It's Hard To Believe One Of The Best Parks In Arkansas, Craighead Forest Park, Isn't Even A State Park
By Carol Ann Carson|Published November 19, 2019
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
Between the trails, lake, and fulfilling recreational activities it’s surprising that Craighead Forest Park isn’t an official Arkansas state park. Regardless, you’ll fall in love with the whole area as soon as you get out of the car! Let’s pack a picnic and the kids and spend the day at this delightful inner-city oasis.
Craighead Forest Park has a little bit of everything to give families a full day (or two) of fun.
The nearly 700-acre park was originally opened because of the effort from the Young Men's Civic Club back in 1937. The park features a lake and has all sorts of recreational activities that appeal to all ages.
You could certainly spend a whole day just enjoying the lake...
Paddle around the 60-acre Craighead Forest Lake in your canoe or kayak before spending the afternoon fishing for bream, crappie, bass, and tilapia. Boats are allowed on the lake during the day, too. Families can enjoy the Rotary Way Family Fishing Area which is heavily stocked with catfish and trout.
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...but don't forget there's a whole forest to explore as well!
Different trails circle around the park for mountain bikers, hikers, and even horseback riders! The northwest section of the park also has ATV routes available. The trails closest to the lake are paved which make them perfect for younger children or strollers.
Kids will happily run wild at the Fort Rotary playground, a site created by three local Rotary Clubs in Jonesboro in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Rotary International. This playground and the smaller castle jungle gym at the park are both handicap accessible so everyone can have fun!
If you're a bit too big to be sliding then take your discs to the 18-hole disc golf course nearby instead. You can also play horseshoes or have a game on the softball and volleyball courts too.
Of course during the summer there's even more fun to be had.
During the warmer months the park also has a fantastic splash pad for cooling off! We have a few seasons until the need arises but you can be guaranteed this splash pad will be a relief during the next hot Arkansas summer.
It may not be a state park but Craighead Forest sure is one of our favorite places to visit in Arkansas.
Spend the day here or pitch a tent and camp for the weekend! Tent camping as well as RV spots are available at the park. For more information you can head right here.
Have you had any adventures at Craighead Forest Park yet? Tell us about them in the comments below! You can also share your park photos in our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
Take a break and munch on some of the best pizza in the world while you’re in Jonesboro.
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