Lake Fort Smith State Park

Friday, September 30, 2016 Donna and I got away for a weekend at Lake Fort Smith State Park. The park is located north of Mountainburg, Arkansas off highway 71 in Boston Mountain Range of the Ozark Mountains. The state park is on the western side of 1,400-acre Lake Fort Smith that is the municipal water supply reservoir for the city of Fort Smith.  The park has a marina with boat rentals including Jon boats, paddle boats and party barges. Given that it is the Fort Smith water supply there is no swimming allowed.  Although we didn't spend any time hiking, the park serves as the western terminus of the 165-mile Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail. 

The park was originally built by the WPA, but when the dam was raised 101' the old facilities were covered and the lake grew to consume Lake Shepard Springs. The new park completed in 2008 is one of the cleanest parks we have visited. All of the campsites are well spread out and terraced with landscape block. We were in campsite #16 which was a class AAA site. The campground is relatively small making for a very quiet stay. 

We spent Saturday in town. I dropped Donna with Lynda and her friends at the Junk Ranch in Prairie Grove while I drove to Fayetteville and met John, John Faucet and Bobby McNeill for the Razorback game at Sassy's Red House.  BBQ was great with a Bushhawg for dessert and the Hogs destroyed Alcorn State 52 - 10.

Back at camp by dark. We made a campfire and roasted hot dogs. Finished off with S'mores.

This was our first chance to try out our new string lights. 

Sunday morning we took a drive around the campground stopping at the visitor center and walking down to the overlook. From the overlook you get a good view of the day use area.

Brady Mountain Recreation Area

On September 2, 2016 Donna and I took a trip to Brady Mountain on Lake Ouachita near Royal Arkansas for a three day Labor Day weekend. We left Russellville as soon as Donna got off work and headed to Brady Mountain. We drove through Morrilton and down highway 9 to Crows, then west on highway 5 to what we thought was a shortcut. We took Garmin's recommendation to follow Harris Road, a one lane road that before reaching highway 70 dropped down through a cobblestone creek wash. With no way to backup I put the truck in 4 wheel drive and drove the trailer and all through the little creek. Harris Road then popped up on the Owensville Cuttoff we should have been using down to highway 70.

We arrived just before dark and found site #46 on the point at the far end of the park. The park was full for Labor Day weekend with a constant line of boats coming in and out of the marina breakwater behind our campsite.

Saturday morning Donna put together roast, potatoes and carrots in the Crockpot to slow cook while we spend the day in Hot Springs.

Lunch downtown at a little Italian restaurant called Angels. Donna noticed the 3D art in the restaurant that I walked right under and took the picture below. It is an Italian lady flinging a table cloth out the of a window.

Back at the campground in the evening we enjoyed our crock-pot roast dinner then went out on the point to watch the sunset. 

Bubba and His Sweetheart on the Park Bench

Crystal Clear Lake Water

Weather was cool for an Arkansas Labor Day and we enjoyed the evening with a campfire. Power went out for several hours in the entire campground and surrounding area. We just sat around the campfire and enjoyed the evening. Opened all the windows in the camper to get ready for bed and thank you Entergy the power came back. 

View from the Brady Mountain Overlook.

Came home Labor Day afternoon through Benton to highway 5. Donna drove for a while around Perry on highway 9 to get a feel of pulling 4 tons of trailer and gear through the mountains. She is now qualified to tow anywhere!