There are 52state parks in the U.S. state ofArkansas, as of 2025.[1] The state parks division of theArkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism 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 theArkansas General Assembly passed Act 276, allowing theCommissioner 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).
| Name | County | Size | Estab- lished | River / lake | Image | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources | Union | 19 acres (8 ha) | 1986 | None | Museum preserving and interpreting the history ofoil andbromine mining in Arkansas | |
| Arkansas Post Museum | Arkansas | 8 acres (3.2 ha) | 1997 | None |  | Museum dedicated to the history ofArkansas Post, Arkansas's territorial capital until 1821. Located on the grounds of theArkansas Post National Memorial (National Park Service) |
| Bull Shoals-White River | Baxter,Marion | 732 acres (296 ha) | 1955 | Bull Shoals Lake |  | Trout fishing destination above and belowBull Shoals Dam with over 100 campsites |
| Cane Creek | Lincoln | 2,053 acres (831 ha) | 1992 | Cane Creek Lake |  | Wooded lake alongBayou Bartholomew including a hiking trail and camping |
| Conway Cemetery | Lafayette | 11.5 acres (5 ha) | 1986 | None |  | Historical state park with no recreational services located onJames Sevier Conway's (the firstgovernor of Arkansas) former cotton plantation |
| Cossatot River | Howard,Polk | 5,230 acres (2145 ha) | 1988 | Cossatot River |  | Class III, IV, and V whitewater rafting river listed on the National Park Service'sNational Wild and Scenic Rivers System |
| Crater of Diamonds | Pike | 911 acres (369 ha) | 1972 | Little Missouri River |  | World's only diamond-bearing site accessible to the public |
| Crowley's Ridge | Greene | 291 acres (118 ha) | 1937 | Lake Ponder |  | Park built on the homestead ofBenjamin Crowley, dedicated to the culture and history of theCrowley's Ridge region. Includes many structures built in the 1930s by theCivilian Conservation Corps and spring-fed Lake Ponder |
| Daisy | Pike | 276 acres (112 ha) | 1955 | Lake Greeson | Park nestled within theOuachita Mountains onLake Greeson near theOuachita National Forest. Popular for camping, water sports, and fishing | |
| Davidsonville | 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 theSouthwest Trail in the 1820s. Fishing is available along three nearby rivers, with 49 campsites |
| DeGray Lake | 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 | Arkansas,Desha,Phillips | 960 acres (390 ha) | 2002 | Old Town Lake |  | Rails to trails conversion of former railroad bed throughArkansas Delta lowlands, currently 14 miles (23 km), planned to be 73 miles (117 km) |
| Devil's Den | Washington | 2,500 acres (1000 ha) | 1933 | Lee Creek |  | Civilian Conservation Corps-built park in theOzarks with lake, caves, swimming pool and several trails. Includes over 100 campsites, including cabins |
| Hampson Archeological Museum | Mississippi | 5 acres (2 ha) | 1961 | None |  | Museum displaying archeological artifacts from theNodena site, an aboriginal village of the Nodena people dated 1400-1650 CE, and bones from theIsland 35 Mastodon |
| Herman Davis | Mississippi | 1 acre (0.4 ha) | 1953 | None |  | Park surrounding a grave and memorial toHerman Davis, a U.S. sniper duringWorld War I |
| Historic Washington | 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 Conservation Area | Benton,Carroll,Madison | 12,056 acres (4879 ha) | 1979 | Beaver Lake |  | Large park in theBoston Mountains alongBeaver Lake featuring trails, camping, and a shooting range. |
| Jacksonport | Jackson | 164.7 acres (66.7 ha) | 1965 | Black River andWhite River |  | Park containing the 1872 Jacksonport courthouse, preserving the culture and history of a former steamboat river town |
| Jenkins' Ferry Battleground | Grant | 40 acres (16.2 ha) | 1961 | Saline River |  | One of three battleground sites from theCamden Expedition of theCivil War. Water recreation available on the Saline River |
| Lake Catherine | 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 | Lawrence | 140 acres (57 ha) | 1967 | Lake Charles | Lake is maintained and stocked with fish by theArkansas Game and Fish Commission; also features camping, hiking, boat ramps and an interpretative nature center | |
| Lake Chicot | Chicot | 211.6 acres (85.6 ha) | 1957 | Lake Chicot, Arkansas |  | Largestoxbow lake in the United States; formerly the main channel of theMississippi 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 | Pope | 246 acres (99.6 ha) | 1966 | Lake Dardanelle |  | Two sites (Russellville andDardanelle), including 74 campsites, boating, visitor center, and aquarium. Popular for bass fishing, including hosting many major tournaments. |
| Lake Fort Smith | 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 | Greene | 114 acres (46.1 ha) | 1975 | Lake Frierson |  | Reservoir built alongCrowley's Ridge known for fishing. Features seven campsites, trails, boat ramp and visitor center |
| Lake Ouachita | 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 | Poinsett | 132 acres (53.4 ha) | 1963 | Lake Poinsett |  | Popular with fishing enthusiasts, the park offers 29 campsites, trails and interpretative programs |
| Logoly | Columbia | 368 acres (148.9 ha) | 1974 | Nature Pond |  | Environmental education park containing mature oak-hickory forests, mineral springs and endangered species |
| Louisiana Purchase | Lee,Monroe,Phillips | 37.5 acres (15.2 ha) | 1961 | Cypress Swamp |  | Boardwalk through a headwater swamp leading to a monument dedicating the point of beginning of all surveys of theLouisiana Purchase, which allowed for the westward development and expansion of the United States |
| Lower White River Museum | 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 | 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 | Cleveland | 6.2 acres (2.5 ha) | 1961 | None |  | Park commemoratingCivil War battle, including exhibits and park area. Also aRed River CampaignNational Historic Landmark. |
| Millwood | 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 | Lee,Phillips | 536 acres (217 ha) | 2009 | Mississippi River | Newest state park created within theSt. Francis National Forest. Park currently includes campground at Bear Creek Lake and birding trail. | |
| Moro Bay | 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 | 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 | Yell | 2,984 acres (1208 ha) | 1928 | None |  | One of three mountain state parks in theArkansas River Valley, includeshistoric cabins, 14 miles (23 km) of hiking trails, and popular hang-gliding launch points. |
| Ozark Folk Center | Stone | 637 acres (258 ha) | 1973 | None |  | Located nearMountain View, Arkansas, it preserves the music, culture, and traditions of the Ozark Mountains. Hosts special concerts and regular folk music performances. |
| Parkin Mounds | Cross | 107 acres (43 ha) | 1994 | St. Francis River |  | |
| Petit Jean | Conway | 3,471 acres (1405 ha) | 1923 | Lake Bailey |  | Situated atop Petit Jean Mountain in theArkansas River Valley, offers trails, creeks, and geology throughout the forested mountains |
| Pinnacle Mountain | Pulaski | 2,069 acres (837 ha) | 1973 | Maumelle River |  | Rocky Pinnacle Mountain emerges where the flat Arkansas Delta intersects the Ouachita Mountains |
| Plantation Agriculture Museum | Lonoke | 14.5 acres (5.9 ha) | 1985 | Horseshoe Lake |  | 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. |
| Plum Bayou Mounds | Lonoke | 185 acres (75 ha) | 1975 | Mound Pond |  | |
| Poison Springs Battleground | Ouachita | 85 acres (34 ha) | 1961 | None |  | Preserves and commemorates theBattle of Poison Spring in theAmerican Civil War, which was part of the 1864Camden Expedition |
| Powhatan | Lawrence | 9.1 acres (3.7 ha) | 1970 | Black River |  | Preserves a small nineteenth-century river port town on theBlack River |
| Prairie Grove Battlefield | Washington | 840 acres (340 ha) | 1957 | None |  | Preserves and commemorates theBattle of Prairie Grove in theAmerican 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 | Polk | 460 acres (190 ha) | 1957 | None | .jpg) | Lodge atopRich Mountain offers 38 guest rooms and is surrounded by forested slopes with creeks, trails, and mountain vistas. Located along theTalimena Scenic Drive. |
| South Arkansas Arboretum | Union | 13 acres (5.3 ha) | 1991 | None | Arboretum andbotanical garden owned bySouth Arkansas Community College with plants native to the Western Gulf Coastal Plain region. | |
| Village Creek | Cross,St. Francis | 6,909 acres (2,796 ha) | 1972 | Lakes Austell and Dunn |  | Large park in the eastern part of the state. Rises alongCrowley's Ridge from the surroundingArkansas Delta, includes lakes, twenty-seven-hole golf course, camping, and hiking. One trail follows the 1820sMemphis to Little Rock Road. |
| White Oak Lake | Ouachita,Nevada | 725 acres (293 ha) | 1961 | White Oak Lake | .jpg) | Lake in the woods on the border betweenBottomland hardwood forest andloblolly pine forest with diverse wildlife. Camping, boating, fishing, and hiking are popular around the lake. Interpretative signs about theRed River Campaign in the area during theCivil War. |
| Withrow Springs | Madison | 786 acres (318 ha) | 1962 | War Eagle Creek |  | |
| Woolly Hollow | Faulkner | 370 acres (150 ha) | 1973 | Lake Bennett |
| Name | County | Size | Estab- lished | Decomm- issioned | River / lake | Supplanted by | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo River State Park | Marion | 35 acres (14 ha) | 1938 | 1973 | Buffalo River | Buffalo National River | |
| Lost Valley State Park | Newton | 280 acres (110 ha) | 1966 | 1973 | Buffalo River | Buffalo National River | Canyon, cave, hiking trail, and waterfall along Clark Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo River[3] |
| Watson State Park | Jefferson | 100 acres (40 ha) | 1937 | 1944 | Bayou Bartholomew | Private property | Donated by John Brown Watson for development as a state park for black people duringsegregation. Facilities were never developed and land was returned to his widow following court ruling the state had abandoned the park.[4] |
| Name | County | Size | River / lake | Image | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Sylvia Recreation Area | Perry | 200 acres (81 ha) | Lake Sylvia |  | A former girl scout camp and a former National Forest Campground, this park encompasses an 18-acre lake and offers camping, hiking, swimming, and interoperative programs. Arkansas State Parks took management operations in July 2021 and is operated under Pinnacle Mountain State Park.[5] |
| War Memorial Stadium | Pulaski | 6.9 acres (2.8 ha) | None |  | A multi-purpose stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. Operated by Arkansas State Parks since 2017.[6] |
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