Petit Jean State Park

 September 27, 2021

Donna and I wanted to take an early fall camping trip so we decided to take the short drive to Petit Jean State Park. Campsites at Petit Jean State Park in loop A are hard to come by on less than one month notice, but we found three nights available for site #14. We arrived on Monday for a mid week stay as us retired folks tend to do. This site was close to Lake Baily at the northwest corner of loop A near the yurts.

After we setup camp we drove to the west end of the park on highway 154 to watch the sunset at Palisades Overlook. The overlook was recently remodeled with a larger viewing area built with concrete and stone masonry consistent with other structures in Petit Jean State Park.

Evening at the Campsite

Tuesday we had no real plans. We spent the day just hanging around camp.

Wednesday morning Donna and I went for a short hike to Bear Cave. Bear Cave trail is only about 1/4 mile long loop. The trail winds around and through some huge rock formations overlooking the Cedar Creek drainage. The rocks can be seen to the west above Cedar Creek from the back of Mather Lodge. 

In the afternoon we had Sherry, Kerry and mom come up from Little Rock for a cookout. I took mom on a truck ride around the Red Bluff Drive to see the overlooks of the river valley. 

Mather Lodge from the Bear Cave Trail

The Needle’s Eye

Panorama from the Top of the Boulders

Thursday morning before leaving we drove to the Petit Jean gravesite at Stout's Point. Although a little cloudy while we were there it's a great view of the Arkansas River valley.

We ended our Thursday morning tour at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.  Donna had to go see her favorite cows on the farm.

We had a great few days with fair weather. We missed much of the forecast rain and temperatures were a little warmer than the previous weeks cool spell. We always enjoy our time one the mountain. 

Dam Site Recreation Area & Campground

 July 7, 2021

We returned to Dam Site Campground on Greers Ferry Lake for some summer lake time. We arrived on a Wednesday evening for a four night stay. Brayden and Hannah came with us from Dardanelle and we got to see all the family from Heber Springs as well. With the expectation of rain overnight the first night we setup the camper in campsite M13, but did not put up the tent. Campsite M13 was well shaded and nicely separated from adjacent campsites.

Thursday I tool the steep walk down the back side of the campsite that lead to rock outcrops at the shoreline. Several folks were swimming and jumping from the rocks below us. On more that one occasion an exhausted kid making the climb back up the hill walked practically through our campsite. 

Continuing through the campground from where we camped in area M is a swim beach and boat launch adjacent to the Greers Ferry Dam. Due to high water levels the boat ramp was closed. The beach was open just not the road down to the parking spaces. In the pictures below you can see the water up to the parking spots. 

Brayden and I went to the Dam Site Marina to check on our reserved pontoon boat rental for the Saturday boat cruise. The young lady at the marina realized after I told her my name that I was Addie's granddad. I think everyone in Heber Springs knows my sweet granddaughters.

Friday afternoon we got to see Addie, Lily and Zoey (... and Matt and Sarah of course). Its always a special time when all my grands children are together.

After dinner we all gathered up at Libby Road Missionary Baptist with Gray and Jasper for fire works. Its hard to believe that we have two granddaughters driving.

Saturday we were joined by Juan and Jessica. Hannah helped with grilling burgers and brats for lunch before our afternoon pontoon cruise.  She used the extra aluminum foil to fashion a hat to protect her from aliens reading her thoughts.

We picked up our pontoon boat from the marina "Dam Store" early in the afternoon and kept it out on the lake for about five hours. It was a hot sunny day on the lake but the water in Greers Ferry Lake was a perfect way to cool off. Tubing is always good for a laugh and the kids had a great time.  

Brayden Jumping from the Boat

Before we went in for the evening we cruised the recreation area swim beach. We had seen the big yellow cigarette boat flying across the lake and caught it loading up at the boat launch.

Below are a few pictures from the lake of the area below our campsite and around to the Greers Ferry Dam.

Fed the hungry crew sandwiches and cleaned out the leftovers after we returned from our day on the lake.

Donna borrowed Hannah's aluminum foil hat. It didn't stop me from reading her thoughts.

Rain storms and high winds were forecast for Saturday night. So we packed up everything outdoors and battened down the hatches for a blow. Hannah and Brayden went home to Dardanelle with Jessica and Juan. We said our goodbyes to Matt, Sarah and the ALZ girls and they went home as well. Luckily, the weather man was a little off and most of the heavy storms missed us during the night.

The last comedy of the week was the inevitable trip to the dump station on Sunday. We were about the fifth trailer in line so we got to watch everyone in front of us and their unique attempts at sanitation. I thought Donna was going to gag! (Actually see did a couple of times.)