Lakes, Beaches

Splash around in Arkansas

Pack your swimsuit and come splash the summer away on an Arkansas beach or swimming hole.

Among the 23 state parks located on lakes or rivers, eight offer Arkansas beaches. These are DeGray Lake, as well as lake Catherine, Charles, Dardanelle and Ouachita, Village Creek, Woolly Hollow, Crowley's Ridge, and Jacksonport on the White River.

Fifteen U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes in Arkansas have sandy shores. The crystalline blue waters of Beaver, Bull Shoals, Greers Ferry, Norfork, and Table Rock lakes are all tucked away in the mountains. Three of the sparkling Diamond Lakes, Ouachita, DeGray, and Greeson, are Corps properties. Lakes Catherine and Hamilton are two privately owned bodies of water. 

Eight watery playgrounds are located in the confines of the tree-shrouded Ozark and St. Francis national forests. Cove, Spring, Horsehead and Shores lakes, plus Lake Wedington and Long Pool are located in the Ozarks. The St. Francis in the eastern part of the state has Bear Creek and Storm Creek lakes. In the Ouachitas, Albert Pike, Charlton, Jack Creek, and Knoppers Ford recreation areas are on the banks of mountain streams and small lakes. Lake Sylvia and Shady Lake are also popular swimming destinations.

Other swimming destinations here include city-owned properties such as Lake Leatherwood in Eureka Springs, Beaverfork Lake in Conway, and Hill Wheatley Park on Hot Springs' Lake Hamilton.