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Craighead Forest Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,375 Google reviews · Running trail in Jonesboro, Arkansas · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Craighead Forest Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Sizable park with hiking trails, a playground, sport courts, disc golf & a lake for fishing.
What runners say about Craighead Forest Park
“The bathhouse was clean, and the showers had great water pressure with very hot water—definitely appreciated after a long day outdoors.”
“Very nice place to bring the family or come alone to get some peace and quiet with beautiful scenery or even exercise whatever it is you are looking for.”
“Very nice place to bring the family or come alone to get some peace and quiet with beautiful scenery or even exercise whatever it is you are looking for.”
Absolutely breathtaking! The park is huge! My husband and son can't wait to do the mountain bike trails! I can't wait to go fishing and camping the next time we are up here! The weather was perfect for a stroll around the lake watching the ducks, geese and swans. The autumn foliage is gorgeous! So serene!
I only stayed one night as I was passing through only to visit a good friend on a trip from WV to TX. I stayed at the RV campground and had no difficulty backing my 41' class a into the spot. Full hook ups were available and looked to be in good condition with no problems. When I arrived it was already dark.
Beautiful park that circles a beautiful lake.. About 15+ miles of fun and flowy MTB / hiking trails with lots of fun features throughout for different skill levels. Lake isn’t huge, but is a nice spot for fishing, boating, Kayaking, or all of the above. They have kayak rental kiosk.
The parks were clean, and there's TONS to do. Loads of different parks for kids to play on. If you want to walk a trail, there's miles of it and every inch is brightly lit by motion activated light poles, and the layout actually makes sense. It's easy to get in and out.
Trail conditions & character
“Very nice place to bring the family or come alone to get some peace and quiet with beautiful scenery or even exercise whatever it is you are looking for.”
“It’s also very dog-friendly, which is a huge plus for us.”
“The playgrounds are kept up well for the most part and the bathrooms are as good as you can get as some people are just naturally nasty people.”
“The trail ranges from full sun to luscious shade and everything in between and the path changes between concrete and gravel.”
“Very nice place to bring the family or come alone to get some peace and quiet with beautiful scenery or even exercise whatever it is you are looking for.”
“The trail ranges from full sun to luscious shade and everything in between and the path changes between concrete and gravel.”
“The path closest to the water is for pedestrians only, and there is another path that is a larger outside loop for people on bicycles.”
“If you want to walk a trail, there's miles of it and every inch is brightly lit by motion activated light poles, and the layout actually makes sense.”
Plan your run at Craighead Forest Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitejonesboro.org
- Phone+1 870-933-4604
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–10 pm |
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