Petit Jean State Park

LOCATION: ( Morrilton , Arkansas)

Petit Jean Mountain is a special place – an unforgettable place – known for the legend of Petit Jean, the story of a French girl who disguised herself as a boy and secretly accompanied her sweetheart, an early explorer, to the New World and to this mountain.

Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas’s first and flagship state park, enhances this 300–year–old legend with windswept views, enchanting woodlands laced with streams and wildflowers, and a spectacular waterfall - Cedar Falls.

This park is a place where nature over time has formed sheer bluffs, Cedar Creek Canyon and the Seven Hollows, such distinctive features as Bear Cave, the Grotto and Natural Bridge, and whimsical formations we call Turtle Rocks and Carpet Rocks.

It’s a place where the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps endures in facilities mirroring the mountain’s rugged beauty.

Come discover this legendary Arkansas State Park called Petit Jean. [Visit Site]

Lake Ouachita State Park

LOCATION: ( Mountain Pine, Arkansas)

Surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita is known for its scenic natural beauty and the clarity of its waters. These pristine waters form the largest manmade lake within Arkansas’s borders. Named one of the cleanest lakes in America, 40,000-acre Lake Ouachita is a water sports mecca for swimming, skiing, scuba diving, boating and fishing. Angling for bream, crappie, catfish, stripers and largemouth bass can be enjoyed in open waters or quiet coves along the lake’s 975 miles of shoreline. [Visit Site]

DeGray Lake State Park

LOCATION: ( Bismarck, Arkansas)

DeGray Lake Resort State Park is Arkansas’s resort state park. Situated on the north shore of 13,800-acre DeGray Lake, this recreational retreat in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains offers resort amenities combined with the outdoor adventures of an Arkansas state park. DeGray is a fishing and water sports resort. DeGray is a golf resort. And DeGray is a state park perfect for family vacations, getaways, reunions, weddings, business meetings and retreats. [Visit Site]

Mount Magazine State Park

LOCATION: ( Paris, Arkansas)

At 2,753-feet, Mount Magazine is Arkansas’s highest mountain, rising dramatically above the broad valleys of the Petit Jean River to the south and the Arkansas River to its north. Graced with timeless natural beauty, this plateau — a remnant of an ancient sea floor — runs east to west stretching six miles long and up to a mile across. Rugged, isolated, and rich in natural resources including rare and endangered species, Mount Magazine has long lured explorers, adventurers, scientists, and naturalists. [Visit Site]

Buffalo National River

LOCATION: (Harrison, Arkansas)

The Buffalo National River has 13 campsites that range from primitive to hook-ups. The most popular thing to do on the Buffalo is a float trip. You can rent float equipment along the river. You can also fish, hike, swim and wildlife watch there. The Lost Valley campsite is highly recommended. The campground is only average, but the views on the trails around the campsite are magical. The Lost Valley trail will take you past waterfalls, a cascading creek, cliffs, a large bluff shelter, a natural bridge and lots of wildlife and plant life. It ends in a great little cave. The hike is mostly easy, but the last portion is a bit steep. Click Here for information on the campsites at Buffalo National River.