Arkansas’ state park lodges blend natural beauty, outdoor recreation and Southern hospitality  

By Dave Bodle 

The five lodges located within the Arkansas State Park system include some of The Natural State’s most scenic mountain and lake settings. Regardless of the season the outdoor adventures are well worth the stay. 

DeGray Lake Resort State Park 

Located on its own island of DeGray Lake, guests enjoy wide-ranging views of the lake in a comfortable setting. Each of the 90 guest rooms is equipped with the amenities you would expect. The Shoreline Restaurant, located in the lodge, has full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.  

DeGray Lake is a fishing and watersports delight and the full-service marina is its headquarters. Hybrid striped bass, walleye, crappie, bream and catfish are plentiful. The clear water of the lake is perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. Boats of all types are available for rent. 

DeGray Lake Resort Golf Course is just over 6,900 yards from the Championship tees with a rating of 73/134. White, gold and red tees are available, making it an enjoyable course for all levels. There is a driving range, chipping area and putting green. There’s a snack bar in the pro shop along with club and pull cart rentals. Disc Golf winds its way through the pine forest alongside the lake. Holes vary in design, length and difficulty for players of all levels to enjoy. Loaner equipment is available, or you can make an essential purchase.  

There are six trails for guests to enjoy by themselves, or with a scheduled park interpreter-guided hike. The Chickadee Trail is mostly pine forests, but also dogwood that blooms in the spring. One of Green Heron Trail highlights is a viewing stand that overlooks the lake. It’s great for seeing waterfowl and even eagles in the winter. The Island Trail is a beauty year-round, but is particularly popular in fall and winter for migratory birds and eagles. Saginaw Trail is a short walk, but one of historical interest as you are walking on a raised train rail. Towering Pines Trail is appropriately named, but does have hills and rocks to navigate. There are always fun events happening at DeGray Lake Resort Park depending on the season. Visit the Parks Calendar of Events for the time you plan on visiting. Spoiler alert: January 23-January 26, 2026 is the Annual Eagles Et Cetera Festival. 

The Lodge at Mount Magazine 

Each of the Lodge’s 60 guest rooms offer an incredible view of Petit Jean River Valley and Blue Mountain Lake. At 2,753 feet, don’t be surprised if a wistful cloud passes by. There is a 1,325-square-foot indoor swimming pool with children’s area, lap lane and a hot tub. The Fitness Center is close by. The Skycrest Restaurant serves Southern style fare and is open daily. 

Some of the best outdoor adventures in Arkansas is found here. There are five trails in the park with lengths from 0.5 to 2.8 miles. The Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail is multi-use trail for hiking, ATV, bikers and horse riders. Road cycling offers great mountain views on Cameron Bluff Drive. Bikes are available for rent at the lodge. 

It’s also one of the most popular hang gliding locations in Arkansas. Rock climbing is also quite popular. Traditional Arkansas bouldering, sport climbing and rappelling are allowed in designated areas. 

Ozark Folk Center State Park 

The Ozark rooms are beautiful and perfect for families. All room types are ground level with a variety of options. There are adjoining access rooms with some having bunk beds for the kids. In-room amenities are first class. The Lodge is open year-round. Southern cooking is the specialty at the Skillet Restaurant. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, the restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Skillet Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Open from mid-April to late October, the park is dedicated to preserving the music, crafts and culture of the Ozarks. Tuesday through Saturday, more than 20 working artisans in the Craft Village demonstrate, create and sell their homemade merchandise. The Heritage Herb Garden is where medicinal herbs, native plants and edible herbs are grown. Living classroom events celebrating culinary and medicinal herbs are held in May and October. 

Music is central to the park and instruments that produce the Ozark Mountain sound are prevalent. In the Craft Village, you might find fiddles, banjos, mandolins and others being played. Throughout the day, there is live music on the Blacksmith Stage. During the season, the 1,000-seat Ozark Highlands Theater hosts live concerts and special events bringing artists from all types of American music to perform. 

Petit Jean State Park 

Mather Lodge is truly a historic treasure. The only lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps combines a natural setting overlooking Cedar Canyon Creek with rustic warmth. The original portions of the lodge from the 1930s construction are the lobby with its central fireplace, dining room, guest rooms and breezeway. The restaurant seats 104 guests with large windows framing rugged Cedar Creek Canyon. Classic Southern cuisine is the fare. Petit Jean State Park is a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Site.  

Trails in the park feature some great overlooks and an 89-foot waterfall. The payoff of Cedar Creek Trail is one of the most outstanding waterfalls in Arkansas.  Seven Hollows features natural stone arches and rock shelters and signs of pre-historic bluff dwelling. Rock House Cave Trail features a large rock shelter and Native American rock art. Petit Jean’s Gravesite overlook is the most known overlook. The Mary Ann Ritcher Overlook on Red Bluff Drive is well worth the stop. Although the seasons may change, the beauty of the parks overlooks, trails and waterfall are still spectacular. 

Queen Wilhelmina State Park 

Travel the Talimenia National Scenic Byway to the state’s fully renovated lodge. Sitting atop Rich Mountain, The Natural State’s second highest peak, the views are breathtaking. The 40-room lodge has a new look and modern updates. Large windows in the lobby, guest rooms and restaurant frame the panoramic scenery provided by the Quachita Mountains. Queen’s Restaurant serves delicious Southern cuisine year-round. 

Whether it is spring blossoms, fall colors or the winter’s ruggedness, each of the park’s trails bring new sights to every season. The Quachita National Hiking Trails meanders through the park ending just northwest of Little Rock. Spring Trail is a short walk to the Wonder House built in 1931. The Reservoir Trail falls quickly to the old stone reservoir, a reminder of the 1898 lodge.  

Wildlife and ecology are paramount to the Quachita Mountains. Bird watching, especially eagles in the winter and turkeys in the spring, can be rewarding. The American Black Bear can often be seen along the Talimena National Scenic Byway in spring. The Quachita Mountain range runs east-west giving the north and south slopes different plant life. The north slope is a particularly ripe habitat for spring wildflowers.  

Use the Arkansas State Parks Event Calendar to see what’s happening during your visit. https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/events