PETIT JEAN STATE PARK -- On any steamy summer day, a swimming pool is a prime attraction at Petit Jean and six of Arkansas' other 51 state parks.
For visitors who prefer a dip in more naturally refreshing water, another 10 state parks have a beach for swimming and splashing.
Petit Jean State Park, 65 miles northwest of Little Rock, actually has two pools. One is reserved for guests at the park's Mather Lodge and campsites. But the other, located west of the visitor center, welcomes all comers every afternoon for a modest fee.
It's an L-shaped pool, with depth in the long leg running from a bit under 3 feet to just under 6 feet. The shallow end is a favorite gathering spot for kids and their parents. The shorter leg, 10 to 12 feet deep, is equipped with a diving board. A water slide and a basketball net furnish other options for having a good time in the water.
The pool opens at noon, leaving the morning free for Petit Jean visitors to enjoy other outdoor activities during the day's less sweltering hours. Hiking is a prime option.
The park maintains more than 20 miles of hiking trails, a couple of them also open to bicyclists. Four trails are rated as "easy," making them the best bets for a relatively short morning stroll.
Bear Cave Trail extends a mere quarter of a mile, taking visitors under and around huge sandstone boulders. Also a quarter-mile long, Rock House Cave Trail passes through a large rock shelter with American Indian rock art visible on the walls.
Canyon Trail stretches for a mile, following Cedar Creek's small waterfalls and deep pools past pines and sycamores. The Civilian Conservation Corps Hike & Bike Trail winds for nearly two miles from Mather Lodge to the park's campgrounds.
Two trails rated as "moderate" lead to views of Cedar Falls, one of Petit Jean's most photogenic natural features. Cedar Creek Trail, extending a mile and a quarter, provides an elevated view of the tumbling water. Cedar Falls Trail, a two-mile round trip, gets closer to the 95-foot falls.
To make it a day of water-focused fun, visitors can fish on Lake Bailey, where the limit of 10 horsepower on boat motors offers at least a modicum of tranquility. Fishing and pedal boats are available for rental at the boathouse, one of the rustic park structures built in the 1930s by the CCC.
If a swim at Petit Jean sparks your desire to splash, these are the other state parks that have pools open to the public: Crater of Diamonds, Devil's Den, Lake Chicot, Lake Fort Smith, Mount Nebo and Withrow Springs.
The state parks with swimming beaches include Crowley's Ridge, DeGray Lake, Jacksonport, Lake Catherine, Lake Charles, Lake Dardanelle, Lake Ouachita, Mississippi River, Village Creek and Woolly Hollow.
The public swimming pool at Petit Jean State Park is open noon-6 p.m. daily through Labor Day. The fee is $4 ($2 for youngsters 2-5). For details, call (501) 727-5441 or visit petitjeanstatepark.com.
A family season pass costing $170 is good at six of the seven state parks with swimming pools, as well as the lifeguard-manned beaches at Crowley's Ridge and Woolly Hollow state parks. The Diamond Springs Water Park at Crater of Diamonds State Park has a separate family season ticket price of $235.
Visit arkansasstateparks.com/things-to-do/swimming for details on all the swim sites.
Style on 08/09/2016