Waveland Park

It was time again for our annual trip to Waveland Park on Blue Mountain Lake. We had site #26 reserved for four weeknights. However, we made changes at the last minute due to the passing of a friend's son with funeral service planned for Tuesday. Donna remained in Russellville Monday and I took the trailer to Waveland to setup camp. I joined her back in Russellville early Tuesday morning and after the services we drove back to Waveland Park via Paris and Mount Magazine State Park. Saddened by the events of the week the trip made for a welcome distraction for us both.

Weather for the week was beautiful with sunny days and some windy conditions. Late on Thursday with reports of severe storms we packed up everything outside for a storm that never materialized.  We did get some light rain overnight that just made for good sleeping.

Blue Mountain Lake was as high as we had ever seen it. As tends to be the case, the Corp of Engineers failed to release enough water to prevent the flooding of roads and facilities in the lower part of the park. The normal spring pool level is stated by the COE to be around elevation 386'. When we arrived the level was at about 406'. The water had been so high just days before that the camp host said that the main road into the park had been shutdown. It appeared that water had been flowing over the spillway at some point. So the park will once again have to undergo significant repair.

We were high and dry at our campsite and didn't let the water levels run us off. Future trips may not include Waveland in the spring.

We have been enjoying the little remodel we did to our trailer. The U-dinette was removed and replaced with a table and chairs, then the worn out jackknife sofa was replaced with a longer (adult length) futon. The problem with replacing either was finding furniture that actually fit through the 26" wide trailer door.

I spent a good part of the morning on Thursday trying to find the Blue Mountain Lake Vista. I drove Petit Jean Mountain Road (this mountain is different from the state park miles to the east). The road was narrow gravel that went over Petit Jean Mountain at an elevation above 2400'. The road is the southern boundary of the Dry Creek Wilderness Area. Never found the Lake Vista, but I think I figured out that I needed to take Lovell Road from the east end as the west end is gated at private property.

Knowing that storms were forecast for Thursday night we made plans to go up to the Mount Magazine State Park lodge for dinner. When we left Waveland Park we looked up at Mount Magazine and could not see the top. Having been caught in the clouds on top before we changed plans and drove west on highway 10 to Boonville. Looking around Boonville we found Reid's Hometown Barbecue. I highly recommend their BBQ ribs and a fried pie for dessert (I had a chocolate pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream). 

Highway 10 East of Boonville

Returning to he campground we went up to the overlook for the requisite selfie. By this time the clouds had cleared and the sever storms had gone around us.

Site #26 was way to close to the neighboring site behind. I would not recommend site #26 or #28. It was less that 10' from our slide out to the neighbors fire pit. Also, two giant pine trees blocked the front side of our campsite. At least we had nice neighbors!

Waveland Park

 April 19, 2022

As we generally like to do we camped on weekdays at Waveland Park. Its always quieter mid-week so we arrived on Monday and stayed until Friday. Just one of the benefits of being retired. We stayed in site #36 along the lower loop of the park which was relatively secluded being the last site on the road and back in the trees. Many of the sites at Waveland appear to have been recently updated with new cooking tables and firepit grills. 

Blue Mountain Lake was very high when we arrived due to recent rain and additional rain caused the lake to rise even more during our stay. Per the Corp of Engineers the normal springtime lake elevation is 387', but it was around 395' for he week we were there. At this level the lower road around the park and the parking lot at the swim beach was under water.  

Kayaks in the Flooded Parking Lot at the Swim Beach

We drove over the mountain at the dam to see what the discharge looked like at Outlet Park. It was roaring pretty down the Petit Jean River. 

The water flowing through the tunnel under the mountain reforms the Petit Jean River at Outlet Park before continuing to the Arkansas River near Petit Jean Mountain.

View from the Overlook above Outlet Park

Sunset from the Levy near the Discharge Structure

Tuesday was waterfall adventure day! We first ventured south of Havana to Kirkwood Falls and then north to Big Shoal Falls near Paris. 

Kirkwood Falls was easy to access on Yell county roads 27 and 519. The road from highway 309 runs adjacent to several farms so Donna go to see lots of cows. We think a calf we saw with mom had to have been born just that morning. The falls were just off the road (no hike required).

Kirkland Falls near Havana Arkansas

The second water fall of the day was Big Shoal Falls. We headed north on highway 309 toward Mount Magazine. Heading up Mount Magazine we decided to follow Google map directions to the falls rather than the route from the Paris side of the mountain, We should have stopped when we saw the hand painted sign "Road Construction Ahead". How bad could it be? Pretty bad. For about 6 miles we followed the newly bulldozed, red clay Barber Ridge Road and Valentine Road. Thank goodness for four wheel drive and the engine skid plate. We finally came out on Spring Lake Road. A well maintained heavy duty county road that we should have taken to begin with. Big Shoal Falls can be seen from Spring Lake Road and has a half circle drive that crosses the shoal like a low water bridge.

Big Shoal Falls near Paris Arkansas

We flew the drone and got some some good aerial photos and video of the area.

A few pictures from around the campground. From these pictures you can see the closed roads and submerged parkinglot.

Donna Starting an Evening Campfire

Dinner on the Grill

Chillin' After a Day of Waterfall Chasing