3 Amazing State Parks to Visit Near Sherwood, AR

Sometimes it’s great to pack things up, get behind the wheel, and leave all your worries behind while you commune with nature. At one of Sherwood AR’s beautiful state parks, you can make this dream a reality.

1. Pinnacle Mountain State Park

This gorgeous location is scenic and adventurous, with 15 miles of trails and over 7 miles of biking trails to give enthusiastic hikers and bikers a challenge with views to take your breath away. This site boasts many interactive programs by park staff, as well as being certified as a Trail of Tears National Historical Site where visitors can learn about the history faced by the Cherokees, Choctaws, Creeks, Seminoles, and Chickasaws.

If you happen to be a butterfly lover, you’ll be thrilled to know that this is also a site full of these beautiful winged creatures! There are checklists at the front desk that you can use to check off all the species of butterfly you spot, and leaving this checklist with the front desk on your departure has the added benefit of providing valuable data about the fluctuations of the butterfly population in the park.

2. Plantation Agriculture Museum

Perhaps you prefer to learn about the history surrounding Sherwood, rather than taking in nature. If so, the Plantation Agriculture Museum has what you’re looking for! The building housing this museum was originally a general store built in 1912 and is full of exhibits like Seed Warehouse #5 (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), a 1916 cotton gin, and a tractor exhibit.

There are tons of interactive exhibits for kids and adults to enjoy at this state park. If you want to try your hand at butter making, blacksmithing, or Dutch oven cooking, make your request in advance. Educators can also earn Professional Development Credits here, and group discounts are available to parties of 15 or more. (Organized tours are expected to take at least two hours, so plan ahead if you’d like to benefit from one of these!)

3. Toltec Mounds National State Park

This is one of only four National Historic Landmarks in the AR State Park System, and it is a culturally significant landmark sure to entice anyone interested in the history of AR’s original residents. At this park, you can see archeological research work being completed first-hand. As the largest and most complex of Arkansas’ Native American ceremonial mounds, this is a popular destination for schools, so plan ahead to visit this rare site.

There are two trails you can take through this state park:

• Plum Bayou Trail: 1.6 mile self-guided tour through the entire site
• Knapp Trail: 0.8 mile trail and boardwalk, viewing 3 of the 18 mounds that once stood on this site

Whether your goal is to get on a challenging trail with butterflies, learn about the early agricultural endeavors of Arkansas plantation owners, or explore the complex cultural background of prehistoric Native Americans, all of these are just a short drive away. Of course, you’ll need a way to get there. Visit Crain Kia of Sherwood for a reliable way to reach these parks today!

Image via Pixabay.

Posted in Community | No Comments »