Lake Fort Smith State Park

 August 17, 2020

Donna and I left on Monday, August 17 for a weekday trip to one of our favorite campgrounds Lake Fort Smith State Park. We reserved campsite #20 which is probably the most secluded campsite on the park. Site #20 is located at the end of the lower loop with only a wooded area in front of our campsite and far enough from site #19 that we hardly knew anyone was there. 

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions and lack of available park workers the marina and swimming pool were closed. The registration process was contactless and the only the park employees I spoke to were a couple of maintenance guys in their side-by-side. Funny that the guy on the passenger side gave me his "Covid-19 hoax spiel", then explained that the driver had just recovered from Covid-19 and was off work for 5 weeks. 

We got very lucky with the weather. Being the middle of August in Arkansas we were anticipating 90 degree days with upper 70's at night.  Instead a cold front (which is a relative term) moved through dropping daytime highs to the 80's and nighttime lows to near the 50's. It was even cool enough for a campfire. It was so quiet (and dark) one night at about 9:30 we got in the truck to drive around the park. We saw only one guy walking to the bathhouse and about four people at one campsite on the upper loop. Unlike some campgrounds there was little to no traffic and the only other people we saw were hikers, bike riders or the occasional dog walker. 

Got up early Tuesday morning and went down to the lake behind the campsite to fish. Caught a few small fish and enjoyed the sunrise and cool weather.

After lunch we took a road trip to Gentry, AR to visit the Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari. We had heard good things about the place and were not disappointed. There was over 4 miles of road through the safari. Most animals were free to walk up to the truck and wonder the roads.

Thursday we took a road trip to Withrow Springs State Park near Huntsville.  We took Shepard Springs Road and Mountain Crest Road (FR 1007) gravel all the way to highway 23. Along the way Donna took a picture of the old Mountain Crest Academy building from the early 1900's. 

We had a little picnic lunch at the day use area at Withrow Springs State Park. Had to mask up for Covid-19 until the crowd cleared from the spring.

Thursday evening after returning from Withrow Springs I put some baby back ribs in the dutch oven and finished them up with BBQ on the grill.

Friday morning I went for a short hike along the Ozark Highland Trail in the park. Lake Fort Smith State Park is the the beginning of the 253 mile trail through northern Arkansas.

Took a few pictures of the trail and deer on the trail.  Then walked back through the campground.

We left the campground on Friday afternoon and stopped at the visitors center to have a look at the Ozark Highland Trail sign. The parking lot was virtually empty. This was possibility the quietest and most peaceful camping trip we have ever taken.