Are We There Yet?

Arkansas beaches: Plenty of fun, and no sharks

Families enjoy the Lake Catherine State Park beach, where a red pole marks the depth of the water.
Families enjoy the Lake Catherine State Park beach, where a red pole marks the depth of the water.

LAKE CATHERINE STATE PARK -- The folks whose job is promoting tourism in Arkansas know how to put a positive spin on the state's long distance from the nearest seacoast.

"When planning a beach vacation, land-locked Arkansas rarely jumps to the top of the list," concedes the website of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Then comes the kicker.

"It's surprising to most that Arkansas indeed does have lake and river beaches, with no jellyfish, no crabs, no sharks. Instead we have crystal-clear waters surrounded by beautiful forest scenery."

No sharks, indeed. And the Natural State water more often than not is crystal-clear. As a further incentive, many of the sandy stretches are open free of charge to the splashing and sunning public.

Ten of the beaches are located in state parks, with two of the closest to metropolitan Little Rock situated on Lake Catherine and Lake Ouachita.

On a sweltering July afternoon at Lake Catherine State Park, a dozen miles southeast of Hot Springs, families are frolicking in the water off the crescent-shaped beach. Beach umbrellas and a flotilla of inflated rafts and toys add to the scene's conviviality.

More than a dozen picnic tables, shaded by leafy trees and a pavilion, overlook the beach. Just down the shore, the park's marina offers kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and water bikes for rent. Visitors interested in the cultural and natural history of the park can drop by the Nature Center at the edge of the beach.

Lake Ouachita State Park, 15 miles northwest of Hot Springs, offers a choice of beaches. Several wooden lawn chairs make for comfortable basking on the U-shaped beach near the visitor center and marina. Orange buoys mark the limit of the safe swimming area.

East along the lake, the second beach lies near the park's most notable historical feature, Three Sisters Springs. A native-stone pavilion shelters the mineral waters, which were first claimed to possess healing properties by a homesteader in 1875. The spring water was widely sold for a half century.

The Parks and Tourism website points out that 15 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes in Arkansas also have sandy shores of some kind. More beaches can be found on national forest lakes in the Ozarks and Ouachitas. And some municipal lakes offer waterfront swimming.

As for state parks, the eight besides Lake Catherine and Lake Ouachita that have beaches are Crowley's Ridge, DeGray Lake Resort, Jacksonport, Lake Charles, Lake Dardanelle, Mississippi River, Village Creek and Woolly Hollow.

Swimming pools are located at another seven state parks: Crater of Diamonds, Devil's Den, Lake Chicot, Lake Fort Smith, Mount Nebo, Petit Jean and Withrow Springs.

The concrete pools can supply hot-weather relief and fun as well, although they lack a jolly beach bonus: the tickle of sand between the toes.

Information on beaches and other swimming spots in Arkansas is available at arkansas.com/outdoors/water-activities.

Weekend on 07/23/2015

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