Hobbs State Park
Last weekend, we drove to Hobbs State Park. Hobbs is Arkansas' largest state park, and includes 12,054 acres in the scenic Ozark mountains, including a 36-mile hiking trail system.
Exploring Hobbs State Park is a great weekend trip. The secret I did not realize until we got up there is that it is ten degrees cooler due to the elevation difference. It was a welcome respite from the 90-degree weather.
Southern summers can be harsh to navigate outdoors with the intense heat. It was a huge relief to hike in spring-like weather. Be sure to pack up extra water bottles, or leave a cooler in the car to visit between hiking trails. Another good thing to remember is bug spray, sunblock, and a light lunch if you plan on staying for a bit. Some of the easy trails are paved well enough for a stroller, so as long as you are prepared for the heat, you can navigate some of this park with small kids.
The park is adjacent to Beaver Lake, which provides an important source of water for the ecosystem. On the state website, (click link here) you can find a list of the trails and click on the level of difficulty, and the state park you wish to visit. According to the state site,
"Highlights of this day-use park include a diverse, 36-mile trail system with hiking, ADA, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails, 5 primitive campsites, and a public outdoor shooting range (closed Mondays for maintenance). It’s the only state park in Arkansas to allow regulated hunting. The visitor center includes exhibits about the park’s natural resources, limestone landscape, and history. Interpretive programs and workshops are offered throughout the year."
In our case, we have young kids, so we found the "Historic Van Wrinkle Trail," which is not only paved but also the site of a few recent archaeological digs. This is an interesting place for kids to explore and learn more about as they walk.
Our first stop was War Eagle Mill. Functioning mills are a thing of the past, and only a few hundred remain up and running in the US. The interesting thing about this mill is that it has been destroyed several times, and it keeps returning to its community. The mill sells an array of flour and corn-based products and some local artisanal products on the second floor. The mill's third floor features a homey restaurant with amazing chili and cornbread at a reasonable price. If you forgot to pack a lunch, it is charming, and if you visit for breakfast, which is served only in the early hours, it would be great. It has an amazing view you can take in while you eat lunch, and the service is super friendly.
