There are 53 state parks in the U.S. state of Arkansas, as of 2025. Note: this list of all 52 parks is the default reference for current individual Arkansas state parks. The state parks division of the Arkansas 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. 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.
Arkansas State Parks 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 to . + Current Arkansas state parks Name County Size Estab-lished River / lake Image RemarksArkansas Museum of Natural ResourcesUnion acres (8 ha) 1986 None Museum preserving and interpreting the history of oil and bromine mining in Arkansas Arkansas Post MuseumArkansas 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) Blanchard SpringsStone 2025 North Sylamore Creek Bull Shoals-White RiverBaxter, Marion acres (296 ha) 1955 Bull Shoals Lake Trout fishing destination above and below Bull Shoals Dam with over 100 campsites Cane CreekLincoln acres (831 ha) 1992 Cane Creek Lake Wooded lake along Bayou Bartholomew including a hiking trail and camping Conway CemeteryLafayette 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 plantationCossatot RiverHoward, Polk 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 DiamondsPike acres (369 ha) 1972 Little Missouri River World's only diamond-bearing site accessible to the public Crowley's RidgeGreene 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 DaisyPike 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 DavidsonvilleRandolph 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 campsitesDeGray LakeClark, Hot Spring acres (398 ha) 1974 DeGray Lake Resort state park with championship rated golf course, 94 room lodge, and over 100 campsitesDelta Heritage TrailArkansas, Desha, Phillips acres (390 ha) 2002 Old Town Lake Rails to trails conversion of former railroad bed through Arkansas Delta lowlands, currently , planned to be Devil's DenWashington 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 cabinsHampson Archeological MuseumMississippi 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 MastodonHerman DavisMississippi acre (0.4 ha) 1953 None Park surrounding a grave and memorial to Herman Davis, a U.S. sniper during World War IHistoric Washington Hempstead 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 AreaBenton, Carroll, Madison acres (4879 ha) 1979 Beaver Lake Large park in the Boston Mountains along Beaver Lake featuring trails, camping, and a shooting range.JacksonportJackson 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 BattlegroundGrant 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 Garland, Hot Spring 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 areaLake Charles Lawrence 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 Chicot acres (85.6 ha) 1957 Lake Chicot, Arkansas 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 Pope 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 Crawford acres (105.2 ha) 1967 Lake Fort Smith Large lake in the Ozarks offering 30 campsites, 10 cabins, a marina, swimming pool and visitor centerLake Frierson Greene 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 Garland 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 vicinityLake Poinsett Poinsett acres (53.4 ha) 1963 Lake Poinsett Popular with fishing enthusiasts, the park offers 29 campsites, trails and interpretative programs Logoly Columbia 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 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 the Louisiana Purchase, which allowed for the westward development and expansion of the United States Lower White River Museum Prairie 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 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 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 Little River acres (333 ha) 1976 Millwood Lake Forested area surrounding large lake known for bass fishing, bird watching, hiking and camping.Mississippi River Lee, Phillips acres (217 ha) 2009 Mississippi River State park within the St. Francis National Forest. Park currently includes campground at Bear Creek Lake and birding trail.Moro Bay Bradley 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 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 acres (1208 ha) 1928 None One of three mountain state parks in the Arkansas River Valley, includes historic cabins, of hiking trails, and popular hang-gliding launch points. Ozark Folk Center Stone 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 Mounds Cross acres (43 ha) 1994 St. Francis River Petit Jean Conway acres (1405 ha) 1923 Lake Bailey Situated atop Petit Jean Mountain in the Arkansas River Valley, offers trails, creeks, and geology throughout the forested mountains Pinnacle Mountain Pulaski acres (837 ha) 1973 Maumelle River Rocky Pinnacle Mountain emerges where the flat Arkansas Delta intersects the Ouachita Mountains Plantation Agriculture Museum Lonoke 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 acres (75 ha) 1975 Mound Pond Poison Springs Battleground Ouachita 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 ExpeditionPowhatan Lawrence acres (3.7 ha) 1970 Black River Preserves a small nineteenth-century river port town on the Black RiverPrairie Grove Battlefield Washington 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 Polk 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 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.Village Creek Cross, St. Francis 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 Ouachita, Nevada 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 Madison acres (318 ha) 1962 War Eagle Creek Woolly Hollow Faulkner acres (150 ha) 1973 Lake Bennett
Former parks + Former Arkansas state parks Name County Size Estab-lished Decomm-issioned River / lake Supplantedby RemarksBuffalo River State ParkMarion acres (14 ha) 1938 1973 Buffalo River Buffalo National River Lost Valley State ParkNewton acres (110 ha) 1966 1973 Buffalo River Buffalo National River Canyon, cave, hiking trail, and waterfall along Clark Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo RiverWatson State Park Jefferson acres (40 ha) 1937 1944 Bayou Bartholomew Private property Donated by John Brown Watson for development as a state park for black people during segregation. Facilities were never developed and land was returned to his widow following court ruling the state had abandoned the park.
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