauty. Lake Ouachita State Park exists, in part, to provide access to this lake and all its resources. With its clear, open water and mountainous surroundings, Lake Ouachita is the perfect place to watch a storm roll in or enjoy a red-orange... Arkansas State Parks Adjusts Operations to Respond to Statewide COVID-19 Increase Dec 2020 ⁄ Meg Matthews Visitor information centers, museums, restaurants and two marinas at Arkansas State Parks will see a reduction of operating hours to efficiently manage available resources during the recent statewide increase in COVID-19 cases. Hiking With Man’s Best Friend Nov 2020 ⁄ Megan Ayres Moore Lake Dardanelle State Park, located in Russellville, Arkansas, provides a quiet and relaxing setting to enjoy the outdoors with the entire family, including man’s best friend. The park features a large amount of pet-friendly space including open grassy fields, picnic areas, and the Meadowbrook Trail, an easy ¾-mile walk through a wooded section of the park. Responsibly... Photo Essay: Churn Your Own Butter Nov 2020 ⁄ Sarah Reap Davidsonville Historic State Park in northeast Arkansas preserves Arkansas’s first platted (planned) town and the stories of the people who lived here. The people of Davidsonville churned butter as a necessary chore to keep their households running smoothly, but today is a fun activity to connect us to the past. In this photo essay, we will explore the very important task... Leave No Trace Nov 2020 You are welcome at Arkansas State Parks. We have one of the most pristine state park systems in the nation to enjoy. In order to protect and make sure your state parks are available for generations to come, it’s important to stay on designated trails, pick up after yourself and don’t litter (cigarette butts are litter), and recreate responsibly. Recreating responsibly has... Pagination Previous page ‹ Previous Page 3 Next page Next ›
Trail of Tears Across Arkansas State Parks Mar 2021 ⁄ Sasha Bowles Arkansas has hundreds of miles of the Trail of Tears, and of the nine states traversed by the trail, is the only state that witnessed the removal of all five of the Southeastern tribes as they moved west. Arkansas State Parks has five parks that lie along these removal routes. These parks have been certified as National Park Service Trail of Tears National Historic Trail...
Video: Cruising Lake Dardanelle Feb 2021 ⁄ Megan Ayres Moore Exploring Lake Dardanelle by boat allows you to surround yourself in the beauty of the Arkansas River Valley, an area that a wide variety of wildlife depends on for survival. These waters are home to an array of aquatic species, with a multitude of other animals in the forests surrounding the lake, and skies overhead. Lake Dardanelle State Park sits along the shores of 34...
Video: Purple Martins on Lake Ouachita Feb 2021 ⁄ Jenn Menge Part of our mission at Lake Ouachita State Park is to provide access to Lake Ouachita, which is filled with many wonderful natural resources. One of the most unique sights – a huge roost of purple martins – is only visible for a small portion of the year. From mid-July to mid-August, thousands of purple martins flock to a small island on the lake to gather and rest before...
Video: The Rhythm of Rattle Making Jan 2021 ⁄ Melissa Ray In this video, meet Park Interpreter Melissa Ray from Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park and learn how to recreate the rhythmic sound of American Indian rattles. They are simple to make but deep in meaning.
Video: Just Roll with It! Jan 2021 ⁄ David Armstrong Along the DeGray Lake Resort State Park's trails and throughout the forest floors, the humble humpback dung beetle (Deltochilum gibbosum) faithfully carries out its repetitive, rather repugnant, responsibilities without reservation. Few species in the park’s elaborate food chain can rival the curious, hard-working star of this short video and the unique “role” it plays.
Video: Double Rainbow After the Storm Jan 2021 ⁄ Jenn Menge Though it is a human-built lake by the Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Ouachita in southwest Arkansas is filled with plenty of natural beauty. Lake Ouachita State Park exists, in part, to provide access to this lake and all its resources. With its clear, open water and mountainous surroundings, Lake Ouachita is the perfect place to watch a storm roll in or enjoy a red-orange...
Arkansas State Parks Adjusts Operations to Respond to Statewide COVID-19 Increase Dec 2020 ⁄ Meg Matthews Visitor information centers, museums, restaurants and two marinas at Arkansas State Parks will see a reduction of operating hours to efficiently manage available resources during the recent statewide increase in COVID-19 cases.
Hiking With Man’s Best Friend Nov 2020 ⁄ Megan Ayres Moore Lake Dardanelle State Park, located in Russellville, Arkansas, provides a quiet and relaxing setting to enjoy the outdoors with the entire family, including man’s best friend. The park features a large amount of pet-friendly space including open grassy fields, picnic areas, and the Meadowbrook Trail, an easy ¾-mile walk through a wooded section of the park. Responsibly...
Photo Essay: Churn Your Own Butter Nov 2020 ⁄ Sarah Reap Davidsonville Historic State Park in northeast Arkansas preserves Arkansas’s first platted (planned) town and the stories of the people who lived here. The people of Davidsonville churned butter as a necessary chore to keep their households running smoothly, but today is a fun activity to connect us to the past. In this photo essay, we will explore the very important task...
Leave No Trace Nov 2020 You are welcome at Arkansas State Parks. We have one of the most pristine state park systems in the nation to enjoy. In order to protect and make sure your state parks are available for generations to come, it’s important to stay on designated trails, pick up after yourself and don’t litter (cigarette butts are litter), and recreate responsibly. Recreating responsibly has...
