Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

Heather Runyan

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...

Deer grazing at Village Creek State Park

Remember T.R.A.I.L.S. and Be a Safe Hiker

Kara Helton

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.

arge black letters on white paper spelling out the word TRAILS. Letters displayed on wooden amphitheater steps in a forest setting.

Mayflies: Nuisance or Nutrient?

Sasha Bowles

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...

Connecting to a Prehistoric People

Amy Griffin

Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park in Scott, Arkansas is a unique American Indian mound complex that was the cultural center of the Plum Bayou people, who interacted with their environment and each other much as we do today. The Plum Bayou people are a group of prehistoric American Indian mound builders who lived here between 650 – 1050 AD. They built one of the...

Sun setting over a mound at Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park

Photo Essay: DeGray in Bloom

David Armstrong

Each spring, DeGray Lake Resort State Park is adorned in an array of colorful blooms, some of which can easily go unnoticed. This photo essay is a tribute to just a handful of samples found around the park. See how many you recognize.

red buckeye – vertical stalk of red blossoms above large green leaves

There’s an App for That: Enhancing Your Exploration of DeGray Lake

Kayla Gomance

For some, the idea of glancing at a screen while on the trail will never be appealing, and that’s okay. For the rest of us, technology has become an asset that allows us to bridge the gap between observing the natural beauty around us and immersing ourselves in it.

Video: Fun with a Fox

Kayla Gomance

This video features a curious red fox kit exploring the perimeter of its home at DeGray Lake Resort State Park.

red fox kit exploring the perimeter of its home in the park, a fox den

Make Do & Mend

Bonnie Marberry

With no way to bring in fabric from the trade centers on the Mississippi River, the housewives of Jacksonport had to be creative in their efforts not only to keep up with fashions but to keep their families clothed at all. Even amid crisis, the women of Civil War-era Jacksonport wanted to look their best, just like people today.

Dress material with thread and sewing scissors

Night Sounds of Mississippi River State Park

Kristina Root

Listening to the night sounds of Crowley’s Ridge is a great way for you to observe, study, and explore the native wildlife at Mississippi River State Park. The darkness of the night makes different senses come alive. In this video, turn up the volume and let your hearing and imagination do the work.

Video: Peace and Relaxation on Cedar Creek Trail