21 State Parks in 2021 – Part 5
Devil’s Den State Park is best known for its’ hiking trails, caves, and camping. It has 11 hiking trails, a playground and picnic area, kayak and paddle boat rentals, a seasonal restaurant, cabins, campsites, and a swimming pool. This is our #5 park in the 21 State Parks in 2021 Challenge.
Located in West Fork, AR, just off Lee Creek, this park is popular for kayaking and fishing.
State Park Hiking Trails
There are too many good trails to enjoy in just a single day. We have enjoyed the Yellow Rock Trail in the past, but due to time we didn’t go on it today. This trail is popular among visitors and has breathtaking views. Fossil flats is a good mountain biking trail.
Today we will focus on one of our favorites and one easy one.
The Devil’s Den Trail
Our favorite hiking trail at this park is the Devil’s Den Trail. You can park behind the visitor center and walk across the street to the trail head, or park near the creek at the bottom trail head. We found it easier to park at the top near the visitor’s center because it is less of a hike to get to the features on the trail. When you get to the fork in the trail we suggest going right. The hike will be less steep on the way back out by starting this direction.
If you are photographing this trail as you go, you will not need a zoom lens. The trail can get narrow in sections and a wide lens is better for shooting this geographical area. This trail has beautiful rock formations, caves, and waterfalls that make for amazing photographs.
Along this trail you will find several locations of interest. The Devil’s Chimney is a large rock formation.
The Devil’s Den Cave, currently closed to the public, is a home to many bats.
Crevices found on the trail and have a waterfall just off the main trail. When you hear the falls and see an unofficial side trail you are going the right way. Certainly, worth the detour.
The last must-see feature on this trail is Twin Falls. The main trail runs behind one of the waterfalls and you might even get a little wet. There is a wooden bridge that runs in front of the second waterfall. Caution: May be slippery when wet.
The Woody Plant Trail
A short, easy trail at this park is the Woody Plant Trail. The trail head is found near the campsites or just off the Lake Trail. It is a short, flat trail that has nice views of the creek, pretty flowers, and plants.
The swinging bridge is a fun thing to do. Once across the bridge you will find the Lake Trail to the right and the Woody Plant Trail is to the Left. Near the bridge is a popular spot for kayakers to set out into the creek.
State Park Caves
The thing that sets this park apart from the rest is the caves. The caves are currently closed to the public to protect the bats, but the entrances can still be seen when hiking the Devil’s Den Trail. The park offers informational programs about the bats at night.
The Devil’s Icebox is a large cave, but is currently closed to the public. You can still stand outside the entrance and cool off during a hot summer day.
Some of the cave areas and trails were even filmed recently and can be seen in the HBO series True Detective Season 3.
Camping and picnicking
This is a popular area for RV campers but be warned. you will need to use the West Fork exit 53 off I-49 instead of the Winslow exit 45. The Winslow way in is very winding and has several switchbacks. It is extremely hard for large RVs and trailers to go down.
You will find several picnic tables spread out along the creek and near the spillway. It is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy a picnic for the day.
The beautiful rockwork was built by the CCC in the 1930s and can be enjoyed throughout the park.
Final Thoughts
This park is a must do for anyone who enjoys hiking and camping. There are so many sites to enjoy just on the Devil’s Den Trail alone. Don’t forget your camera as there are many beautiful birds, water features, and rock formations to see in this park. It is family friendly and lots of fun year-round.
Were do you think we should go next for Park #6 in the 21 Arkansas State parks in 2021 Challenge ? Remember… Life’s Short… Take the Trip!
