Route 66 RVs Blog

Queen Wilhelmina State Park

posted by route66rvs @ 10:21am, Friday 3 June 2011.

As the weather starts to get hot, we begin thinking of escaping to the cool mountains.   

High above the sweltering heat, Queen Wilhelmina State Park  is a cool island perched half a mile above the sea and a quarter of a mile above the surrounding valley.

Relaxing in a campsite here atop Arkansas's second highest peak has its own special rewards. 

A park campsite is your front row seat to all this natural beauty. Choose from 35 Class B campsites with water and electricity, and five Tent sites with water hookups. In addition, the park campground offers one Walk-in tent site. The campground includes a modern bathhouse with hot showers. A trailer dump station is located at the entrance to the campground. Campsites are available by reservation or a on a first-come basis. However, it is necessary to register at the park lodge before occupying a campsite. All sites are assigned.

The Ouachita Mountains are Arkansas's southernmost mountain range; to the north lie the Ozarks. The Ouachitas are one of only two mountain regions in the U.S. that run east/west.  While visiting Queen Wilhelmina State Park join the programs and guided hikes led by the park interpreter and learn more about this fascinating landscape. Learn about the trees and wildflowers that grow here.  Wildlife viewing opportunities abound here, too. Raccoons, deer, skunks, rabbits, and even black bear live in these mountains. This is a special place for birdwatching enthusiasts, too.

Visit Lover's Leap and take in the breathtaking view from this legendary overlook. 

The park is surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, so more hiking adventures can be enjoyed in the national forest, too.  The Ouachita National Recreation Trail can be accessed here at the park. Stretching 223 miles through the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma, this premier trail is enjoyed by hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, and hunters. It is a non-motorized, single track trail open to foot traffic and only partially to mountain biker. It lies primarily in the Ouachita National Forest administered by the USDA Forest Service. Shelters for camping are spaced along the trail.

In the park is a small playground for children. The park offers a volleyball court, too.

At the park, you can also ride the miniature train and play miniature golf at the Southern Belle Depot.  Admission fees apply at these two attractions.

The City of Mena, just 13 miles east of the park, offers a city park with two spring-fed ponds to enjoy.  In the heart of the park stands a historic cabin. A block from the city park is the old Kansas City Southern depot featuring a train museum and the offices of the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce. Several antique shops are located downtown. Near Mena are Lum & Abner's Jot-Em-Down Store, the Little Missouri Falls, Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area, and other area attractions.

The park hosts a many special events including the Butterfly Festival, the Mountainfest craft show and Christmas on the Mountain. Join the fun at the seasonal offerings hosted at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. With the park's panoramic mountain scenery, it's the perfect getaway to enjoy the seasonal natural beauty Arkansas, too.