Lake Charles State Park
Excellent park for fishing, hiking, and enjoying the great outdoors
Check out the slide shows, pictures, videos, and information below.
What a pleasant find in the northeast corner of Arkansas. This park sits at the east boundary of the mountainous Ozark Region just where it starts to flatten out into the Upper Delta Region. The 654-acre lake offers excellent fishing, kayaking, and boating opportunities. The park has four hiking trails, swim beach, fishing piers, playground, picnicking areas and pavilions. The campgrounds are outstanding with full hookups and roomy campsites as well as rental units for those who do not have RV's or campers. If you prefer to stay in a motel, look in Pocahontas or Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. For those who like history, a day trip to two other state parks nearby Lake Charles can be taken in at Powhatan Historic State Park just 5 miles north of the park as well as Davidsonville Historic State Park just about fifteen miles away. Also, a few more miles to the east, there are two other state parks to visit: Lake Frierson and Crowley's Ridge.
For details about Lake Charles State Park and to make reservations, go to the Arkansas State Parks' Website.
Enjoy Pictures of Lake Charles
Hover your mouse over the pictures to see descriptions. The photos show some of the fun you can have at Lake Charles. Kayakers enjoy the lake and fishermen can fish from one of the covered piers or just from the bank. The campground sites are roomy and many are right on the lake. The visitor center offers an outstanding gift shop, sells live bait, and has a good selection of supplies. There are several trails for hiking, and one, the Cedar Trail, is an easy path around one end of the lake from the campgrounds to a fishing dock and tswimming area. This trail has lots of benches along the lake for resting or doing your fishing. There are three other trails, the White Oak Trail, the Mockernut Trail, and a short trail called Butterflies and Blooms.
Lake Charles Entrance SignThis sign is directly across from the Visitor Center. | Visitor CenterGreat Visitor Center with fishing supplies and nice gift shop and friendly staff. |
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Fishing Pier and KayakersA favorite fishing spot at the dock. Also, kayaking is a great sport on this lake. | CampgroundSites are roomy and many right on the lake. |
Our campsiteThis is number 70 in C section, probably the best one in the park. Loved it. | Campsites are RoomyWe set up our tent while at Lake Charles. |
Boat Ramp in the ParkWe were camped directly across the lake from this boat ramp. | Fishing Pier Across from Our SiteThis pier is next to the ramp and across from our campsite. |
Rental RV and trailheadThere are a couple of rental units for those who want to camp. The north end of the Cedar Trail is near the rentals. | Cedar TrailheadDick stands at the south end for the Cedar Trail. |
Arlene on Cedar TrailMost of this trail is concrete with a short dirt path near the campground area. | PlaygroundThere is a nice playground near the picnic and swim area of the park. |
Pines on Cedar TrailThere is another fishing pier at this end of the cedar trail. | Mockernut TrailThis trailhead is near swim area. We found it not as well taken care of as the other trails so didn't hike it completely. |
Butterflies-Blooms TrailThis trailhead near the Visitor Center is an easy, short trail. Resting benches along the trail let you enjoy the butterflies and birds. | White Oak TrailArlene stands at trailhead of the White Oak Trail. This is a little longer trail, but not hard. |
Dick FishingDick had a pet duck helping him to fish. | Dick and His CarpDick likes to fish for anything! He also caught a couple of catfish. |
SunsetDick likes to fish any time! He is enjoying the sunset while fishing. |