Outdoor Adventures at Caddo River Camping and canoe rental

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The Little Missouri River is beautiful. Find a detailed route to the Little Missouri Falls at www.arkansas.com/outdoors/waterfalls/.  www.arkansasstateparks.com.

It is finders keepers at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, just a 30 minute drive from Caddo River Camping & Canoe Rental. The only public diamond mine in the world, Crater of Diamonds offers you a one-of-a-kind adventure and the opportunity to hunt for real diamonds and to keep any you find. You’ll search over a 37-acre plowed field, the eroded surface of an ancient, gem-bearing volcanic pipe. Since diamonds were first discovered on the site in 1906 over 75,000 diamonds have been unearthed. Visit www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com.

For larger RV’s needing full hookups, Daisy State Park, on Lake Greeson, is an ideal base camp for enjoying many  outdoor recreational opportunities of our area. Facilities include campsites, picnic areas, a pavilion, launching ramps, and trails for hikers, bikers and ATVs. Visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/daisy.

The Ouachita National Forest covers 1.8 million acres of land in central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma and features over 700 miles of trails. This Albert Pike Recreation Area, known for its “old swimming hole charm” features a natural pool in the Little Missouri River and is a starting point for the Little Missouri Trail, which winds along the banks of the river and offers outstanding views of waterfalls, wildlife, hardwoods and old growth Pine stands. Miles of trails in the area offer breathtaking mountain top views that can be enjoyed by foot or on a bike. The Viles Branch Equestrian Trail is a favorite for horse lovers. Winding Stairs Trail, 2 miles west of Albert Pike, is a favorite for many with its views of cascading waterfalls, impressive spring and fall colors and abundant wildflowers and you can find a detailed route to the Little Missouri Fallsat www.arkansas.com/outdoors/waterfalls/.  Novaculite outcroppings over looking the Little Missouri River make this a popular spot for photographers. For more information contact Caddo Ranger District in Glenwood, AR at (870) 356-4186. 

The nearby community of Glenwood boasts one of the top ten new courses in Arkansas and is part of The Natural State Golf Trail and received a four-and-a-half  stars ranking by Golf Digest. For tee times and information contact Glenwood Country Club at 870-356-4422, or visit www.glenwoodcountryclub.com 

Just down the road the popular Bear Creek Cycle Trail is a 37 mile trail open to dirt bikes and ATVs passing through Daisy State Park and Corps of Engineers recreation sites. The trail winds along the lake shore, climbing up and down wooded hills and crossing streams and various roadways. After a good rain, plan to get muddy! Also, check out Wolf Pen Gap Trail for ATVs and Mountain Bikes for the ultimate in outdoor adventure vacations.

A nice day trip from Caddo River Camping & Canoe Rental is Hot Springs National Park. The park’s natural features were first protected when Congress declared the area a “reservation” in 1832, some 40 years before Yellowstone became the world’s first national park. From prehistoric natives forward, people have been using the hot springs for therapeutic baths for millennia. While preserving an array of 47 hot springs and their watershed, the park, which is located in the business district of historic Hot Springs, also provides hiking trails, scenic drives, camping and picnic areas. While you are there, plan a visit to Garvan Woodland Gardens, a 210 acre natural botanical garden on a peninsula on Lake Hamilton, or Magic Springs and Crystal Falls – Arkansas’ only theme park!  For other events and things to do in Hot Springs go to www.hotsprings.org.

This ancient Indian settlement is an important archaeological dig that was  populated by Mound Builders over 1,000 years ago. Gaze backward into time with the audio museum and exhibits to learn their customs, ceremonies and way of life. Visit www.kadoha.com.

Enjoy an interpretive barge tour to watch the majestic bald eagle in his winter home. Marvel at the geologic formations that created the Ouachita Mountains and learn about the flora and fauna of the area. Call Daisy State Park at 870-398-4487.