Queen Wilhelmina State Park

May 27, 2016 Queen Wilhelmina State Park

Donna and I took our first trip to Queen Wilhelmina State Park for the Memorial Day weekend. Queen Wilhelmina State Park is on top of Rich Mountain in western Arkansas. We left Russellville anticipating rain for the two hour drive. The rain held off and we had an nice drive on highway 80 west from Danville to highways 250 and 71 toward Rich Mountain.  Rich Mountain is the highest point in the Ouachita Mountains at nearly 3000 feet above sea level (the second highest point in Arkansas behind Mount Magazine). 

Queen Wilhelmina Lodge and Restaurant

Lovers Leap Trail

Blue Birds

View from the Lodge Toward the Campground

Dierks Forest Service Engine

The entire campground is circled by a little train ride. At first glance it looks like a passenger train. On closer inspection you can see the passengers sitting on the train.

Nana and Pops at Campsite

Being hardy campers on the first night we drove to the lodge restaurant for dinner. The restaurant would have a great view of the valley but it was completely socked in by clouds. Donna liked the giant couch in the lodge lobby. 

After having the surf and turf buffet we took a much needed walk around the campgrounds. There was a group of guys camped at the end of the campground that apparently came to skateboard or street luge down the mountain. We had seen them earlier on our way to the campground massing for a run from the top of highway 272. 

View of Our Campsite from the Highway

In the evening winds over the mountain picked up and blew in the fog (or clouds at this elevation). We thought for a while we were seeing campfire smoke blowing across the campground, but it turned out to be passing clouds. 

The next morning wind and fog was still around. Evidently it gets like this a lot based on the highway warning signs. Fog burned off later in the morning and it turned into a great day. We drove to Mena and had BBQ at Branding Iron BBQ and Steakhouse. After lunch we drove around Mena. We did some shopping for yard art and took in other area attractions. 

When we left Mena we drove out highway 88 the Talimena Scenic Drive into Oklahoma. Great vista stops along the Winding Stair Mountains. 

One of the Vistas along the Talimena Scenic Drive

We spent Saturday evening around the Queen Wilhelmina campground. Donna (aka The Butterfly Whisperer) made a new friend that refused to leave. 

Sunday we lounged around the campsite in the morning. Later we made another trip down the mountain to explore the Mena area. We even drove the the town of Ink, AR. We found that Ink was nothing more than a blot on the map.

We returned mid-day on Memorial Day. 

Queen Wilhelmina State Park is in a great location at the top of Rich Mountain with cool breezes and great views. I imagine that during the fall foliage change it would be spectacular. Queen Wilhelmina has a modern lodge and restaurant that is open every day. The campground itself is a little too closely spaced for our liking (we had site #38). The layout of the campsites to highway side are obviously the product of a government project gone wrong. Picnic tables and grills are on the driver side of the sites. This resulted in having to go to the backside of the camper to reach your table and grill. Our trailer awning when extended covered our neighbor's fire pit and picnic table behind their camper. The campsites on the opposite side are laid out correctly but still very congested. 

Petit Jean State Park

March 21, 2016 Brayden and I took a two day spring break trip to Petit Jean State Park. We could not get two consecutive nights in the same campsite given our last minute plans so I just reserved campsite 43 in campground B for the first night. The park was completely booked except for the overflow camping area. We stayed one night in #43 then packed up and moved the next morning to the overflow campground site #2. The overflow campground was actually pretty nice. It has water and power at each site, just no picnic table and no fire rings. So no campfires are allowed. Overflow site #2 was along the first row of sites that backup to Lake Bailey. Great view with an earth fishing pier that extends about 50 yards into Lake Bailey. Had I looked at the overflow area first I think I would have elected to just camp there both nights.

Brayden Fishing from the Pier on Lake Bailey 

Setup for Some Burgers on the Grill 

Fishing Behind the Campsite in the Overflow Campground

Dinner at Mather Lodge when you get tired of camp food is always a treat. Whenever Brayden sees a prominent rock he feels I need to take his picture on it to send to his mommy.

Brayden on a Rock at Mather Lodge 

After Dinner Trip Down the Boardwalk to Cedar Falls Overlook 

It was an exceptionally windy day on Petit Jean mountain, but the sunset was magnificent. Brayden said it looked like a rainbow because it had so many colors.


Sunset on Lake Bailey Behind Campsite

Sunset on Lake Bailey

Sunset on Lake Bailey

We got up on our second day and took a hike along Cedar Creek. We started at the Cedar Creek bridge and hiked west along the BSA trail (White diamond trail) all the way to the Pioneer Cabin. From the cabin we went down to the northwest along a steep creek back to Cedar Creek, then east along the BSA trail (Red diamond Trail). Although he led the way for much of the hike, my hiking partner was getting tired. To avoid some of the steeper parts of the red diamond trail we blazed a new trail through the woods to the Red Bluff road. We walked the road back to the Cedar Creek Bridge.

Brayden at the Cedar Creek Bridge

Brayden Finds Another Rock Photo Op for His Mom

One of the Bridge Crossings of Cedar Creek

Strongest Boy in the World Lifts Giant Rock


Creek Below the Pioneer Cabin

NO ... We Are Not Lost! 

Stopped as we left the park due to bad connection of trailer braking system. Thank goodness for electronic break controller telling me "No Connection" before we started down the mountain. Once again Brayden found a "big rock" photo Op. This time he let me and Sharky be in the picture too.

Pops, Brayden and Sharky 

Long Pool Recreation Area

March 4, 2016 we took a weekend trip to Long Pool Recreation Area on Big Piney Creek. Brayden and I went up on Friday afternoon and setup camp at campsite #23. Great weather with highs in the 60s. Donna and Hannah joined us in the evening. Jessica came up for the evening with Donna and left us with the kids.

LONG POOL RECREATION AREA CAMPSITE #23

Brayden and I did some fishing on Friday afternoon. He has learned to cast his own lure with very little help. He is totally focused as you can see in these pictures.

Saturday morning Hannah, Brayden and I went for a hike north along Big Piney creek looking for a waterfall that I was told about. Starting from the park water punp house we followed the edge of the creek on a narrow trail until it intersected an old road bed. Later we learned that we could have just followed the road bed all of the way from the park. It was somewhat of a forced march until we reached the waterfall and the kids were excited. But that is just part of the adventure when you explore with Pops.

HANNAH, BRAYDEN AND POPS REST ON THE ROAD ABOVE BIG PINEY CREEK

We reached the waterfall about one mile north of Long Pool Recreation Area. I'm not sure of the name of the falls but some just call it Long Pool Waterfall. It was moss covered about 100 yards across a flat wash from the creek. That morning it was running only a little. Given some rain it would be pretty spectacular.  Worth the hike.

LONG POOL WATERFALL

HANNAH AND BRAYDEN AT LONG POOL WATERFALL

Saturday afternoon we had lots of company when Teresa and Keith came up and later Jessica returned with friends. We got to meet the camp host. Seems that they are serious about only having two cars at a campsite and no parking off the paved surfaces. Returned home safely Sunday afternoon with the kids.