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Petit Jean State Parks
Arkansas State Parks Calendar of Events
Cedar Falls Overlook Stroll
Tuesday, August 05, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Join a park interpreter for this easy, handicap accessible, 1/4-mile stroll. We will talk about some of the things that make Petit Jean State Park a special place, as well as enjoy the view of Cedar…
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Spiders Among Us
Tuesday, August 05, 2025
/ 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Meet a park interpreter to discover the many interesting features of Petit Jean State Park’s eight-legged residents and hear a Cherokee legend about spiders. We will also try to find spider…
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Campfire Trivia and Stories
Tuesday, August 05, 2025
/ 8 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Join a park interpreter at the amphitheater for an
evening of Petit Jean State Park trivia. While we enjoy the mountain air, we will be sharing
some legends of the mountain and a good old-fashioned…
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Hikers and Snakes
Wednesday, August 06, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Join a park interpreter for helpful hints about snakes you may meet on the
trails of Petit Jean State Park. Learn about venomous
and non-venomous species and how to tell the difference, plus some tips…
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Rock House Cave Hike
Wednesday, August 06, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Meet a park interpreter to hike to the park's archeology site, Rock House Cave. We will view American Indian rock art and discover more about the windows into the past that these images provide. This…
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Hikin' for Lichen
Wednesday, August 06, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
It covers our trees, rocks, and even buildings-but we seldom notice. Join a park interpreter to witness the hidden vibrance of Petit Jean State Park’s lichens. This is a moderately difficult…
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Trills and Thrills: Cicada Hike
Wednesday, August 06, 2025
/ 7 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
We aren’t the only returning visitors to Petit Jean State Park! Join a park interpreter at Pavilion A to discover who is chirping and buzzing in the treetops: our annual and periodical cicadas!…
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Hike Along the Rim Trail
Thursday, August 07, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Join a park interpreter to set off on a section of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Boy Scout Trail known as the Rim Trail. The walk offers scenic views of Cedar Creek’s lower canyon, as well as woodland…
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Knots and Navigation
Thursday, August 07, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Meet Park Interpreter Carrie to put your knot tying skills to the test. Then join in to find a hidden spot using your navigation abilities. This program lasts about 30 minutes.
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Bear Cave Hike
Thursday, August 07, 2025
/ 3 p.m. - 3:45 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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Summer Serenade: The Frogs of Lake Bailey
Thursday, August 07, 2025
/ 8 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Every summer evening the lake comes alive with a chorus of frogs! Meet a park interpreter to hear their song and learn the froggy faces behind our summer serenade.
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Bear Cave Hike
Friday, August 08, 2025
/ 9 a.m. - 9:45 a.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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Seven Hollows Fire Hike
Friday, August 08, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Forest fires are always harmful to the forest, right? Join a park interpreter at the Seven Hollows parking area to find out what Smokey the Bear got wrong about fire in natural areas and find out how…
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Birding 101
Friday, August 08, 2025
/ 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Interested in birding but not sure where to start? Join a park interpreter for an introduction to birding basics. We will walk a relatively easy 1/2-mile section of the Seven Hollows Trail, and you…
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Stars in the Sandstone
Friday, August 08, 2025
/ 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
The night sky over Petit Jean State Park has
remained a source of curiosity and inspiration for generations. Join a park interpreter for a special look into the celestial
stories these ancient…
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Legends and Myths of the Perseid Meteor Shower
Friday, August 08, 2025
/ 7 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
Join a park interpreter in the CCC Room at
Mather Lodge for this interactive 45-minute program where science meets
storytelling. Discover the myths and cultural legends surrounding the
Perseids—from…
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Kayaking Under the Perseid Meteor Shower
Friday, August 08, 2025
/ 9 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Join the park interpreters behind the visitor
center for a special night kayaking experience on Lake Bailey. This paddle will
include star gazing and viewing the Perseid Meteor Shower. This…
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Birding 101
Saturday, August 09, 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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Intro to Fishing Lake Bailey - Bluegill
Saturday, August 09, 2025
/ 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join a park interpreter to learn how to catch one of Lake Bailey's most common fish species, the bluegill sunfish. We will learn how to set up your rod, tie on your hook and look for bait. At the end,…
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Meet a Tree
Saturday, August 09, 2025
/ 2 p.m. - 2:30 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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