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Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
Petit Jean Campfire Legends
Saturday, November 15, 2025
/ 5 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Petit Jean State Park is located on mountain of legends, and it is our delight to share them with you. Gather around the campfire with a park interpreter to take in the evening ambience and a little…
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Star Party
Saturday, November 15, 2025
/ 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Bring your family and friends to stargaze at Woolly Hollow State Park! Volunteers from the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society will have telescopes available to view the different celestial bodies…
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Sunrise Hike and Stretch
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Start your morning
with movement and mountain views! Meet a park interpreter at Richter
Overlook and take a short, refreshing walk along Red Bluff Drive to the CCC
Overlook, where we’ll pause for…
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Fall Foliage Hike on the Rocky Valley Trail
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for a guided hike on the Rocky Valley Trail to explore and admire the fall foliage! The hike will emphasize both the science of leaf color change and the ecological importance…
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Autumn Discovery Series - Wildlife in Autumn
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
From deer and squirrels to migrating birds, animals are preparing for winter. We’ll uncover the survival strategies that keep Petit Jean State Park’s wildlife thriving through…
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Who Needs a Tree?
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Did you know Pinnacle Mountain State Park used to be surrounded by logging camps? Or that some of our trees act like mega-skyscrapers, playing a host to a multitude of wildlife? Who uses our trees,…
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Bear Cave Hike
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for an interesting walk among the giant sandstone boulders and slot canyons of the Bear Cave area. This is a relatively easy 1/4-mile hike that is great for the whole…
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Eco-Artistry: Leaf Splatter Painting
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Meet at the beautiful Historic Camp Ouachita site to make a fun craft! In this program, you will take time to slow down and enjoy nature while making a leaf splatter painting. The program may take…
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Whose Leaves Are These?
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Fall is here! Why do some leaves change colors while others don't? Join a park interpreter to learn about the various tree species in the park and identify leaves by matching them to their…
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Ceremonial Site Tour
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
The Plum Bayou Mounds site is one of the largest and most impressive archeological sites in the Lower Mississippi River Valley. Occupied by American Indians from about 650 to 1050 AD, this site is…
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Cotton Ginning Demonstration
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
How many of us have heard of the cotton gin? You might even know the name of the man credited with inventing the machine. But do you actually know
what a cotton gin does and how it works? Join…
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Meet a Tree
Sunday, November 16, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
What would Petit Jean State Park be like without our trees? Meet a park interpreter for a short walk around the amphitheater to get to know the trees of the park, and how they shape the land around…
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Boy Scout Trail Adventure
Friday, November 21, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for a hike to one of the most scenic and hidden overlooks in the park. Along the way we will explore a rock glade, identify different plants, and admire the beauty of Cedar…
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Animals Found Underground
Friday, November 21, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Explore burrowing animals! Learn why animals burrow underground and how it helps them to survive. Win a cool prize by playing a game matching animals to their burrows!
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Autumn Adventure Quest
Friday, November 21, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Drop by the breezeway at Mather Lodge and take on the Autumn Adventure Quest! Pick up a quest card and complete fun seasonal challenges—like spotting fall leaves, discovering wildlife clues,…
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Mammal Animals of Petit Jean
Friday, November 21, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
What does the fur of a black bear feel like?
Meet a park interpreter in the historic CCC Room at Mather Lodge to
discover some interesting features about the mammals of Petit Jean State Park.
You…
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Early Morning Hike on the Kingfisher Trail
Saturday, November 22, 2025
/ 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Join a park interpreter for an exclusive early morning guided hike along the Kingfisher Trail to look for a variety of critters that call Pinnacle Mountain State Park home. Please bring a flashlight…
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Birding 101
Saturday, November 22, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Interested in birding but not sure where to start? Join a park interpreter for an introduction to birding basics at the visitor center breezeway. We will take an easy walk around the visitor center…
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Ceremonial Site Tour
Saturday, November 22, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The Plum Bayou Mounds site is one of the largest and most impressive archeological sites in the Lower Mississippi River Valley. Occupied by American Indians from about 650 to 1050 AD, this site is…
Heart Healthy
Read more
