Petit Jean State Park

 November 16, 2020

The last camping trip of 2020 took us to Petit Jean State Park. I drove to the park by myself on Monday to setup camp. As a bonus this trip was my first time to use the senior discount. 

We reserved site #13 in the AAA section of the park.  Site #13 is a pull through site with a good view of Lake Bailey. 

Donna drove over on Tuesday morning, then we drove together to Conway for an afternoon appointment. When we arrived back at camp later in the afternoon we cooked Dutch oven cornbread to go with the slow cooker beans I had going since morning. The mid-November weather was perfect with sunny days in the low 70's and nights in the 40's. We had a campfire each night.

On Wednesday we went for a hike around the park.  Leaving just behind the campsite we walked past the Rent-A-Yurt's. Lots of work was being done in the park. One of the yurts was getting a new skin. The new Visitor Center was nearing completion (if not already complete) with new sidewalks and bridges connecting the campground to the boathouse and fishing pier area. 

Wednesday evening we went for a drive around the park in hopes of catching a good sunset. We first drove to the new overlook near the west entrance of the park on highway 154. 

We relocated to Red Bluff Drive overlook just before sunset. The overlook is on the rock bluffs to the opposite side from the highway 154 overlook.

Thursday morning I took off on an adventure by myself to hike the Seven Hollows Trail. The trailhead is at a parking lot on the south side of highway 154 west of Mather Lodge. The trial is a 4.5 mile loop that returns to the parking lot with a 0.5 mile side trip to the Grotto area. Much of the hike is through hollows lined by sheer rock walls and boulders.

Grotto Trail

The Grotto

Tarantula on the Trail

Intersection with the Boy Scout Trail

Almost Done!

 

Petit Jean Airport is located just across Lake Bailey from the campground. We saw several private planes come and go from the airport. On Friday afternoon this Army Black Hawk helicopter made several touch-and-go's from the air strip.

We returned home early Friday afternoon from what would likely be our last camping trip of 2020 and parked the camper for the winter.