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Five lakes in Arkansas together are called the Diamond Lakes.
Two of them, Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine are not publicly owned, though swimming beaches are available on each: at Hill Wheatley Park and at Lake Catherine State Park.
DeGray Lake and Lake Ouachita are home to state parks with swimming beaches as well, but they, and the fifth Diamond Lake, Lake Greeson, are largely managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Each of those lakes has multiple public swimming beaches overseen by the Corps. Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Lake Greeson
There are six swimming beaches on Lake Greeson operated by the Army Corps of Engineers.
They are open year-round, but from May to September, it costs $1 per person to use the areas up to a maximum of $4 per vehicle.
Beaches are at:
Parker Creek Public Use Area
Narrows Dam Area Public Use Area
Cowhide Cove Public Use Area
Kirby Landing Public Use Area
Self Creek Public Use Area
Arrowhead Point Public Use Area
DeGray Lake
Swimming at DeGray Lake costs $5 per vehicle.
Beaches are at:
Highway 7 Recreation Area (two swimming beaches)
Arlie Moore Landing Use Area
Caddo Drive Recreation Area
Shouse Ford Use Area
Lake Ouachita
Lake Ouachita has swimming areas where children under 16 swim for free, but entry cost is a minimum of $5 per vehicle. For vehicles with more than 2 adult occupants, the entry cost is $2 per person.
Beachers are at:
Spillway Public Use Area
Brady Mountain Recreation Area
Crystal Springs Recreation Area
Twin Creek Use Area
Highway 27 Recreation Area
Buckville Use Area