21 State Parks in 2021 #12-#14 Battlegrounds
Three small battlegrounds make up our next three state parks. In 1864 three Civil War battles made up the Union’s Red River Campaign. The three battlegrounds can easily be seen in one day. There are no visitor’s centers, but they do have markers that help to tell their stories. Each battlefield has its own passport station for rubbings so be sure and bring a crayon or pencil to check it off in your Arkansas State Parks Passport book.
You can also use your cell phone to dial in to an audio tour of the parks. Be sure and look for the signs posted for information in each park.
#12 Poison Springs Battleground State Park
Just outside of Camden, AR on Hwy 76 lies Poison Springs Battlefield. This historic site has a nice picnic area, short hiking trail, and outdoor interpretive exhibits. The interpretive exhibits tell the tale of a confederate victory and union retreat on this site.
The hiking trail will lead you to a spring fed creek but beware of horse flies in the summer. They are awful here!
#13 Marks’ Mills Battleground State Park
This small battleground was the site of a confederate victory as the union attempted to retreat from Poison Springs. The Park has a small picnic area and outdoor interpretive exhibits that continue the story of the Red River Campaign.
#14 Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park
The final stop on the Red River Campaign is Jenkins Ferry. This final battle was to gain control of the ferry to move supplies up the river. The outdoor interpretive exhibits tell the complete story of the unorganized battles that took place on this site. The Park also has picnic areas and a pavilion.
The Park is patrolled by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and on the day we were there we met a very nice officer. He gave Morgan a citation for keeping the park clean and she was able to exchange the ticket for free ice cream at Sonic. We love visiting Arkansas State Parks because you never know what you will learn, or what you will experience.
Final Thoughts
These three small battlegrounds are not to be missed if touring Arkansas State Parks. By following the trails left behind, we can learn so much about our history. Not all history is pretty, but should still be learned from, nonetheless. I can’t imagine how these poor soldiers must have felt walking all this way fighting in battle after battle. History buffs will love reading about the stories these battlegrounds tell.
We hope you are learning something from our 21 Arkansas State parks in 2021 Challenge , and we also hope this will inspire you to take your own family adventures. Remember… Life’s Short… Take the Trip! Ready to start planning your own adventure? Email us at: amberh@destinationsinflorida.com
