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State Parks of S. Arkansas

Explore Battlegrounds, Lakes & Springs

The scenic landscape of southern Arkansas features more than its fair share of state parks. From history to hiking, southern Arkansas’ got your park. History and education abound in southern Arkansas. Check out vintage derricks on the Oil Field Park at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, or the gravesite of Governor Conway at the Conway Cemetery State Park.

Check out Civil War battle sites at Marks' Mills Battleground State Park and Poison Springs State Park, and plenty of historic structures at Historic Washington State Park. Native West Gulf Coastal Plain plants are found at the South Arkansas Arboretum, while a living laboratory is set at the Logoly State Park.

For outdoor adventure and relaxation, enjoy fishing, biking, hiking, and stretching out on the beach at DeGray Lake Resort State Park, or trek down the four-mile Wildlife Lane Nature Trail at Millwood State Park. Challenge yourself with the 14-mile River Corridor Trail at Cossatot River State Park, or try the Park Beech Ridge Trail in White Oak Lake State Park.

Many unique activities are found in southern Arkansas as well, including the historic Moro Bay Ferry – along with boating and fishing – at Moro Bay State Park. Zoom down the 31-mile Bear Creek Motorcycle Trail at Daisy State Park – also great for fishing in Lake Greeson, and the Little Missouri River.

Saving the best for last, Crater of Diamonds State Park allows visitors to dig for diamonds and actually keep them! Once you’ve lined your coffers, check out the onsite Diamond Springs Water Park, and try hiking and fishing – also at the park.

Conway Cemetery State Park

Located in Lafayette County, the Conway Cemetery State Park is set in southern Arkansas in the town of Walnut Hill – less than an hour from Texarkana. This Arkansas state park serves as the final resting place for James Sevier Conway – Arkansas's first governor.

Covering 11.5 acres, the park features a historic marker of Governor Conway, set just south of the Conway plantation home. The Conway Cemetery State Park is found on the National Register of Historic Places, and features picnic areas. Visit and explore Conway Cemetery State Park, soon – it's just one of the many Arkansas state parks.

Cossatot River State Park

Established in 1988, the Cossatot River State Park covers 5,299.65 acres in southwestern Arkansas. Found on the Cossatot River – a National Wild & Scenic River within the National Park Service – this Arkansas state park doubles as a natural area. It's most easily reached from nearby Texarkana.

The Cossatot River State Park features advanced whitewater rafting on the Cossatot River, plus picnic spots and a drop-in site at Brushy Creek Recreation Area. Hikers may trek down the 14-mile River Corridor Trail and 3.5-mile Harris Creek Trail, while other travelers may stop by the visitor's center for interactive exhibits and a gift shop.

Crater of Diamonds State Park

At 911 acres, the Crater of Diamonds State Park neighbors the city of Murfreesboro in southwestern Arkansas. The park is a diamond site open to the public. It is “the world’s only diamond site where you can search and keep what you find.” Visitors may bring their own tools or purchase or rents tools from the park.

A trip to the Crater of Diamonds State Park also includes the Diamond Springs Water Park, mild hiking trails, and fishing for bass and catfish in the Little Missouri River. For hotels near the Crater of Diamonds State Park, visitors travel south to Hope and Arkadelphia. Have fun exploring southern Arkansas.

Lake Catherine State Park

Found in the Ouachita Mountains, the Lake Catherine State Park covers nearly 2,000 acres in central Arkansas – just southeast of Hot Springs and an hour southwest of Little Rock. While Arkansas features a wide range of state parks between its borders, Lake Catherine proves to be one of the premier destinations.

Featuring several structures created by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Lake Catherine State Park features the CCC Fisherman's Barrack. Be sure to launch your boat at any of the boat ramps, or fish from the shores of Lake Catherine – there's a marina on site if you need to stock your tackle box.

Lake Ouachita State Park

Set in the Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita State Park is located in central Arkansas, and contains the 40,000-acre Lake Ouachita. This Arkansas state park is set 20 miles northwest of Hot Springs, and 70 miles southwest of Little Rock.

Lake Ouachita State Park is ideal for swimming, water skiing, scuba diving, boating, and fishing for bream, crappie, catfish, stripers, and largemouth bass. The lake’s 75 miles of shoreline offers even more outdoor recreation, and visitors are also encouraged to see the historic Three Sisters' Springs.

Logoly State Park

Spanning 368 acres, Logoly State Park is found in southern Arkansas city of Magnolia, an hour southeast from Hope. The first environmental education state park in Arkansas, Logoly State Park offers workshops, exhibits, and a living laboratory.

Just one of the many exceptional Arkansas state parks, Logoly features Amenities like picnic areas, playgrounds, walking and hiking trails, and an educational visitor center. Trails at Logoly include the three-quarter-mile Crane's Fly Trail, half-mile Magnesia Springs Trail, and the two-mile Spring Branch Trail. Enjoy an outdoor Arkansas adventure at Logoly State Park.

Millwood State Park

Set in southwestern Arkansas, Millwood State Park encompasses Millwood Lake, along with fishing, hiking and camping. Hikers choose between trails like the four-mile Wildlife Lane Nature Trail – also available to cyclists – and the shorter Waterfowl Way Trail – ideal for photography.

Park visitors enjoy renting canoes, fishing and cruising the lake with paddleboats. This southern Arkansas lake consists of largemouth bass – plus crappie fishing in the Spring and Fall and bream and catfish in the summer. Find your next visit to Texarkana and Hope a blast with time spent at Millwood State Park – just one example of Arkansas state parks.

Poison Springs State Park

First established in 1864, Poison Springs State Park is located in southern Arkansas, and preserves the Civil War battle site of the Battle of Poison Spring. An hour east of Hope, the park is a member of the Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark.

Both a U.S. National Historic Landmark and listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, Poison Springs State Park features picnic spots, interpretive exhibits, and nature viewing. As you plan your next visit to or through Arkansas, be sure to spend an afternoon – or more – exploring at Poison Springs State Park.

White Oak Lake State Park

Covering over 2,700 acres, White Oak Lake State Park is located outside of Bluff City, near Hope, in southern Arkansas. Hikers flock to the park to experience a variety of hiking trails, including Beech Ridge Trail, which vary in difficulty and let hikers immerse themselves in West Gulf Coastal Plain forest landscapes.

White Oak Lake, created by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, lends itself to fishing and boating, and boat rentals are available. Wildlife enthusiasts relish in common deer and heron sightings, and in the wintertime, lucky park visitors get a glimpse of bald eagles that have flown south to escape the cold.