Arkansas State Parks: Which to Visit First, Ranked by What You Want

If it's your first time at Arkansas state parks, start with Mount Magazine State Park for the view, Petit Jean State Park for a waterfall hike, and Pinnacle Mountain State Park if you only have a few hours near Little Rock. For a lake day, go to Lake Ouachita State Park near Hot Springs. For an easy family stop, Mammoth Spring State Park on the Missouri line is hard to beat. History fans should head for Historic Washington State Park or one of the archeological parks in the Delta.

Below are 11 parks, grouped by the trip you want, each with the one reason to go and how long to allow (our own estimate for a first visit). If you can only fit in one per group, take the first one listed. Facts come from each park's official Arkansas State Parks page.

Where should you go for a mountaintop view?

For the biggest view in the state, go to Mount Magazine State Park, which holds Arkansas' highest point.

1. Mount Magazine State Park, near Paris

The one reason to go: Mount Magazine State Park at 16878 AR-309 near Paris, in the Arkansas River Valley, sits on Arkansas' highest point, at 2,753 feet. The Lodge at Mount Magazine perches on the south bluff, with views over the Petit Jean River Valley and Blue Mountain Lake. Walk the Signal Hill Trail, then follow the North Rim Trail for bluff-edge views. The official page says it's one of only two Arkansas state parks with hang gliding launch areas, so on a good day you may see someone step off the edge on purpose.

How long to allow: a full day, or an overnight at the lodge so you're up there for sunset and sunrise. The drive up the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway is part of the trip. Base yourself in Russellville if you want to add Petit Jean or Mount Nebo.

2. Queen Wilhelmina State Park, near Mena

The one reason to go: Queen Wilhelmina State Park at 3877 Highway 88 West near Mena sits on Rich Mountain, at 2,681 feet the second-highest peak in Arkansas, right on the Talimena National Scenic Byway. The first inn here, built in the late 1800s and named for the young Queen of the Netherlands, was nicknamed the Castle in the Sky. Today's 40-room lodge carries on that story.

How long to allow: half a day for the park, or a full day if you drive the Arkansas stretch of the Talimena Scenic Drive too. Start from Mena.

Where is the best waterfall hike for a first visit?

In our view, Petit Jean State Park's Cedar Falls is the waterfall hike to do first, with Lake Catherine State Park as an easier second choice near Hot Springs.

3. Petit Jean State Park, near Morrilton

The one reason to go: Petit Jean State Park at 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road near Morrilton is the park that started it all: the mountain inspired the creation of Arkansas' first state park and the whole state park system. The main event is the Cedar Falls Trail, a National Recreation Trail that leads down to 90-foot Cedar Falls. Afterwards, drive to Stout's Point, where the official page says you can see part of the Trail of Tears route. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began building the trails, cabins and Mather Lodge here in 1933.

The park also has what its official page calls the only via ferrata in a US state park, a guided climbing route on cables and rungs.

How long to allow: a full day. Hike Cedar Falls in the morning, add Seven Hollows if you have the legs for it, and finish at Stout's Point for sunset.

4. Lake Catherine State Park, near Hot Springs

The one reason to go: Lake Catherine State Park at 1200 Catherine Park Road in Hot Springs has the Falls Branch Trail, a moderate 2-mile hike that the park says takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. It crosses Little Canyon Creek on the way to a seasonal waterfall on Falls Creek. Go after a wet spell. Several of the stone and wood cabins the CCC built in the 1930s are on the National Register of Historic Places.

How long to allow: half a day, or pair it with a soak in Hot Springs for a full one.

Which park is best for a lake day?

For a classic lake day, choose Lake Ouachita State Park, on what the official page calls Arkansas' largest lake.

5. Lake Ouachita State Park, near Hot Springs

The one reason to go: Lake Ouachita State Park at 5451 Mountain Pine Road in Mountain Pine, near Hot Springs, opens onto Lake Ouachita: 40,000 acres of water surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest. The park has a free swim beach, a marina, boat tours and eagle cruises. The historic Three Sisters' Springs are inside the park, and the Caddo Bend and Dogwood trails give you a shoreline walk.

How long to allow: a full day in summer. The official page says the marina is closed November through February, so plan winter trips around hiking, the springs and eagle cruises. Mount Ida, where you can dig for quartz crystals, is on the far side of the lake.

Where should you take kids for an easy family day?

For an easy family day with little walking and lots to see, go to Mammoth Spring State Park or Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

6. Mammoth Spring State Park, Mammoth Spring

The one reason to go: Mammoth Spring State Park at 17 Highway 63 North in Mammoth Spring, on the Missouri line, protects one of the world's largest springs. About nine million gallons of water flow out of it every hour, filling a 10-acre lake that becomes the Spring River. The park is a National Natural Landmark. Kids get a walking path, old mill ruins and an 1886 Frisco train depot museum.

How long to allow: two to three hours. The depot museum typically closes from mid-December to March 1.

7. Pinnacle Mountain State Park, west of Little Rock

The one reason to go: Pinnacle Mountain State Park at 9600 Highway 300 in Roland, just west of Little Rock, is an easy big outdoor day to reach from the capital. Older kids and fit adults can climb the West Summit Trail, which the park rates strenuous at 1.5 miles round trip. From the top you see Lake Maumelle, the Arkansas River Valley and the Ouachita Mountains. Younger kids can stay low on the Base Trail or the Arkansas Arboretum paths.

How long to allow: two hours for a summit climb, or half a day with a picnic. If you're staying in Little Rock, this is the park to do first.

8. Devil's Den State Park, near West Fork

The one reason to go: Devil's Den State Park at 11333 West Arkansas Highway 74 near West Fork, south of Fayetteville, sits in the Lee Creek Valley. The official page calls it one of the most intact CCC sites in the United States. Walk the Yellow Rock Trail for the view over Lee Creek Valley. Serious hikers can take on the 15-mile Butterfield Hiking Trail. The park's Fossil Flats trail was the first mountain biking trail in Arkansas State Parks.

How long to allow: half a day to a full day. Trails sometimes close for repairs and the cafe is seasonal, so check the official page first.

Where can you see Arkansas history in a state park?

If you like history, start at Historic Washington State Park for the 1800s, then visit Plum Bayou Mounds or Parkin for the much older story.

9. Historic Washington State Park, Washington

The one reason to go: Historic Washington State Park at 103 Franklin Street in Washington, in southwest Arkansas near Hope, has the largest collection of 19th-century buildings in the state, according to its official page. The town was a stop on the Southwest Trail, served as the Confederate capital of Arkansas from 1863 to 1865, and is where local blacksmith James Black forged the legendary Bowie knife. Start at the 1874 Courthouse visitor center, then see the Blacksmith Shop and the Weapons Museum.

How long to allow: half a day. Guided tours are paid, and surrey rides typically run Tuesday to Saturday.

10. Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park, near Scott

The one reason to go: Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park at 490 Toltec Mounds Road near Scott, southeast of Little Rock, protects what its official page calls the largest and most complex mound site in Arkansas. It's a National Historic Landmark. The park was formerly called Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park, and older maps and signs may still use that name. The easy 0.8-mile Knapp Trail, with a boardwalk, passes three of the 18 earthen mounds that once stood at the site, left by a culture that lived here more than 1,000 years ago.

How long to allow: one to two hours. The visitor center is typically open Wednesday to Sunday and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

11. Parkin Archeological State Park, Parkin

The one reason to go: Parkin Archeological State Park at 60 State Highway 184 in Parkin, in the Arkansas Delta, preserves a 17-acre Mississippian Period village that was lived in from about A.D. 1000 to 1550. Archeologists found evidence that Hernando de Soto may have visited in 1541. The official page says admission is free for self-guided tours and the museum exhibits. The park also keeps the historic one-room Northern Ohio School, a school for African American children.

How long to allow: one to two hours. The museum is typically closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

What about Crater of Diamonds State Park?

Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro charges admission to its diamond search area, and it deserves a whole trip to itself. Its official page says it's the only place in the world where the public can search for natural diamonds in their original volcanic source, and anything you find is yours to keep. Diamond search admission is typically $15 for adults and $7 for children 6 to 12; check the official Crater of Diamonds page before you go. Plan your visit from our Murfreesboro page.

Is it free to visit Arkansas state parks?

Yes: the official Arkansas State Parks site says entry into Arkansas' state parks is free. You pay for extras, such as the diamond search at Crater of Diamonds, pools at Petit Jean and Mount Nebo, guided tours at Historic Washington, and rentals. Check each park's official page for current prices.

What should be on a first-timer's Arkansas state parks checklist?

These eight trips cover the essentials, one at a time.

• Stand on Arkansas' highest point at Mount Magazine State Park (full day or overnight).
• Hike to 90-foot Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park, then catch sunset at Stout's Point (full day).
• Climb the West Summit at Pinnacle Mountain State Park on a Little Rock morning (two hours).
• Watch nine million gallons an hour pour out of Mammoth Spring (two to three hours).
• Swim from the free beach at Lake Ouachita State Park in summer (full day).
• Walk Falls Branch Trail at Lake Catherine State Park after a good rain (half day).
• See where the Bowie knife was forged at Historic Washington State Park (half day).
• Walk past mounds left by people who lived here more than 1,000 years ago at Plum Bayou Mounds, Wednesday to Sunday (two hours).
• Bonus: book Cabin 1 at Mount Nebo State Park near Dardanelle, which the park says was the first cabin ever rented in Arkansas State Parks history.

For more ideas, see our outdoors and road trips pages.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Which Arkansas state park should I visit first?

For most first-timers, Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton is the best place to start: it was Arkansas' first state park and has the hike to 90-foot Cedar Falls. If you want the biggest view, go to Mount Magazine State Park, which sits on the state's highest point.

Do Arkansas state parks charge an entrance fee?

No. The official Arkansas State Parks site on arkansas.com says entry into Arkansas' state parks is free. Some activities cost money, like the diamond search at Crater of Diamonds State Park, pools, guided tours and rentals.

What is the highest point in Arkansas?

Mount Magazine, at 2,753 feet, is the highest point in Arkansas. It's inside Mount Magazine State Park near Paris, in the Arkansas River Valley.

What is the easiest Arkansas state park to visit from Little Rock?

Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Roland, just west of Little Rock, is an easy outdoor day from the capital. Its West Summit Trail is a strenuous 1.5-mile round trip with views of Lake Maumelle and the Arkansas River Valley.

Which Arkansas state park has a waterfall hike?

Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton has the Cedar Falls Trail, a National Recreation Trail that leads to 90-foot Cedar Falls. Lake Catherine State Park near Hot Springs has the 2-mile Falls Branch Trail to a seasonal waterfall that runs best after rain.

What was Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park renamed?

Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park is now called Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park. It's near Scott, southeast of Little Rock, and protects what its official page calls the largest and most complex mound site in Arkansas.