Explore the beauty and rich history of the region at the state parks near Bentonville, AR. The parks offer numerous recreational activities, picturesque lakes, breathtaking surroundings, and historic battlefields and buildings.
5 Favorite State Parks to Visit Near Bentonville, AR
1. Hobbs Conservation Area
The beautiful untouched 12,054-acre conservation area, the largest in the state, stretches out over the Ozark landscape and along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. The area boasts a scenic 54-mile trail system for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
The visitor center displays exhibits on the fauna and flora and the history, and interpretive programs and workshops are hosted throughout the year. The Hobbs Conservation Area is the only park in Arkansas that permits hunting.
2. Historic Washington
Take a nostalgic step back to 1863 when the area served as the Confederate capital of Arkansas, and Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, and James Bowie traveled through here. It was James Bowie, a local blacksmith, who forged the famous and legendary Bowie knife.
The park has the largest collection of 19th-century historic buildings in Arkansas. There is the Blacksmith Shop, a Print Museum, a Weapons Museum, and the visitor center is in the 1874 courthouse.
3. Devil’s Den
The unique park, nestled in the Lee Creek Valley, is one of the most iconic recreational areas in the state. Devil’s Den boasts magnificent rock formations and caverns and is a favorite destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The 8-acre Lake Devil is ideal for fishing, paddling, and boating. The hiking, mountain, biking, and horseback riding trails that wind through the scenic surroundings run to the Ozark National Forest.
Guided hikes, the annual Mountain Bike Festival in Spring, programs, and special events are hosted throughout the year. The park is one of the best-preserved Civilian Conservation Corp sites in the county. The beautiful rustic wood and stone structures and cabins were built from natural materials in the 1930s. The campground provides campers with full hookup and primitive tent and RV sites near a bathhouse, cafe, and swimming pool.
4. Lake Fort Smith
The spectacular park lies in the Boston Mountain Valley of the Ozarks on the banks of Lake Fort Smith. It’s is a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, anglers, paddlers, campers, and backpackers with the western terminus of the 240-mile Ozark Highlands Trail that cuts through the park. There is a swimming pool, and the marina offers boat rentals.
Campers have a choice of 30 RV and tent campsites, 10 cabins, and two group lodges. At the visitor center, there are replicas of a pioneer log cabin and a covered wagon. The exhibits feature displays on the region’s history. The park interpreters lead guided nature hikes and lake tours all year round.
5. Prairie Grove Battlefield
The 900-acre battlefield is America’s most intact Civil War battlefield and marks the last major Civil War clash in Northwest Arkansas. It’s here where Confederate and Union forces clashed on December 7, 1862, in a brutal battle that resulted in 2,700 casualties.
Artifacts from the battlefield are displayed at the Hindman Hall Museum. The largest Civil War re-enactments are held here biennially on the first weekend in December. The park offers driving and walking tours, programs, and events over weekends.
Get ready for an unforgettable outdoor adventure at the best recreational areas close to Bentonville. Visit Crain Hyundai of Bentonville today. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff and certified technicians will take expert care of all your vehicle requirements.
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