Soak up the pretty in Petit Jean

Petit Jean State Park has the distinction of being Arkansas's oldest state park. It's also one of the more beautiful, featuring a diverse spectrum of famous state scenery, from canyons to woods to upland forests. Soak up the pretty in Petit Jean can be considered as one of the Best Things To Do In Arkansas.

The park's green center is pierced by eight official trails, our favorites being Seven Hollows, which travels through a succession of forested valleys, and Bear Cave, which is defined by massive, surrealistically intriguing sandstone rocks (it's also not really a cave). Catching a sunrise from the 1120ft-high peak of Petit Jean Mountain, which overlooks the sweeping splendor of the Arkansas River Valley, is a great way to wow your relatives back home.

The Civilian Conservation Corps built buildings of wood and stone construction around the park in the 1930s, giving it a rustic atmosphere. Mather Lodge, a 24-room historic lodge, lies on the cliff of a deep forested canyon. Visitors to the park can stay in 32 cabins and 127 campsites in addition to the lodge. Petit Jean State Park contains a visitor center and gift shop in the park's center, as well as a boathouse on Lake Bailey that offers boat rentals, fishing supplies, and a snack bar. Tennis and basketball facilities, as well as a swimming pool and picnic spots, are available to park visitors. The main camping grounds are less than a mile away from the Museum of Automobiles.

Address: 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110, United States

Phone: +1 501-727-5441

Opening hours: 8AM–5PM

Rating: 4.8/5.0, 4,834 Google reviews

Website: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/petit-jean-state-park