First Stop Petit Jean State Park Arkansas’ first state park is a little over 4 hours from the Oklahoma City metro. Petit Jean State Park is an incredible place to start your trip and relish in the great outdoors. This is one of our family’s favorite state parks, always inviting us to explore its vast natural treasures and historic places. Lodging The Mather Lodge is a focal point of the park, welcoming travelers with an onsite restaurant and 24 rooms overlooking the Cedar Creek Canyon. Nearby, there are 33 rustic cabins to choose from, all with equally impressive canyon views. Lake Bailey , not far from the park’s visitor center, has a large campground, bathhouses and plenty of opportunities to fish, pedal boat or kayak along its pristine waters. For a unique lodging experience on the lake’s shore, consider renting a YURT (year-round universal recreational tent), which is a tall, round tent large enough for six people that comes complete with electricity, wood floors, lanterns, cots and a stove. The experience is definitely a step up from traditional tent camping! Hiking, overlooks and fun Many of the park’s trails are short and often boast distinct features to help keep kids excited to explore. Rock House Cave Trail is one of our boys’ favorites because they enjoy hopping to and from the “turtle rocks” as they make their way to a large rock shelter and premier spot for viewing ancient Native American rock art. Families can also enjoy hiking from Mather Lodge to the spectacular 95-foot Cedar Falls , where massive boulders and towering trees adorn this trail that descends into the canyon. Another favorite is Bear Cave Trail ; while it doesn’t actually have a cave, kids of all ages still love climbing above and below the gigantic sandstone boulders that beckon exploration through secret passages. Seven Hollows Loop Trail offers beautiful scenery, creek crossings and a quiet grotto with a small waterfall. While the length of the entire trail may deter some families with young children, there is a truly remarkable natural bridge just 1.3 miles from the trailhead when hiked clockwise. Shortening the trip to this marker is still a great way to enjoy this popular trail! Petit Jean State Park sits about 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River Valley, lending to the sweeping views one can enjoy at various overlooks. Stout’s Point overlook is a peaceful spot to learn more about legendary Petit Jean, a young French girl who disguised herself as a boy so she could join her fiancé on a voyage to the “New World,” which ultimately brought her to the area. She thought the views here were so breathtaking that she actually chose it as her final resting place. Also from this overlook, a portion of the Trail of Tears can be seen, designating the park as a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Site. After a day of hiking, let the horses take you down the trail at Barnyard Friends and Stables , which sits atop Petit Jean Mountain. Families can enjoy 30 to 50 minute horseback rides (for ages 5 and up), hay rides or pony rides for the youngest travelers. The barnyard also allows guests to hand-feed and pet a variety of farm animals, all eager to keep you company and put a smile on your face.
(ABOVE) HIKE TO CEDAR FALLS FOR SPECTACULAR VIEWS. (BELOW) KIDS ESPECIALLY ENJOY CLIMBING BOULDERS AND EXPLORING SECRET PASSAGEWAYS IN PETIT JEAN STATE PARK.
Local eats While in the park, consider popping in to Petit Jean Coffeehouse , a cute little A-frame café with rave-worthy scones and specialty coffee drinks. They also have brown-bag lunches to grab for a day on the trail. For dinner options, check out Elia’s Mexican Grill outside the park in the city of Morrilton, just 25 minutes away. This family-owned restaurant offers up fresh taco salads and all the classic Mexican dishes your family will be craving after a busy day on the mountain. Besides delicious food, the restaurant gets consistent applause for the friendly, attentive staff.
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAR-APR 2022 37
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