River | Arkansas State Parks

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Waterfalls of Arkansas State Parks

Feb 2023

Hiking to waterfalls is a great way to get out into nature and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. It can be a calming and peaceful experience, or an adrenaline-filled adventure depending on how you approach it. You can get some great exercise and fresh air, and you may even spot some wildlife along the way. The sound of a rushing waterfall is also incredibly soothing, and...

Children playing at the Lake Catherine waterfall on the Falls Branch Trail

Experiencing the 2024 Great American Eclipse in Arkansas State Parks

Nov 2025

Arkansas State Parks will be some of the greatest places to view the eclipse, with locations in both the total and partial eclipse path. Both Arkansans and visitors can experience this phenomenon in our incredible parks that will be hosting events and interpretive programming to mark the occasion.

Exploring Central & North Central Arkansas

Oct 2022

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Arkansas State Parks Staff

If you’re reading this, we bet you’re an outdoors lover. Someone who’s craving a little adventure. We’re right, aren’t we? Come play with us in Central and North Central Arkansas. Here, we’ve got water sports, mountain biking, hiking trails and historic sites to boot. Follow this guide to find your next big adventure.

40-acre Lake Bennett surrounded by trees and greenery with a covered dock at Woolly Hollow State Park

Get Back to Nature This Fall

Sep 2025

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Arkansas State Parks Staff

As bright mornings give way to chillier weather and the leaves start to turn to auburn, garnet and gold, you’ll feel the pull to get outside. Whether you want to spend an entire weekend living around nature’s beauty or want to feel the thrill of speed as you race down a Monument Trail, Arkansas State Parks has something for everyone this autumn.

Photo Essay: Jacksonport, Then & Now

Jul 2021

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Bonnie Marberry

Part of the mission of Jacksonport State Park is to preserve and educate about the history of our town. The park’s artifact collection holds photographs of what the town used to look like, and thanks to historical records, we know exactly where these pictures were taken. Even without a time machine, you can see the places in the park where the citizens of Jacksonport once...

a black and white drawing of the Jacksonport State Park courthouse in the 1870s

Water Activities in Arkansas State Parks

Jul 2021

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Arkansas State Parks Staff

Summer is here, and that means it’s time to get out on the water. While Arkansas might be a landlocked state, that doesn’t mean you can’t feel the rush of flowing water surround you on a hot day. Grab a paddle or fishing rod and don’t forget your SPF 50!

Father and daughter Fishing at Cane Creek State Park

Educator Lesson: Taste of the Land Mississippi River State Park

Jun 2021

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Cara Curtis

In this short video, join Park Interpreter Cara for a virtual experience using a cast-iron Dutch oven to create a squirrel and rice meal. By exploring the story of this regional comfort food, you’ll see that each ingredient reflects how past communities used the land that became Mississippi River State Park. While the food cooks, you’ll even travel to different locations...

Park Interpreter Cara at Mississippi River State Park

7 Staycations at Arkansas State Parks

Apr 2021

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Arkansas State Parks Staff

Imagine waking up to the sound of waves lapping at the shore, birds chirping from tall pine trees, maybe even a boat motor quietly starting its day to bring joy to families spending the weekend away from it all. That’s the kind of wake-up you’ll receive when you staycation at an Arkansas State Park. We’ve chosen seven better-than-a-hotel locales you’re guaranteed to fall...

Paddleboarding at DeGray Lake State Park

Basic Angling Tips for White River Trout Fishing

Oct 2020

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Zachary Fisher

Bull Shoals-White River State Park has become a very popular fishing destination since it was established in 1955, following the completion of Bull Shoals Dam. Two incredible fishing ecosystems were formed here because of the dam’s geographic placement: Bull Shoals Lake, a 45,000-acre mecca for bass, catfish, and walleye fishing; and the White River tailwaters, producing...

Fishing at Bull Shoals-White River State Park

Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area Wildflower Walk

Aug 2020

Wildflowers paint the landscape in magnificent splashes of color, all while working diligently behind the scenes to safeguard the very ecosystems they call home. The miles of hiking trails at Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area in southwest Arkansas not only give you amazing views of this National Wild and Scenic River, but also of the surrounding habitat that is home...

Yellow and Red wildflower at Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area

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