List of Arkansas state parks

There are 52 state parks in the U.S. state of Arkansas, as of 2014.[1] The state parks division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism (ADPT) is the governing body and operator of all parks, although jurisdiction is shared with other state agencies in a few cases.

The first Arkansas state park, Petit Jean State Park, opened in 1923 following an unsuccessful attempt by a lumber company to donate the Seven Hollows and canyon areas to the federal government as a National Park.[2] Stephen Mather deemed the parcel too small in 1921, but the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 276, allowing the Commissioner of State Lands to accept donations of land for public use.

The list gives an overview of Arkansas state parks and a brief history of their development since the first park opened in 1923. State parks range in size from 1 acre (0.40 ha) to 11,744 acres (4,753 ha).

Current parks

Current Arkansas state parks
Park name County or counties Area in acres (ha) Date
founded		 River(s) and / or lake(s) Remarks Image
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources Union County 19 acres
(8 ha) 		1986 None Museum preserving and interpreting the history of oil and bromine mining in Arkansas
Arkansas Post Museum Arkansas County 8 acres (3.2 ha) 1997 None Museum dedicated to the history of Arkansas Post, Arkansas's territorial capital until 1821. Located on the grounds of the Arkansas Post National Memorial (National Park Service)
Historic house sits beside a road
Bull Shoals-White River State Park Baxter and Marion counties 732 acres (296 ha) 1955 Bull Shoals Lake Trout fishing destination above and below Bull Shoals Dam with over 100 campsites
A wide river passes between a steep tree-covered hillside and a rocky shoreline, with houses built into the trees and fishermen in a canoe
Cane Creek State Park Lincoln County 2,053 acres (831 ha) 1992 Cane Creek Lake Wooded lake along Bayou Bartholomew including a hiking trail and camping
An orange sunset reflects in a quiet and calm Cane Creek Lake with a timber line on the horizon
Conway Cemetery State Park Lafayette County 11.5 acres (5 ha) 1986 None Historical state park with no recreational services located on James Sevier Conway's (the first governor of Arkansas) former cotton plantation
A small fenced cemetery with large trees on a flat, green landscape
Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area Howard and Polk county 5,230 acres (2145 ha) 1988 Cossatot River Class III, IV, and V whitewater rafting river listed on the National Park Service's National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
Sharp rocks jut out from a river in a lush forest
Crater of Diamonds State Park Pike County 911 acres (369 ha) 1972 None World's only diamond-bearing site accessible to the public
Large tilled field among tall pine trees with several hopeful visitors digging for diamonds
Crowley's Ridge State Park Greene County 291 acres (118 ha) 1937 Lake Ponder Park built on the homestead of Benjamin Crowley, dedicated to the culture and history of the Crowley's Ridge region. Includes many structures built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and spring-fed Lake Ponder
A quiet Lake Ponder viewed through a grove of lush green trees and bushes
Daisy State Park Pike County 276 acres (112 ha) 1955 Lake Greeson Park nestled within the Ouachita Mountains on Lake Greeson near the Ouachita National Forest. Popular for camping, water sports, and fishing
Davidsonville Historic State Park Randolph County 163 acres (66 ha) 1957 Black River Historic state park preserving the abandoned frontier river town of Davidsonville. Interpretive tours and signs guide visitors through the historic community bypassed by the Southwest Trail in the 1820s. Fishing is available along three nearby rivers, with 49 campsites
Quiet lake surrounded by tall, leafy green trees
DeGray Lake Resort State Park Clark and Hot Spring counties 984 acres (398 ha) 1974 DeGray Lake Resort state park with championship rated golf course, 94 room lodge, and over 100 campsites
Shining blue lake with trees in foreground
Delta Heritage Trail State Park Arkansas, Desha and Phillips counties 960 acres (390 ha) 2002 None Rails to trails conversion of former railroad bed through Arkansas Delta lowlands, currently 14 miles (23 km), planned to be 73 miles (117 km)
Devil's Den State Park Washington County 2,500 acres (1000 ha) 1933 Lee Creek Civilian Conservation Corps-built park in the Ozarks with lake, caves, swimming pool and several trails. Includes over 100 campsites, including cabins
Red, green and orange fall foliage surrounds a small bridge spanning a quiet, rocky Lee Creek
Hampson Archeological Museum State Park Mississippi County 5 acres (2 ha) 1961 None Museum displaying archeological artifacts from the Nodena Site, an aboriginal village of the Nodena people dated 1400-1650 CE, and bones from the Island 35 Mastodon
Vessel resembling a human head on display at the museum
Herman Davis State Park Mississippi County 1 acre (0.4 ha) 1953 None Park surrounding a grave and memorial to Herman Davis, a U.S. sniper during World War I
Granite statue of a young soldier in military uniform standing in front of an obelisk atop a plaque describing his achievements
Historic Washington State Park Hempstead County 101 acres (41 ha) 1973 None Fifty-three buildings that preserve and interpret the architectural, cultural, and political history of a historic nineteenth century town.
Historic brick courthouse behind a white fence.
Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area Benton, Carroll and Madison counties 12,056 acres (4879 ha) 1979 Beaver Lake Large park in the Boston Mountains along Beaver Lake featuring trails, camping, and a shooting range.
Stone bridge with five circular openings allowing a leaf-littered creek to pass through slowly
Jacksonport State Park Jackson County 164.7 acres (66.7 ha) 1965 Black River and White River Park containing the 1872 Jacksonport courthouse, preserving the culture and history of a former steamboat river town
Large, ornate red brick courthouse sits on a green lawn with a gazebo in the foreground
Jenkins' Ferry State Park Grant County 40 acres (16.2 ha) 1961 Saline River One of three battleground sites from the Camden Expedition of the Civil War. Water recreation available on the Saline River
Slow moving Saline River surrounded by lush greenery on both banks
Lake Catherine State Park Garland and Hot Spring counties 2,180 acres (882.2 ha) 1935 Lake Catherine Civilian Conservation Corps park created along the lake, resulting in a well-preserved natural shoreline. Park features cabins, campsites, nature programs, marina, hiking trails, and a sand beach swimming area
The blue waters of Lake Catherine with a tall pine tree-covered point jutting out into it and camp facilities visible on the shore in the background
Lake Charles State Park Lawrence County 140 acres (57 ha) 1967 Lake Charles Lake is maintained and stocked with fish by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; also features camping, hiking, boat ramps and an interpretative nature center
Lake Chicot State Park Chicot County 211.6 acres (85.6 ha) 1957 Lake Chicot Largest oxbow lake in the United States; formerly the main channel of the Mississippi River. Park is located within a pecan grove within a bayou environment, offering 122 campsites, 14 cabins, swimming pool, boat shop/marina and interpretative visitor center.
A bright blue lake with a line of cypress trees along the horizon and puffy white clouds in the equally blue sky
Lake Dardanelle State Park Pope County 246 acres (99.6 ha) 1966 Lake Dardanelle Two sites (Russellville and Dardanelle), including 74 campsites, boating, visitor center, and aquarium. Popular for bass fishing, including hosting many major tournaments.
A bright blue lake with a line of trees along the horizon, interrupted only by a cooling tower for the nuclear power plant in Russellville, and puffy white clouds in the blue sky
Lake Fort Smith State Park Crawford County 260 acres (105.2 ha) 1967 Lake Fort Smith Large lake in the Ozarks offering 30 campsites, 10 cabins, a marina, swimming pool and visitor center
Shining blue water with the Ozark Mountains rising in the background
Lake Frierson State Park Greene County 114 acres (46.1 ha) 1975 Lake Frierson Reservoir built along Crowley's Ridge known for fishing. Features seven campsites, trails, boat ramp and visitor center
Quiet lake with a short wooded point jutting out from the right, with a dark green treeline along the horizon
Lake Ouachita State Park Garland County 360 acres (145.7 ha) 1955 Lake Ouachita Built surrounding a reservoir, the park features a marina, trails, restaurant, eagle tours, and interpretative information on three historic springs in the park vicinity
Aerial view of a calm, shiny blue lake and matriculating around wooded peninsulas covered in green, orange and red foliage
Lake Poinsett State Park Poinsett County 132 acres (53.4 ha) 1963 Lake Poinsett Popular with fishing enthusiasts, the park offers 29 campsites, trails and interpretative programs
Calm lake surrounded by lush greenery
Logoly State Park Columbia County 368 acres (148.9 ha) 1974 None Environmental education park containing mature oak-hickory forests, mineral springs and endangered species
Small lake surrounded by old growth forest in winter
Louisiana Purchase State Park Lee County, Monroe County, Phillips County 37.5 acres (15.2 ha) 1961 None Boardwalk through a headwater swamp leading to a monument dedicating the point of beginning of all surveys of the Louisiana Purchase, which allowed for the westward development and expansion of the United States
Monument flooded swamp water surrounded by large, kneed cypress trees
Lower White River Museum State Park Prairie County 0.4 acres (0.2 ha) 1975 White River Museum dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of culture, commerce and history along the White River in Arkansas
A tan metal building with green trim with a carved wooden sign with the park's name
Mammoth Spring State Park Fulton County 623.5 acres (25 ha) 1957 Mammoth Spring Park surrounding the large natural spring, offering fishing, boating and hiking, an Arkansas welcome center and museum
Marks' Mills State Park Cleveland County 6.2 acres (2.5 ha) 1961 None Park commemorating Civil War battle, including exhibits and park area. Also a Red River Campaign National Historic Landmark.
Millwood State Park Little River County 824 acres (333 ha) 1976 Millwood Lake Forested area surrounding large lake known for bass fishing, bird watching, hiking and camping.
Mississippi River State Park Lee County, Phillips County 536 acres (217 ha) 2009 Mississippi River Newest state park created within the St. Francis National Forest. Park currently includes campground at Bear Creek Lake and birding trail.
Moro Bay State Park Bradley County 117 acres (47 ha) 1972 Ouachita River Park at the convergence of Raymond Lake, Moro Bay, and the Ouachita River with visitor center. Popular destination for fishing, water sports, hiking trails and camping.
Mount Magazine State Park Logan County 2,234 acres (904 ha) 1983 None The park contains Mossback Ridge, including the peak of Mount Magazine, Arkansas's highest point. Park also contains The Lodge at Mount Magazine, cabins, trails, and a hang gliding area.
Mount Nebo State Park Yell County 2,984 acres (1208 ha) 1928 None One of three mountain state parks in the Arkansas River Valley, includes historic cabins, 14 miles (23 km) of hiking trails, and popular hang-gliding launch points.
A flat, green, agricultural field with a rising Mount Nebo in the background.
Ozark Folk Center State Park Stone County 637 acres (258 ha) 1973 None Preserves the music, culture, and traditions of the Ozark Mountains. Hosts special concerts and regular folk music performances.
A historic market with red roof with a wooden "Ozark Folk Center" sign.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to State parks of Arkansas.

References

  1. ↑ "Park Finder". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved February 22, 2014. Note: this list of all 52 parks is the default reference for current individual Arkansas state parks.
  2. ↑ "Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism (ADPT)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at Central Arkansas Library System. February 7, 2012.
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