Lake Catherine State Park

 May 10, 2021

We were invited again this Spring to join Donna's cousin Jeanean and her husband Gene at Lake Catherine State Park with mutual friends David and Jane. We were able to get site 57 just across the street from their sites 54 and 54A. Sites 54 and 54A are two of the best sites in the campground. They both are backed up to the lake with a wooden boat dock between them. Site 57 was an okay spot but not much of a view and little shade.

Our first day we had rain after arrival and more during the second night. The weather was cool each night getting down into the upper 40s and 50s. Daytime temperatures were also pretty cool for May in Arkansas. 

Chillin' Inside During the Rain with Mother's Day Flowers on the Table

Below are a few pictures from around the campsites. We tended to hangout on the other side of the road in the lake side campsites.

Dock With Lake Catherine Power Plant in the Background

Thursday morning I took a hike up the Dam Mountain Trail. The trail passes over the swinging bridge that had been recently rebuilt after ice damaged trees knocked it down.  

The trail continues to the Falls Creek Falls where the Dam Mountain Trail begins its 4.5 mile loop to the top of the mountain above Remmel Dam. The trail is considered moderate difficulty with an estimated duration of 2.5 to 3 hours. Top of the mountain is about 300' above Lake Catherine.

From the trail I didn't find an overlook of Remmel dam. I guess you would have to bushwhack your way off the trail to be able to see the dam. I did get a few good pictures of the lake and the power plant from the top of the mountain.

Evidently, the racoons had a party during the night. I initially thought that Donna had left an empty Coke bottle at the back steps to the trailer.  Later I realized that there was one more bottle behind the trailer and a third under the trailer. All of the bottles had been removed from the ice chest and had teeth / claw holes where they sucked out the Coke. I'm just glad that they didn't have bottle openers for the beer.

Thursday lunch was at our trailer. We found a little shade to the far side of the site from our camper.

We hiked as a group down to Falls Creek Falls on Thursday afternoon.

Gene had to try out his new magic campfire flame coloring sticks, two one foot long pieces of 3/4" copper pipe with vent holes filled PVC garden hose.  He placed them in the campfire and after a few minutes they made green to blue flames.  I think they work a lot better than the store bought packets I have used in the past and they are reusable as long as you have garden hose. Here is a short video of the coloring sticks.

Friday morning we were on the road by 10:00 to head back to Russellville to shower, dress and transfer luggage to the Highlander for Addie's high school graduation Friday night in Heber Springs.