Other Arkansas State Parks:
When we first moved to the Mid-South area, and people heard we liked camping, we began hearing about Petit Jean. I tried several times to get reservations, but they were full at the times we tried. That is always a good sign.
The visitor’s center where you check in for the campground.
A year ago, on our way back from CA, we were able to get a couple of nights. We were in a much more rustic section of the campground and LOVED it! It was incredibly tight to get our camper in and set up. (I’ll give you more info on which sections have plenty of rooms and which are more snug.) This spring, our family from California flew out for a visit, and we were able to take them here. So, two recent visits and I still feel like I need to go back and get some more time. And while I LOVE the campground life, I really think I would also enjoy going to a cabin and enjoying the views they are rocking!
The park is located at
The Visitor’s Center is new and a great place to learn about all that the park has to offer. Great place to start your trip.
History of Petit Jean State Park
Petit Jean was the first state park in Arkansas. This park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. Walking around in the Mather Lodge and seeing the old section of it (parts have been added on in such a way as to protect the older building) was so cool. I love seeing historic buildings preserved and appreciated.
Beautiful view of the canyon located behind Mather Lodge.
The name comes from a French legend about a young woman who disguised herself as a cabin boy to secretly follow her love to the New World. She fell ill and died on the mountain now known as Petit Jean. Her gravesite, Petit Jean’s Grave, is an overlook and one of the park’s most visited spots.
The trail to get to the falls.
To Do At Petit Jean State Park
Petit Jean is such a gorgeous 3,400-acre park. Unending nature: trees, mountains, canyons, and an impressive waterfall.
Lake Bailey
Camping
Pack your marshmallows and bug spray and begin the adventure.
This is why we discovered the park. We were traveling and needed a place to stay, so of course we picked this nature-surrounded park.
The campground has four sections. On our first visit, we made the reservations during a busy time and had to park the camper in a tiny spot. Make sure you notate the size of your trailer when making your reservations… we were able to get in, but it was a tight fit.
Loop A is on the north side of Ark. 154, next to Lake Bailey. This section is sites 1-31. It is shaded and seems spaced out well. We have not stayed in these, so I’m unsure how level they are.
Loop B, a few trees, but not much shade at all. Great flat paved sites with full hook-ups.
Loop B is sites 36-60. These are the updated sections. The sites are all newly paved and level, and our site had full hook-ups. The bathhouse is very nice. The only downside of this loop is the lack of trees. If you stay here, there will be no shade. Other than that, it is absolute perfection.
Loop C is the sites 61-92. These are smaller sites. This loop has a bathhouse and lots of shade. There would be for small campers or tents.
Loop D is sites 93-127. We stayed in one of these, and the trees are gorgeous, but they do make it a tighter squeeze for longer campers. The sites aren’t level and are uneven. It’s a gorgeous section with sites farther apart, and some of them have a decent amount of privacy. Great for tent camping. We did not have full hook-ups on our site here, but there is a dump station.
Yurts on Lake Bailey
If you don’t have camping equipment, you can stay in a yurt. (Check out my camping gear recommendations.) These are next to Lake Bailey, near loop A. The Yurt has cots, a lantern, a stove, and even a canoe. They have power and can accommodate six people. Enjoy a great lake view camping, and you don’t have to set up a tent… sounds like a win.
I also saw there is a fly-in campground with power and water. How fun that would be. Our aviation-loving family would get a kick out of that. It does have a bathhouse and has water/electricity. I can’t imagine flying in somewhere and camping. So cool. You have to call to make reservations. 501-727-5441
scenes from Seven Hollows Trail
Hiking at Petit Jean State Park
We love to hike. Being on a trail surrounded by trees and nature is a happy place for us. Petit Jean State Park offers trails for all abilities. Wheelchair accessible and trail runners will both find a trail for them.
View of the waterfall from the overlook
There is a “hike” that is paved and that goes right alongside the main road (Ark 154). We used this one a lot to go from the campground to the visitor center and playground.
Another easy trail is the Cedar Falls Overlook Trail. It has wheelchair accessible parking, and the boardwalk is well-kept. There are rails and benches along the way. It’s a great spot for people with all abilities to see the majestic waterfall!
To do the Cedar Falls Trail, you can park at the Mather Lodge. It has an amazing view of the Cedar Creek Canyon. This trail is a little more intense! The beginning of the trail from the Lodge has you going down into the canyon. It is rocky and steep. No handrails. No benches. It is absolutely worth the trek and has the most amazing view of the 95-foot falls! We have gone down it once in late September, so there was little to no flow. My family went down again in April, and it was gorgeous.
Natural Bridge on Seven Hollows Trail
I love a good waterfall, always. BUT… the Seven Hollows Trail beats all the trails! It is a moderate trail with so many gorgeous rock formations. It is BEAUTIFUL!! If you don’t see any other trail here, this is the one to check out. I kept asking, is this ARKANSAS!!!!! There is a giant natural bridge out in the middle and it is an absolute must see. The entire trail is a 4 mile loop! Don’t miss it!
All of these trails are dog-friendly.
We also enjoyed walking around the campgrounds and the visitor’s center.
Inside Mather Lodge
Other things to do:
There is a pool at the park near the campground. We haven’t been during pool season, so I can’t tell you anything about it. There is also one next to Mather Lodge.
There is a tennis court. We didn’t use it either, but I could see my family making this a pickleball showdown!
The visitor’s center is pretty incredible! It is worth a look around on its own!
There is a lake. You can rent paddle boats or kayaks. And we saw several people fishing.
There is a restaurant at the Mather Lodge. The view over the canyon is pretty awesome!
Staying at Petit Jean State Park
Camping (see above)
Cabins
There are 33 cabins, 21 of which have kitchens. Most are within walking distance to the Mather Lodge, and along the Cedar Creek Canyon! We walked in the area of some of them, and it would be such a great spot to sit with a glass of wine in the evening or enjoy the quiet of the morning with a cup of hot coffee. Ten of them are rustic-style cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. There is a cabin with a hot tub, and some are pet-friendly. Check their website to find the exact cabin that fits your needs. https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/petit-jean-state-park
Lodge
These rooms are also varied! Some are pet-friendly, some are ADA-compliant, and some will require you to be able to walk downstairs (no elevator). There are coffee pots in some.
There are so many reasons to get yourself to Petit Jean, mainly the amazing nature! So get out there!
VRBO
There are some cool rentals near the park that have beautiful views and hot tubs. As much as I love the state park, it’s a temptation to check some of these out.
View of the waterfall from the overlook
