The spoils of our beautiful Natural State aren't only found in the forests and waterfalls aboveground—treasures can be found below your feet, too! One of our beloved state parks is unlike any other in the nation. Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only publicly accessible diamond-bearing site in the world! Let's explore and see if we can find a diamond in the rough:

Whether you're going for the first time or the hundredth, exploring Crater of Diamonds State Park is always exhilarating.

It's the only state park where you may find (and better yet, keep) a diamond! The state park opened in 1952, but the gems go back further. The first diamond was found here in 1906 by John Huddleston, who owned the property. It was the first diamond uncovered outside of South Africa!

Families can bring or rent equipment to dig for diamonds.

Stop by the Diamond Discovery Center first for a diamond-finding briefing. There you'll learn what you're looking for, how to sift, and get all the equipment needed for a successful diamond dig!

The 37-acre field is routinely tilled and turned to hopefully uncover more treasures below the surface.

Visitors can dry sift and/or wet sift to hopefully uncover a gem or two. Diamonds are the main attraction but semi-precious gems like amethyst, agate, jasper, quartz, calcite, and barite have also been discovered.

About 600 diamonds are dug up every year and new records are still being made!

The largest diamond ever found on the land (before becoming a state park) was the "Uncle Sam" back in 1924. It was a whopping 40.23 carats and was the largest diamond found in North America! One of the most recent records was found in 2020 by Kevin Kinard. He uncovered the now second-largest diamond at the park at 9.07 carats.

There's plenty of other natural treasures to discover if you need a break from being knee-deep in dirt.

The diamond field is certainly the main feature of the state park, but it's not the only thing to enjoy during your trip. A couple of family-friendly trails zigzag through the park as well as a portion of the Little Missouri River Trail. The park also has 47 campsites with electric and water hook-ups.

Even if you don't uncover a new record-smasher, the memories you make will be the real treasures.

Between the thrill of possibly finding a gem and getting to play in the dirt, any visit is a worthwhile adventure! You can plan your Crater of Diamonds exploration by visiting the state park website right here.

Have you ever found a diamond or gem at the state park? We'd love to hear about your spoils in the comments below! If you want to read about the history of Crater of Diamonds as well as the other Arkansas diamond mine, head to this article.