Arkansas Outdoors
State parks in Arkansas are more than great scenery, campsites, cabins and lodges, although they are loaded with those amenities. The diverse topography and breathtaking scenery of Arkansas combine to offer a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. State parks offer a range of outdoor activities from the beginner to the experienced, from those who seek relaxing, outdoor trips to those who desire physically challenging tests of skill and stamina. There’s backpacking, hang gliding, hiking, cycling, river running, rock climbing, motorcycling, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking and canoeing.
Arkansas State Parks Guide Book
Vacationers have long appreciated Northwest Arkansas’ natural beauty. Visits to the forests, caves, lakes, rivers and gorgeous climbs among the Ozark Mountains have been a staple of Arkansas tourism since the 1960s. Whether you’re interested in strenuous mountaineering or relaxing in the spa, the state parks of Arkansas can meet your expectations. This booklet describes the amenities of all our state parks and will entice you to travel there.
Beaver Lake: Located 10 minutes from downtown Rogers, 28,000-acre Beaver Lake lures thousands of fishermen, boaters and water sports enthusiasts. The 500 miles of forested shoreline is particularly attractive in the fall, when the foliage rivals that of New England in the intensity of hues. Beaver Lake is also known for its fishing and plays host to several professional, amateur, and buddy bass tournaments each year.
Hobbs State Park & Conservation Area:
The state’s largest park in land area, Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area is 10 miles east of Rogers. It covers 12,056 acres along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. Twenty-two of the park’s 60 miles of border stretch along Beaver Lake. The tract of Ozark landscape consists of plateaus, ridges, valleys and streams, featuring an upland forest of oak, hickory and pine. Water features such as disappearing streams, springs and seeps carved the many hollows in the limestone landscape and created cave-related features, including numerous sinkholes.
There are trails for hikers. The Pigeon Roost Trail is a double-stacked, loop trail, in a figure eight formation, featuring a short loop of approximately four miles for day hiking and a longer loop of 8½ miles for overnight use. This moderately difficult trail is excellent for beginners, scouts and families. The 24-mile multi-use Hidden Diversity Trail is designed for equestrians, mountain bikers and hikers. Users have the option of four trail sections or loops. The 1½-mile Shaddox Hollow Nature Trail can be accessed from its trailhead parking lot near Arkansas Highway 303. The trail’s first half mile follows a ridgeline, providing an easy hike. The park’s 17,531-square-foot, $4.5 million visitor center opened in 2009.
Ozark Highlands Trail: Covering 218 miles, the Ozark Highlands Trail is considered one of the most spectacular hiking trails in the United States. The cross-country route stretches 165 miles from Lake Fort Smith State Park, across the Ozark National Forest to the Buffalo National River, along the Buffalo (as Buffalo River/Ozark Highlands Trail), through the Lower Buffalo River Wilderness (as a GPS bushwhack route), and through the Sylamore Ranger District to near Norfork, Ark. A beautiful 254 miles in all, of which 218 miles are constructed trail. The trail passes through some of the most remote and scenic portions of the Ozark Mountains, like the Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area. It visits White Rock Mountain (some people call it the best spot to see a sunset in the Arkansas), Hare Mountain, the Marinoni Scenic Area, Dead Dog Bluff, and other breathtaking spots.