Blanchard Springs Recreation Area
This picture is owned by Keith Freeman
The Blanchard Springs Recreation Area offers a rich outdoor experience. Located in the beautiful Ozark National Forest. The spring starts at the Blanchard Springs Cavern with a cool waterfall, that feeds into the Sylamore Creek, which is a popular swimming hole during the summer months. The Blanchard Springs Recreation Area is a perfect place to camp, with 32 different campsites to choose from. Two historic dams enclose the waters of Blanchard Springs, forming Mirror Lake. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout, and is an excellent fishing destination. The North Sylamore Hiking Trail, guides hikers along wooded hillsides, past picturesque rock bluffs. For more information, click here.
Petit Jean State Park
This picture is owned by Hilton Simpson
Petit Jean State Park is an Arkansas classic, a natural and historic treasure that has welcomed travelers for decades. The natural beauty and ancient geology of the legendary Petit Jean Mountain inspired the creation of Arkansas’s first state park and with it our state park system. The park mirrors the mountain’s rugged beauty with its rustic-style, native log and stone facilities constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Two swimming pools, picnic areas, playgrounds, pavilions, boat launch ramp, tennis and basketball court, and an amphitheater are also on site. Hiking trails lead through forests and meadows, over canyons, and along streams and the mountainside. See where nature formed sheer bluffs, the spectacular 95-foot Cedar Falls, Seven Hollows, and such distinctive features as Bear Cave, the Grotto, Natural Bridge, and other formations like carpet rocks and turtle rocks. For more information, click here.
Lake Catherine State Park
This peaceful park is located on Lake Catherine, one of five lakes in the beautiful Ouachita Mountain region. The only full-service marina on the lake is here at the park and open in the summertime for bait, snacks/drinks, and fuel. The park also includes a launch ramp, pavilion, picnic sites, playgrounds, and a well-marked trail that leads to a waterfall. The park has 20 fully equipped cabins, including one two-bedroom cabin with a patio overlooking the water and private access to the lake from its own fishing pier. The park offers 70 campsites, six primitive tent sites, and one Rent-A-Yurt. Many of these sites are on the lake-shore. Park interpreters offer hikes, lake tours, and programs year-round. Guided horseback rides are offered seasonally. Open daily at 10 a.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Fall & Winter: Open 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday through Thanksgiving. For more information, click here.
Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area
This picture is owned by hiking the ozarks
The Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area is a magical place located deep in the Ozark National Forest. This incredible area has not one, not two, but three breathtaking waterfalls! The campground is surrounded by a beautiful mature hardwood forest, and is located on a small mountain stream with picturesque falls, rocks, and a bluff, making this the perfect setting for your next family outing! While this is a great place to camp, its also an incredible place to enjoy the beautiful Arkansas nature. Hiking, swimming, fishing, camping, animal spotting, and taking in the breathtaking scenery are just some of the highlights this area has to offer. For more information, click here.
Mount Magazine State Park
Arkansas The Beautiful
At the peak of the state park experience is Mount Magazine, Arkansas’s highest point at 2,753 feet. People come for the sweeping views alone, but there is much to see and do from this unique spot. Mount Magazine State Park is a place of relaxation, exploration, nature study, and is within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. It is a destination for outdoor sports and extreme adventures with mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking, and ATV riding. Mount Magazine is the state park system’s most dramatic location for technical rock climbing, and it’s one of only two parks to offer hang gliding launch areas. Scenic overlooks, hiking trails, picnic area, pavilion, and visitor center with gift shop add to the amenities. The Lodge at Mount Magazine features 60 guest rooms, Skycrest Restaurant, a conference center, business center, heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center, and game room. For more information, click here.