5 Days in Arkansas’ Diamond Lakes

Arkansas' Diamond Lakes region packs a lot into one corner of the state. Historic bathhouses, amusement parks, lakes and rivers, bike trails, a whole spa culture and some wild celebrity stories fill more than five days here. There are endless ways to tailor your trip and still come back for more, like digging for diamonds and rugged outdoor adventure.

DAY ONE: Trackside Rooms and Bathhouse Row

Check Into Your Room or Cabin

Start practical. You've been driving or flying, so get checked in and take a moment. If you're staying at Oaklawn Hot Springs hotel during racing season, roughly December through early May, request a trackside room and you can watch thoroughbreds race at one of America's oldest and most respected racetracks right from your window.The property also includes a casino and concert venue, with plenty to keep you busy if it's not racing season. If your first evening calls for something quieter, pick a campsite in Hot Springs National Park’s Gulpha Gorge Campground. Prefer a secluded lakeside cabin setting where you can step outside and take a deep breath of the Ouachita mountain air? The Diamond Lakes region has no shortage of options. Nearby Lake Catherine State Park offers campfire spots and some of the darkest skies in the region for stargazing. 

Check Out Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park is a unique urban national park. It's located in downtown Hot Springs, which means Bathhouse Row, the historic core of the park, is steps from restaurants, shops and street life. Start there. The eight bathhouses still draw visitors from around the world, with two operating as spas, while the others serve as museums, shops, a boutique hotel and Superior Bathhouse Brewery, the only brewery inside a U.S. national park. Walk the Grand Promenade, a broad brick pathway behind Bathhouse Row. Display springs along the Promenade let you see and feel the thermal water that put this place on the map. Beyond Bathhouse Row, drive up to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower for 360-degree views of the park and downtown below. The park covers 5,550 acres with 26 miles of hiking and biking trails winding through the surrounding mountains.

DAY TWO: History Stops and Swimming Holes

Downtown and Open Roads

The second day of your Diamond Lakes itinerary starts downtown on Central Avenue. Grab huevos rancheros and a cappuccino at Kollective Coffee & Tea. Or for a classic breakfast, The Pancake Shop has been serving made-from-scratch pancakes since 1940, feeding everyone from celebrities to Hall of Fame trainers and jockeys. The framed photos on the walls tell the story.

Walk off your breakfast with a stroll down the street for some quirky fun, visiting the Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum or learning about Al Capone’s tie to Hot Springs at the Gangster Museum of America. Along the avenue, you’ll find candy shops, novelty stores, clothing boutiques, gift stores, ice cream shops, historical markers, art galleries and more. Take your pick of restaurants when you’re ready to sit down for lunch, or grab something to go because the afternoon is made for picnics and waterfalls.

Waterfalls and Ice Cream  

From downtown Hot Springs, take a 60-mile drive to Little Missouri Falls. A quarter-mile hike takes you to the cascading falls. Have a picnic, wade in the water, splash in the deeper pools and sun yourself on the rocks. When you head back to Hot Springs, take the route toward Norman, home of the smallest public library in Arkansas with a surprising 3,000 books. From there, head to Mount Ida, where you can stop at Dairyette Burgers & Shakes for ice cream on your way back to Hot Springs. As you come into the city, Mid-America Science Museum and Funtrackers Family Fun Park are worth a stop if you have time left in your day. 

DAY THREE: Diamond and Crystal Digging

Take the Family Treasure Hunting

Day three of your Diamond Lakes itinerary is about getting your hands dirty. There's nowhere else on the planet where you can dig in the dirt for actual diamonds and keep what you find. Bring the whole crew to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, because more hands in the dirt means more chances of finding one. Use your own mining equipment to search with (no  battery-operated or motor-driven mining tools allowed), or rent tools from the park.

More treasure hunting awaits about 45 minutes from Hot Springs at Mount Ida, widely recognized as the "Quartz Crystal Capital of the World" due to its rich deposits in the Ouachita Mountains. Here, Wegner Crystal Mines lets you dig for crystals in its tailings pile or mine sites and try your hand at gemstone panning. Another top spot for crystal hunting is Ron Coleman Mining in Jessieville, famous for massive quartz clusters and a zipline that soars 100 feet above an active quartz crystal mine.

DAY FOUR: Float Trips, Overlooks and Hushpuppies

Go Adventuring in Arkadelphia

Arkadelphia anchors day four, with the Caddo River and DeSoto Bluff Trail offering two good reasons to make the drive. Before you get on the water or the trail, spend some time downtown. Check out the colorful murals and visit the Clark County Historical Museum, housed in a historic train depot and free to visit. Pick up some peanut brittle at Juanita's Candy Kitchen for an afternoon snack, then head to the Caddo River.

The Caddo runs clear and cold through the Ouachita foothills. It’s one of the best float trips in southwest Arkansas, with canoe and tube rentals available in nearby Caddo Valley or 20 minutes away in Glenwood. Check water levels before you go if you have little ones. The current can be swift after heavy rains. For a drier adventure or when floating season has passed, the DeSoto Bluff Trail is a short and easy paved path to a bluff overlooking the Ouachita River. The trail is named for the Hernando de Soto expedition, believed to have camped here. 

Taste the Local Flavor 

O'Keefe's Fish Net Restaurant in Caddo Valley has been serving seafood, steaks, pasta and Creole dishes for nearly 40 years. You’ll be tempted to keep eating hushpuppies, but save room for the homemade bread pudding, a local favorite. From dinner, it's an easy drive back to Hot Springs. Oaklawn's live music, casino games and nightlife are waiting if you're not ready to call it a night or head back to your cabin under the Ouachita stars. 

DAY FIVE: Fun on the Five Lakes

Take a Lake Day

The Diamond Lakes region is named for five jewels: Lake Ouachita, DeGray Lake, Lake Hamilton, Lake Greeson and Lake Catherine. You don't need to own a boat to enjoy the water. Pontoon boats, houseboats, canoes, kayaks and inflatables are all available to rent at numerous marinas. In summer, several of the lakes have swimming beaches. Pack the cooler, bring the beach chairs and splash in the water. In winter, the lakes draw bald eagles, and guided tours are available for birders and wildlife watchers.

Five days in the Diamond Lakes is a great start. By the time you're off the water on day five, you'll already be planning a trip back. 

Plan Your Trip

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