Arkansas State Park Events

Park ranger shows bug to curious child in a forest.
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Our interpretive guides routinely schedule fun, family-friendly adventures that are designed to help you have a more meaningful park experience and make memories of a lifetime. We offer more than 15,000 activities each year, including outdoor recreation skills demonstrations and workshops, guided hikes, lake tours on park boats, birding walks, kayak tours, living history activities, nature games, bald eagle watches, spring wildflower walks, campfires, school field trips, and much more — there’s something going on all the time! Use the search filters to view specific parks, dates, or topics.

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Showing 1 - 15 of 26
Jul 11
3:00pm - 4:30pm

Lake Tour

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Enjoy Lake Fort Smith State Park's history, scenery, geology, wildlife, and possible waterfalls on this boating adventure! Meet a park interpreter at the marina dock. Binoculars and life vests are provided. Space is limited and advanced registration...
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Jul 14
10:00am - 10:30am

Knot Knowing is Half the Fun

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Want to know how you can make good connections while fishing at Lake Fort Smith State Park? Join a park interpreter for a hands-on knot tying demonstration where you will discover how to make some of the strongest connections. No previous experience...
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Jul 14
11:00am - 11:30am

Think Like a Fish

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Want to catch more fish? Want to know more about what fish eat and where they live? Meet a park interpreter and think like a fish by discovering facts about the fish that live in Lake Fort Smith.
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Jul 15
10:00am - 10:45am

Adventure in the Ozarks Hike

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Join a park interpreter for a hike to explore an Ozark Mountain trail and take in your surroundings. We will search for and discover more about the native Ozark plants, animals, and landscape. At the conclusion of the program, you will have the...
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Jul 15
2:00pm - 2:30pm

Arkansas Rocks: How Stone Sharpens Steel

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
The geological landscape of Arkansas provides many stones that are used in our daily life. Among these stones is novaculite, highly prized as a premier sharpening stone. Meet a park interpreter and try your hand at sharpening your own knife on this...
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Jul 16
10:00am - 11:30am

Kayak Tour of Lake Fort Smith

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Enjoy the beauty of Lake Fort Smith from a kayak. Take the opportunity to observe quiet coves, waterfalls, and wildlife available from the unique perspective of a kayak. Flatwater kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are provided. No previous paddling...
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Jul 16
3:00pm - 3:30pm

Rabbits in the Sky and on the Ground

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
One of the many wild animals that makes Lake Fort Smith State Park its home is the Eastern cottontail rabbit. Did you know there are also rabbits that live in the sky? Meet a park interpreter to discover how the cottontail rabbit lives and survives...
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Jul 17
10:00am - 10:45am

Life in a Covered Wagon

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Discover how the use of a covered wagon enabled pioneers to settle the area now known as Lake Fort Smith State Park. Daily life was full of hard choices of what to pack for the westward expansion. Meet a park interpreter and try your hand at...
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Jul 17
4:00pm - 4:30pm

Feeding Time at the Lake

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Wildlife require a proper diet for their survival, and you can help. Meet a park interpreter as we discuss native foods that are essential for our wild and curated animals and also take part in their continued care.
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Jul 18
9:00am - 9:45am

Senior Hike to the Waterfall

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Meet a park interpreter for a hike to the waterfall on the Ozark Highlands Trail. This trek is designed for hikers over 50 who appreciate a shorter hike at a more relaxed pace, but open to all ages. Total distance is approximately ¾-mile or 1500...
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Jul 18
11:00am - 11:30am

What's Biting at Lake Fort Smith: Catfish Edition

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Come meet a park interpreter and get the inside scoop of which fish are biting at Lake Fort Smith. Discover habitats and feeding behavior that will help you become a better angler. You will have the opportunity to construct your own lure. Supplies...
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Jul 21
9:00am - 10:30am

Senior Kayak Tour

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Enjoy the beauty of Lake Fort Smith from a kayak. Take the opportunity to observe quiet coves, waterfalls, and wildlife available from the unique perspective of a kayak. Flatwater kayaks, paddles, and lifejackets are provided. No previous paddling...
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Jul 21
2:00pm - 3:00pm

Legacy of the WPA

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal Project created work groups during the 1930s Great Depression Era such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA built public infrastructure like highways, public buildings, dams and more. The...
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Jul 23
3:00pm - 3:30pm

A Life Source's Transformation

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
Lake Fort Smith is a life source that has transformed over the years. Each transformation brought life and challenges to the wildlife and people of the area. Join a park interpreter to immerse yourself into the timeline story of this life-sustaining...
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Jul 24
2:00pm - 2:30pm

A Better Campfire

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Sheperd Springs Road, Mountainburg, AR 72946-0004 United States
You can build a better campfire. Whether at the campsite or an emergency situation, fire starting is a valuable skill. Meet a park interpreter and discover various methods of starting a fire. Explore multiple types of fire used for specific purposes...
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