List of Arkansas state parks

There are 52 State Parks in the U.S. state of Arkansas, as of 2019.[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).

Arkansas State Parks

Current parks

Current Arkansas state parks

Park name	County or counties	Size	Year Established	Water Body(s)	Remarks	Image
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources	Union	19 acres (8 ha)	1986	None	Museum preserving and interpreting the history of oil and bromine mining in Arkansas
Arkansas Post Museum	Arkansas	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)
Bull Shoals-White River State Park	Baxter, Marion	732 acres (296 ha)	1955	Bull Shoals Lake	Trout fishing destination above and below Bull Shoals Dam with over 100 campsites
Cane Creek State Park	Lincoln	2,053 acres (831 ha)	1992	Cane Creek Lake	Wooded lake along Bayou Bartholomew including a hiking trail and camping
Conway Cemetery State Park	Lafayette	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
Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area	Howard, Polk	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
Crater of Diamonds State Park	Pike	911 acres (369 ha)	1972	None	World's only diamond-bearing site accessible to the public
Crowley's Ridge State Park	Greene	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
Daisy State Park	Pike	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	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
DeGray Lake Resort State Park	Clark, Hot Spring	984 acres (398 ha)	1974	DeGray Lake	Resort state park with championship rated golf course, 94 room lodge, and over 100 campsites
Delta Heritage Trail State Park	Arkansas, Desha, Phillips	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	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
Hampson Archeological Museum State Park	Mississippi	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
Herman Davis State Park	Mississippi	1 acre (0.4 ha)	1953	None	Park surrounding a grave and memorial to Herman Davis, a U.S. sniper during World War I
Historic Washington State Park	Hempstead	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.
Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area	Benton, Carroll, Madison	12,056 acres (4879 ha)	1979	Beaver Lake	Large park in the Boston Mountains along Beaver Lake featuring trails, camping, and a shooting range.
Jacksonport State Park	Jackson	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
Jenkins' Ferry Battleground State Park	Grant	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
Lake Catherine State Park	Garland, Hot Spring	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
Lake Charles State Park	Lawrence	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	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.
Lake Dardanelle State Park	Pope	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.
Lake Fort Smith State Park	Crawford	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
Lake Frierson State Park	Greene	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
Lake Ouachita State Park	Garland	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
Lake Poinsett State Park	Poinsett	132 acres (53.4 ha)	1963	Lake Poinsett	Popular with fishing enthusiasts, the park offers 29 campsites, trails and interpretative programs
Logoly State Park	Columbia	368 acres (148.9 ha)	1974	None	Environmental education park containing mature oak-hickory forests, mineral springs and endangered species
Louisiana Purchase State Park	Lee, Monroe, Phillips	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
Lower White River Museum State Park	Prairie	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
Mammoth Spring State Park	Fulton	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 Battleground State Park	Cleveland	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	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, Phillips	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	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	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	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.
Ozark Folk Center State Park	Stone	637 acres (258 ha)	1973	None	Located near Mountain View, Arkansas, it preserves the music, culture, and traditions of the Ozark Mountains. Hosts special concerts and regular folk music performances.
Parkin Archeological State Park	Cross	107 acres (43 ha)	1994	None
Petit Jean State Park	Conway	3,471 acres (1405 ha)	1923	None	Situated atop Petit Jean Mountain in the Arkansas River Valley, offers trails, creeks, and geology throughout the forested mountains
Pinnacle Mountain State Park	Pulaski	2,069 acres (837 ha)	1973	None	Rocky Pinnacle Mountain emerges where the flat Arkansas Delta intersects the Ouachita Mountains
Plantation Agriculture Museum	Lonoke	14.5 acres (5.9 ha)	1985	None	Former general store serving a community of cotton farmers operating as a museum including over 10,000 artifacts. Grounds also contain farm machinery used on cotton plantations.
Poison Springs Battleground State Park	Ouachita	85 acres (34 ha)	1961	None	Preserves and commemorates the Battle of Poison Spring in the American Civil War, which was part of the 1864 Camden Expedition
Powhatan Historic State Park	Lawrence	9.1 acres (3.7 ha)	1970	Black River	Preserves a small nineteenth-century river port town on the Black River
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park	Washington	840 acres (340 ha)	1957	None	Preserves and commemorates the Battle of Prairie Grove in the American Civil War. Park includes a museum, gift shop, and several historic structures from the period relocated to the site around a walking trail.
Queen Wilhelmina State Park	Polk	460 acres (190 ha)	1957	None	Lodge atop Rich Mountain offers 38 guest rooms and is surrounded by forested slopes with creeks, trails, and mountain vistas. Located along the Talimena Scenic Drive.
South Arkansas Arboretum	Union	13 acres (5.3 ha)	1991	None	Arboretum and botanical garden owned by South Arkansas Community College with plants native to the Western Gulf Coastal Plain region.
Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park	Lonoke	185 acres (75 ha)	1975	None
Village Creek State Park	Cross, St. Francis	6,909 acres (2,796 ha)	1972	Lakes Austell and Dunn	Large park in the eastern part of the state. Rises along Crowley's Ridge from the surrounding Arkansas Delta, includes lakes, twenty-seven-hole golf course, camping, and hiking. One trail follows the 1820s Memphis to Little Rock Road.
White Oak Lake State Park	Ouachita, Nevada	725 acres (293 ha)	1961	White Oak Lake	Lake in the woods on the border between Bottomland hardwood forest and loblolly pine forest with diverse wildlife. Camping, boating, fishing, and hiking are popular around the lake. Interpretative signs about the Red River Campaign in the area during the Civil War.
Withrow Springs State Park	Madison	786 acres (318 ha)	1962	Withrow Spring
Woolly Hollow State Park	Faulkner	370 acres (150 ha)	1973	None

See also

•  United States portal

• List of U.S. national parks

References

1. "Park Finder". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved March 5, 2017. 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. Missing or empty |url= (help)