Northeast Arkansas is home to a number of state parks

Only a short trip to check out some of the Natural States natural wonders

arkansasstateparks.com

Craighead County

• Lake Frierson State Park, 10 miles north of Jonesboro on Arkansas 141, 932-2615. The park is on Crowley’s Ridge on the eastern shores of Lake Frierson. The 335-acre lake offers fishing for bass, bream, channel catfish, saugeye and crappie. It features fishing boat, kayak and pedal boat rentals, a barrier-free fishing pier, hiking trails, a visitor’s center with interpretive exhibits, a playground and climate-controlled pavilion.

Cross County

• Village Creek State Park, near Wynne (see photos), 238-9406. The 6,911-acre park offers lakes, fishing, swimming, hiking and tennis. The park also includes cabins, boat rentals, a visitor’s center with store and exhibits, and a golf driving range.

• Parkin Archeological State Park, at the junction of U.S. 64 and Arkansas 184 North, 755-2500. The park preserves and interprets the Parkin site on the St. Francis River where a 17-acre Mississippi Period American Indian village was located from A.D.

1000 to 1550. Visitors can watch research in progress and see firsthand the results of careful excavations and laboratory analysis. The park also offers a variety of interpretive services.

Greene County

• Crowley’s Ridge State Park, 15 miles north of Jonesboro on Arkansas 141, 573-6751. Located atop Crowley’s Ridge, the park offers a swimming lake, fishing lake, hiking trails, canoe and pedal boat rentals, a playground, and cabin and group lodging.

Interpretive and special programming is offered throughout the year.

Jackson County

• Jacksonport State Park, three miles north of Newport on Arkansas 69, 523-2143. Jacksonport offers unique museum tours, including an 1800s river town and the Courthouse Museum, as well as a swimming beach and walking trails.

Lawrence County

• Lake Charles State Park, eight miles northwest of Hoxie on U.S. 63, then 6 miles south on Arkansas 25, 878-6595. Located among the Ozark Foothills, Lake Charles is 645 acres of fishing and swimming.

Anglers will find crappie, bass, bream and catfish year-round. The park staff offer lake tours and guided kayaking treks. The park also has four hiking trails.

• Powhatan Historic State Park, on Arkansas 25 in Powhatan, 878-6794. In 1888, an Italianate-style courthouse was built high on a hill overlooking this busy river port.The park also includes several other of Lawrence County’s most historic buildings. Guided tours are available.

Interpretive and special programming are offered throughout the year.

Mississippi County

• Hampson Museum State Park, at U.S. 61 and Lake Drive in Wilson, 655-8622. The park exhibits the archeological collections from the Nodena site, a 15acre palisaded village that once thrived in a bend of the Mississippi River. The museum explores the lifestyles and artifacts of this farming-based civilization that lived there from 1400-1650.

• Herman Davis State Park, on Arkansas 18 in Manila.

Gen. John J. Pershing called Pvt. Herman Davis one of the greatest heroes of World War I — fourth on his list of 100 war heroes of that era. Davis’ hometown of Manila is the home of a 1-acre park dedicated to the community’s favorite son. The park features a monument to Davis.

Poinsett County

• Lake Poinsett State Park, one mile east of Harrisburg on Arkansas 14, then three miles south on Arkansas 163, 578-2064. The park includes hiking trails and a playground. Interpretive programs are also offered.

Randolph County

• Davidsonville Historic State Park, from Black Rock take Arkansas 361 and travel six miles north, 892-4708. Located on the Black River, the park offers good fishing and boating.

A historic site as well, the park is home to Arkansas’ first courthouse, post office and land office. The park’s visitor center includes a replica of an 1820s hunter/trapper flatboat, as well as exhibits of local artifacts. The park also features boat rentals and hiking trails. More information about these and other state parks in Arkansas are available online at

www.arkansasstateparks.com.