In 2023, we in Arkansas are celebrating 100 years of Arkansas State Parks. We have, arguably, some of the best parks anywhere in the United States. With this 100-year celebration, the Arkansas State Parks have started CLUB 52. This is how you get into the club:

Pick up your free passport at an Arkansas State Park visitor center and begin recording your travels. We have 52 state parks that are free to enter and offer diverse experiences.

With every state park you visit, you get a stamp, not to mention some memories that will last a lifetime. As you explore Arkansas state parks, make sure you get your passport stamped.

To redeem your awards, take your passport to an Arkansas state park visitor center during normal business hours (call before you go) and have them check your passport stamps and collect your reward right then for stickers and playing cards. T-shirts will be ordered and mailed to you (see https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/passport).

For us…

This is the perfect place to start. First of all it is Arkansas very first State Park created in 1933. This is also where we met. Gia had just finished up the Boy Scout Trail and I was riding my Adventure Bike around the north side of the mountain enjoying the beautiful day and overlooks.

For Me…

This is one of my favorite parks. With it being about 20 minutes from my house and my hometown, I have frequented this State Park quite a few times. We came here when I was a kid taking trips down to the waterfall. I even traveled with my cousin to the airport to see model air shows back in the 80’s. I (at 10 years old) even had to run up the mountain when my buddy jumped off a rock at the bottom and broke his leg. I would argue this is one of the most popular destinations in the state as people flock here to see the sights, hike the trails, see the waterfalls, and just experience a beautiful place away from everyday life.

Gia’s Take:

My familiarity with Petit Jean park began with my participation on the State Science Standards Committee back in 2014. One of our meetings was held at Petit Jean– a group of science teachers, science specialists, and other stakeholders spent a lovely couple days in the Mather Lodge, hashing over the wording of standards and considering whether certain items were grade appropriate. The meeting was held in early December, and the Mather Lodge was decked out for the season. I spent a few hours of free time while the weather was nasty outside curled up in a chair by the roaring fireplace beside a massive Christmas tree the park had decorated to celebrate the season. Other than enjoying the views from the Lodge, we weren’t able to do many outside activities because we were so busy. I added Petit Jean to my list of “places I wanted to come back to”. Fast forward a few years to spring 2022, I was reading an article about the top ten hikes in Arkansas. Seven Hollows Trail was number one and I was reminded of my desire to revisit Petit Jean. I called my niece to see if she was game to join me for a visit to Petit Jean in the fall for hiking, and I called the park to reserve a cabin in late September.

Location

Just south of Morrilton, AR and about 50 minutes from Little Rock just off Highway 9 is where Petit Jean is located. On Highway 9, you go west from Oppelo and you start climbing the mountain in about 8 miles.

Staying at Petit Jean SP

Near the lodge (Mather Lodge (24 rooms that overlook Cedar Creek Canyon)) are 33 cabins (21 with kitchens) located along the bluff with views of the canyon. Another cabin with a kitchen is a short drive away. Most of the cabins are rustic CCC — style with modern amenities, and a few are duplex designs. Upstream from Cedar Creek, a CCC rock dam forms Lake Bailey, 100 acres for fishing, kayaking, and pedal boating. Open in the summer months, the boathouse offers a snack bar, boat rentals, and supplies. The 125 park campsites (35 Class AAA and 90 Class B) are near Lake Bailey. Other options include a group camp area, a rally-style area, and four Rent-A-Yurts. The park also has an airport (see https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/petit-jean-state-park) if you need to fly in or out.

For me

It has been a long time since I have stayed in one of the cabins, but they are really nice and a few of them have amazing views out the back. It is not quite like other parks like Nebo or Magazine where all of their cabins are on the rim, but some are really nice.

I just recently found out they have Yurts and I really look forward to trying one of those out since they are right on the lake. I have camped here quite a bit. I used to put my youngest daughter, Candyce, on the back of my Harley and we would rent out a spot to sleep for a night or two. I had a pop-up camper I would pull behind my bike and we had so much fun together.

Gia’s Take:

I have stayed in two of the cabins. The one I stayed during the standards meeting was a one-room half of a duplex cabin further back from the rim of the mountain. It had two double beds and a kitchenette along one side of the cabin. It felt like a nice motel. The cabin that I shared with my niece was a bit larger, right on the rim, with views galore. The cabin had a full kitchen with table, a living room, and a bedroom with a queen-size bed and twin bed. It also had a screened-in porch and an enormous deck off the back of the cabin with a picnic table on the deck and a swing on the porch. Chloe and I had a wonderful time in the cabin, relaxing before and after our hike. The first night we arrived we had dinner in the restaurant in the Mather Lodge (delish!) and the next night we used the cabin kitchen to prepare a feast of rice and green beans and creamy stuffed chicken (double delish!). We loved staying in that cabin (so roomy, comfortable, and scenic), and I can’t wait to go back. I could imagine the second cabin perfect for a getaway for couples.

So much to do during your stay…

Two swimming pools, picnic areas, playgrounds, pavilions, boat launch ramp, tennis and basketball court, and an amphitheater are also on site.

(Gia’s Take: The gorgeous swimming pool by the Mather Lodge has amazing views and an interesting water feature at one end. My niece, Chloe, and I enjoyed a swim there after exhausting ourselves on our hike. I was so glad they kept the pool open so late in the season and didn’t automatically shut it down Labor Day Weekend. It’s a pretty pool in a pretty spot. We spent a lot of time in the water and then on the pool lounges, reading and chatting.)

Hiking

• Winthrop P. Rockefeller Boy Scout Trail — 12 miles, moderate to Strenuous
• Seven Hollows Trail — 4.5 miles, moderate
• Cedar Falls Trail — 2 miles roundtrip, moderate
• Cedar Creek Trail — 1.25 miles, moderate
• Canyon Trail — 1 mile, easy
• CCC Hike and Bike Trail — 1.75 miles, easy
• Bear Cave Trail — .25 miles, easy
• Rock House Cave Trail — .25 miles, easy

(Gia’s Take: Chloe and I spent that Saturday in late September completing the Boy Scout Trail. We had a blast but it was a warm weekend with temperatures rising into the mid 90s the day we hiked. It made for a sweaty day. The hike combined the Seven Hollows Trail with some other trails. Overall, a really special hike and Seven Hollows well deserves its top spot among Arkansas trails. Do the hike on a cool day– the hike is worth the effort but you want to be able to fully enjoy it and excessive heat gets in the way of that. Joey and I returned early in 2023 to do Seven Hollows, and we loved every bit. There’s even a spot with a balanced rock.)

Mountain Biking

• There are no mountain biking trails at Petit Jean
• There is only one bike trail and that is the CCC Hike and Bike Trail that goes from the campgrounds to the lodge

Overlooks

Rising 1,120 feet above the Arkansas River Valley, Petit Jean Mountain offers sweeping views and many overlooks from which to enjoy them.

(Gia’s Take: Even if all you can do is a day trip to Petit Jean when you hit all the overlooks, DO IT. Each is a bit different and jaw-droppingly gorgeous. This park has views for days.)

Gravesite — Petit Jean’s Gravesite at Stout’s Point on the mountain’s East Brow is Petit Jean State Park’s most well-known overlook. This is a peaceful place to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Arkansas River below and learn about the romantic legend of Petit Jean.

At Stout’s Point, you will notice a spot on the east side where a rock-laden grave is located. This grave marks the site of Petit Jean’s burial spot. Legend tells the story that dates back to the 18th century of a young French girl by the name of Adrienne DuMont. DuMont begged her fiancee, a French nobleman named Chavet, to allow her to embark on a journey to the “New World ” with him.

He refused this request so she came up with a plan. She disguised herself as a young cabin boy so she could travel secretly and the fellow sailors gave her the name “Petit Jean” (Little John). Shortly after arriving at the Arkansas River, she became very ill and her identity was revealed. DuMont begged Chavet to forgive her and her final request before she died was to be buried upon the mountain overlooking the river. Today you can see this infamous grave from Stout’s Point and read more about the legend of Petit Jean (https://pagesoftravel.org/things-to-do-at-petit-jean-state-park/).

From this point, you can view the Arkansas River, Lock and Dam #9, Blue Point, and Ada Valley.

The Mary Ann Richter Overlook on Red Bluff Drive offers views toward other mountains including nearby 1,350-foot Mount Nebo and distant Mount Magazine, Arkansas’s high point at 2,753 feet. Dardanelle Rock, Carden Bottoms and Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge are also visible from this overlook.

CCC Overlook — Further down Red Bluff Drive, the CCC Overlook is on the bluff of Cedar Creek Canyon. Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this native stone overlook offers views of the Canyon and the Petit Jean River.

Palisades Overlook — At the Palisades Overlook on Ark. 154, you can look down into Cedar Creek Canyon or across to the CCC Overlook on the opposite rim. This overlook is an excellent viewpoint for watching the sunset over the Arkansas River Valley.

Cedar Falls Overlook — The Cedar Falls Overlook is a vantage point high above 95-foot Cedar Falls, one of the most photographed waterfalls in Arkansas. A barrier-free walkway with wayside exhibits leads down to this overlook.

Other things to do and places to see…

Museum of Automobiles — If you are a car enthusiast, there is a nice stop while in the park. It has a large collection of privately-owned antique cars spanning many years. The Museum of Automobiles is also home to the only Climber automobiles that are known to exist. It is a walk-through, self-guided tour and is greatly enjoyed by many. There are also several car shows throughout the year that are held around the Museum. The address is 8 Jones Lane, Morrilton, AR and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The cost of Admission is $10 for adults, $9 over 65, and $5 for students.

Airport — Check to see when the airport will be hosting air shows and model air shows. These are amazing to watch and kids love them.

Petit Jean Coffeehouse — Right on the highway is a great little coffeehouse that serves us NWA own Airship Coffee. You can grab lunch here as well as other items. It is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed Monday and Tuesday.

Camp Mitchell — For more than 50 years, Camp Mitchell has sat atop the southern side of Petit Jean Mountain. When driving through from the east side, you will pass the graveside overlook. About a mile past the overlook, you will see a sign for the camp. I would highly recommend you enter and drive up to see the Chapel. It sits right on the edge of the cliff and is open to the public (as long as there aren’t any services or camps going on). We have visited this many times. (Gia’s Take: Find this little rock chapel with the walls open to the outdoors. You won’t regret it.)

History

Petit Jean State Park is a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Site. In the 1830s, Cherokee Indians along with members from the other Southeastern tribes of the United States passed by Petit Jean Mountain during their forced migration to present-day Oklahoma. Petit Jean State Park is located in Morrilton, Arkansas. You can view a portion of this historic route from the overlook at Stout’s Point.

Conclusion

Petit Jean State Park is an Arkansas classic, a natural and historic treasure that has welcomed travelers for decades. The natural beauty and ancient geology of the legendary Petit Jean Mountain inspired the creation of Arkansas’s first state park and with it our state park system. The park mirrors the mountain’s rugged beauty with its rustic-style, native log and stone facilities constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) beginning in 1933 (https://www.arkansas.com/morrilton/points-interest/petit-jean-state-park).

(Gia’s Final Take: Petit Jean holds such a special spot in my heart. Not only did I spend a memorable weekend with my niece but it’s the place where Joey and I met and have since returned to hike and explore and appreciate the views. A map of Arkansas is on my wall with a heart where Petit Jean is, and I can’t think of a better marker for its location. I fully expect this place to capture your heart as well.)