You could spend an entire weekend visiting all the parks facilities in Eureka Springs, and you still wouldn’t scratch the surface of everything the parks department has to offer. But if you’d like to try, we hope you enjoy our comprehensive guide to Eureka Springs parks.
Located just outside of town on U.S. Highway 62 West, Lake Leatherwood City Park is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. The park encompasses 1,610 acres, which includes an 85-acre spring-fed lake formed by one of the largest hand-cut native limestone dams in the country.
The dam, historic diving platform and pavilion, and several other park structures were built in the early 1940s by the Works Progress Administration, landing Lake Leatherwood City Park on the National Register of Historic Places.
The park maintains more than 25 miles of trails, including seven downhill biking trails. Built in 2018 by Rock Solid Trails, Lake Leatherwood Bike Park was the first true downhill mountain bike trail system in Northwest Arkansas. With two hubs, seven distinct lines, innumerable option lines and one of the best shuttle services in the industry, you’re sure to have an epic day at LLBP no matter your skill level.
“We kind of take Lake Leatherwood for granted, because it’s in our back yard. We see it all the time,” said parks executive director Sam Dudley. “But if you came across something like that in Rogers, you’d be very impressed.”
Dudley’s favorite thing to do at the park is hike. Before he became executive director, he worked in trails management for the parks department. Trails will always be his first love, Dudley said.
“You can go out there and do a four or five-mile hike, and there’s a good chance you won’t see a single other person,” Dudley said. “You just don’t get that in the bigger cities.”
In addition to the trails system, the park features the best playground in Carroll County. The playground is 7,600 square feet and includes multiple slides and swings. While the kids play, parents can watch from their cabin. Lake Leatherwood City Park features six fully furnished cabins, three mini-cabins, four RV sites with water, electric and septic hook-ups, four campsites with electric, 13 primitive campsites and one group campsite.
For fishing and boating fans, the park provides a paved boat ramp and a handicapped-accessible kayak and canoe launch. Lake Leatherwood is home to bluegill, crappie, catfish, largemouth bass and minnows. Remember, to maintain the lake’s calm serenity, there is a “no-wake” requirement when operating a motorboat.
The well-stocked Bait Shop has fishing poles, bait, tackle, T-shirts, stickers and an assortment of sundries for sale.
“We all need an escape sometimes, and Lake Leatherwood offers that opportunity,” Dudley said.
For those looking for an outdoor experience closer to downtown Eureka Springs, Black Bass Park is the right choice for you. The park began as a lumber source and spring water gathering location. It’s located down Oil Springs Road off West Van Buren Avenue, just below town in the headwaters of the West Leatherwood Creek valley.
“It’s super close to town and easy to get to,” Dudley said. “It’s literally the center of town, if you look at it on a map. It feels like you’re being whisked away into the woods.”
Black Bass Lake was created as a fire protection and drinking water reservoir from the abundant, pure springs in the upper reaches of Old Spring Gulch, including Sycamore, Standing Rock and Arsenic Springs.
The park offers hiking, biking and fishing. The three-mile trail system offers a surprising amount of variety for its size, ranging from rocky, bluff and moss-lined trails to easy strolls along the scenic shoreline. Each of the five trails contains several interesting geologic and historic features, such as Standing Rock (Standing Rock Trail), Roosevelt Rock (Oil Springs Trail) and, of course, the limestone-faced dam, which dates back to 1894, making it one of the oldest dams in the Ozarks.
The ’no motor’ lake offers great fishing and a number of hike-in or drive-in picnic sites are available. General parking is by the kiosk and across the bridge.
“It’s super open and a cool spot that offers quite a bit and a quick escape from whatever you’re doing,” Dudley said. “If you’re on a lunch break and you have an hour, you can sneak in a hike.”
Located at 532 Spring St., Harmon Park is the perfect place for families. The park features a playground, dog park and skate park with picnic tables scattered throughout. It’s right next to the Eureka Springs Parks and Recreation Commission main office, which is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“People come to the office sometimes and they ask, ‘How would we get back up to the Crescent?’ ” Dudley said. “And there’s 10 different ways. How long are you wanting to hike, because we can turn this into a quick jaunt, or you can explore the town.”
Encompassing 6.45 acres, the park was made possible in the early 2000s through a donation from the Harmon Foundation. The foundation donated $9,000 to provide local youth with a skate park, ADA-accessible playground and trails.
The park is at the center of the in-town trails. If you start the day at Harmon Park, the adjacent trails will take you through downtown Eureka Springs in a way you’ve never seen it before.
Walking around the Eureka Springs in-town trails transports you back in time. Whether you choose to wander downtown streets or follow the Harmon Loop and the Spring Garden Trails, be prepared for an enchanting walk filled with history, folklore and artistry.
From grand old homes to quaint fenced cottages, to the natural springs and gardens that have been revered since the 1850s, you’re sure to find something that captivates your heart. Take some moments to pause along the way on a bench, under a shade tree, or just stop and enjoy the views.
Dudley said the parks department recently updated the signage to make it easier to see where in-town trails are located. One such trail, called the Crystal Terrace Trail, is a spot where people gather to watch parades from above the street. Dudley is partial to the Magnolia Path, which takes you up to the Crescent Hotel.
“Having the signs up and having maps to go with it allow people to explore the town more freely,” Dudley said. “There’s some really cool spots.”
Edward C. Robison III
With more than 60 natural cold springs, you’re sure to find one that will steal your heart. From small caves to rock ledges to nooks and crannies, each spring has a unique charm. The most popular springs can be found along Spring and Main streets, but the majority of our springs lie just off the beaten path. Dudley’s favorite spring is Harding Spring.
“It just has an amazing feel to it. It feels like you’re in some kind of whimsical wonderland,” Dudley said. “For something that’s off the beaten path, Cardinal Spring is really pretty.”
The Eureka Springs parks system has something for the whole family. Dudley, who has young children, said he loves to take his family hiking around Black Bass or play at the Lake Leatherwood City Park playground. The trails at Lake Leatherwood have a lot to offer, Dudley said.
“We take the kids out to the point and hike back on a different trail, like we go down on Beacham and come back on Fuller,” Dudley said.
He’s thankful to see how many people love the parks.
“In Eureka, you feel like you’re truly in the wilderness. You get to experience things without constantly being interrupted,” Dudley said. “It just feels more natural and less manufactured.”
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