State Parks and National Parks

Village Creek State Park

Village Creek State Park is located in east-central Arkansas just 40 miles west of Memphis. The park's 7,000 acres sit upon an unusual geological formation named Crowley's Ridge. The erosion from Village Creek has cut a long, wide valley into the eastern side of the Ridge.

Mixed hardwood forest covers most of this area, but the types of trees found on Crowley's Ridge are different from any others found in Arkansas. Trees such as beech, sugar maple, butternut, cucumber tree and tuliptree or yellow poplar, although abundant in the woods at Village Creek, are uncommon to the rest of the state.

Boardwalks have been constructed along many of the hiking trails to slow erosion of the dusty soil.

Lodging is available at 10 modern housekeeping cabins at Lake Dunn, which are fully furnished with kitchen utensils, linens, woodburning fireplaces, screened-in porches and grills.

Camping is also available at the park. Modern bathhouses are available and a swimming beach, playground, boat dock and launch ramp are located nearby.

Both lakes at the park, Lake Dunn and Lake Austell, offer great fishing and boating. Fishing boats, motors and pedal boats can be rented daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The lakes are stocked with bass, bream, crappie and channel fish.

The park's visitor center includes a theater, grocery store, gift shop and park offices. Adjacent to the visitor center, the Discovery Room houses exhibits on the geologic history and natural communities of Crowley's Ridge.

Hiking trails, including the Big Ben Nature Tail and the Austell Hiking Trail lead visitors through the park's most rugged and scenic terrain. Catch glimpses of wild turkey, white-tailed deer and small game and birds in the lush woods.

The park also includes a golf driving range with golf club rentals.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Photo by Tim Schick, courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.