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Lake Fort Smith State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,335 Google reviews · Running trail in Mountainburg, Arkansas · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Lake Fort Smith State 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.
In a scenic Ozark valley, this lakeside setting offers camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking & cabins.
What runners say about Lake Fort Smith State Park
“Inside, the huge and spotlessly clean cabin was a soaking Jacuzzi tub that was perfect for unwinding after hiking and equipped with nice toiletries that added a touch of luxury.”
“The beautiful surroundings and great views were picturesque and made every moment feel special.”
“It far exceeded my expectations, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful and pampered getaway.”
Cabins! I recently stayed here and it completely blew me away. The beautiful surroundings and great views were picturesque and made every moment feel special. Inside, the huge and spotlessly clean cabin was a soaking Jacuzzi tub that was perfect for unwinding after hiking and equipped with nice toiletries that added a…
Wonderful State Park, it's a great starting point for the Ozark Highland Trail. Beautiful lake for kayaking. Try the beautiful trails, you can hike or bike year round. Fun swimming pool and slides for the hot summer day! The day-use area is clean and organized, it's a really well maintained and high quality State Park.
We visited Lake Fort Smith State Park in July and it was very tranquil and quiet. It may not have been as busy because of the heat, but I'll take it! Since you can't cool down by swimming in the lake and the pool is only open half the week, it seems like it would be best to visit in the fall.
Wonderful experience on a day trip to the park. Facilities were VERY well maintained and ready for the upcoming season. Also FREE as are all Arkansas State Parks. Only a fee for overnight camping. Took some time to check the various areas available for visitors.
Trail conditions & character
“The beautiful surroundings and great views were picturesque and made every moment feel special.”
“It far exceeded my expectations, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful and pampered getaway.”
“It was about 200$ but it came with 2 king size bedrooms 2 large bathrooms(one w/shower & one w/jacuzzi tub) a huge back deck and nice outdoor table.”
Plan your run at Lake Fort Smith State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Phone+1 479-369-2469
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–5 pm |
Running trails near Mountainburg
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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