Arkansas: Add Lake Catherine to Your Hot Springs Visit to Make It Even Better

Lake Catherine State Park is only a 20-minute drive from Hot Springs National Park, which makes it an excellent place to stop when making a trip to the springs. Tall pines and hardwood trees surround the lake and give it a high level of beauty not found at most state parks. If you go to Hot Springs, include Lake Catherine in your road trip.

This clear stream runs next to the Slunger Creek Nature Trail.

HIKING TRAILS

The park’s nature trail system includes four excellent options:

Slunger Creek Nature Trail (.6 mile)
Falls Branch Trail (2 miles)
Horseshoe Mountain Trail (3.5 miles)
Dam Mountain Trail (4.5 miles)

The nature trail is barrier-free and the first section of the park you’ll encounter when entering. We hiked the Slunger Creek and Falls Branch trails, finding the scenery for both to be outstanding. The trails are well marked and include vistas for photo opportunities. The last three listed above share the same trail head, which is near the park amphitheater and Camp Area C.

LODGING AND CAMPING

The options for an overnight stay include 20 fully equipped cabins with air conditioning and heating. The park also offers 70 campsites with most of them on the lake’s shoreline for great scenery and to make fishing and boating convenient.

Lake Catherine features a sandy beach next to a designated swimming area.

OTHER FEATURES

Lake Catherine also has a large picnic area with tables, grills, water and restrooms. There is a large group pavilion within walking distance of a sandy swimming beach and playground.

LOCATION

The park is at 1200 Catherine Park Road in Hot Springs. It’s about 12 miles from I-30.

Arla and Linda inspect a large, outdoor brick oven at Lake Catherine.

ARLA’S SHOCKING MOMENT

When I spotted the large oven outside the visitor center at Lake Catherine, my first thought was somebody could get burned here, and my mind didn’t stop with a scorched pinky. I imagined a horrifying Hansel and Gretel scene and wanted to share my concerns with the park superintendent, but Linda calmed me down. She pointed out that it didn’t look like the oven had been used in years and witches usually don’t like to go camping. I guess that’s true. Still, I kept my eyes wide open just in case.

Linda surveys Lake Catherine from the end of a fishing pier.

INDA’S TAKEAWAY

What I remember most about Lake Catherine is size of the park—its huge! It took most of the day for us to explore what the park offers its visitors. Lake Catherine has boating, fishing piers and trails for hikers (our sport). I normally don’t sleep at state parks, but I would probably stay in one of these cabins—after inspecting the interior for living creatures. My favorite feature of Lake Catherine is it appeals to a diverse audience with different recreational interests. My recommendation is to go there. I believe that you’ll find your favorite activity.

This staircase reflects the park’s rustic look created by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

DOUG’S HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT

Lake Catherine State Park was one of the Arkansas state parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Evidence of that work still exists in the park’s rustic CCC “parkitecture” such as the rock staircase and large brick oven by the visitor center. The CCC was a work relief program that gave millions of young men employment on conservation projects during the Great Depression.

Lake Catherine stands out as a jewel of the beautiful Ouachita Mountains.

GEE WHIZ FACTS

Lake Catherine State Park comprises 2,240 acres of land dedicated to recreation and environmental preservation.
A nature cabin by the swimming beach includes exhibits about the park’s cultural history and natural environment.
Canoes, kayaks, water bikes and pedal boats are available for rent at the park’s marina.

PARTING SHOTS: PRETTY FANTASTIC