Hobbs State Park and Conservation Area
New Recreational Facility has Much to Offer in Northwest Arkansas
Sep 2, 2009
For many years it was Hobbs Conservation area. Eventually, as the population of northwest Arkansas grew, and as the need for additional recreation facilities became obvious, the conservation area was turned into a state park. Using monies from a 1/8th cent sales tax, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism took some time to do master plans, infrastructure studies, and recreational planning.
Hobbs State Park Facilities Based on Natural Features
Hobbs State Park, almost all of which is in Benton County, is Arkansas’ largest state park, covering 12,045 acres. The landforms are mixed, consisting of wooded plateaus, ridges, and valleys. More than twelve miles of park border is Beaver Lake, a 28,370 acre Corps of Engineers lake with power generation. Streams start in the hollows, and flow — when they don’t get lost as underground rivers or sinkholes — northward into Beaver Lake or southward into War Eagle Creek.
The geology is karst topography, with fragile limestone outcrops and many caves (many unmapped) and fissures. Vegetation is upland mixed forests of pine, oak, and some softwoods. The unique natural features and historic uses result in three State agencies having management responsibilities:
- Arkansas State Parks
- Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing, boating in Beaver Lake, camping, shooting, hunting, heritage tours, and a state-of-the-art Visitor Center.
The Visitor Center Provides a Good Starting Point
Opened in May 2009, the Visitor Center of Hobbs State Park is located about ten miles east of the city of Rogers. This 17,531-square-foot center is the place to start in the Park. It is barrier-free and has adequate parking for cars and RVs. The Center includes exhibits of wildlife that is regularly seen in the park, the forest, and historical human use of the area.
A unique feature of the Center is the cave exhibit. Built to give the feeling of being inside a cave, it includes examples of what would found in a cave, which are easily visible and highlighted by lights operated by the visitor. A future expansion of this will include an elevator that will take visitors to the lower level of the Center, still in the cave exhibit, and will give additional feeling of what it would be like to be in a cave.
The Center includes:
- Classrooms and meeting rooms for groups
- A twenty minute film, professionally made, that explains the park
- A small gift shop with items related to the park
- A nature overlook area with a man-made but naturally appearing pond
- A reading library and a place to relax
- Wi-Fi Internet access
- Restrooms and RV dump station
- Rangers and guides who distribute literature about the park and answer questions.
Hiking and Historical Trails Include Much Diversity
The park offers a mixture of trails that will satisfy the beginner hiker and the experienced. None of the trails are strenuous mountain challenges. Typical elevation differences on trails listed as intermediate to strenuous are only 200 to 300 feet.
- Van Winkle Hollow Trail is a half-mile historical trail, the site of a pre-civil war lumber mill and mansion. Little of those facilities remains today, but interpretive exhibits are available along the handicap accessible trail.
- Pigeon Roost Trail has four mile and eight mile loops. The trail is listed as moderately difficult, but is considered excellent for the beginner hiker who wants a challenge.
- Hidden Diversity Trail is 21 miles and multi-use, designed for equestrians, mountain bikers and hikers (but not motorized vehicles). Several sub-loops allow beginning and intermediate hikers to try a shorter hike.
- Shaddox Hollow Nature Trail is one-and-one-half-miles long. This is strenuous in places, up and down from ridgelines, through typical Ozark vegetation, and includes views of limestone bluffs.
Other Area Recreational Features are Available
Eastern Benton County and surrounding areas include a number of other recreational facilities that complement what Hobbs State Park has to offer.
- War Eagle Mill Area: This includes an historic, working mill, mill dam, period bridge, gift shop and restaurant, and much passive recreation.
- Beaver Lake: Available for boating and swimming close to the park. Fishing is considered outstanding on the lake.
- White River: Both upstream and downstream of Beaver Lake, the White River provides opportunities for all typical water recreation.
- Pea Ridge National Military Park: Only twenty miles from the Visitor Center, this Civil War battlefield park has much to offer.
- Mulberry River: An upland river flowing southwest from the park, it provides excellent canoeing opportunities.
- Buffalo River: A National River managed by the US National Park Service, this includes amazing vistas and natural landforms as well as excellent canoeing.
- State and National Forests: The Ozark National Forest, west and south of the park, are alternate locations for camping, hiking, fishing, and quiet getaways.
As a new state park, additional facilities are still to be added. The future will include expanded camping, additional trails, cabins, pavilions, and picnic areas. Less than thirty miles from a population area of four hundred thousand people, the park provides a nice change from city and suburban life, either as a day trip or a week-long getaway.
 |
 |
