Summer is here and it’s hot outside, so come to Lake Charles State Park for a day trip or a weekend getaway and beat the heat at the Swim Beach. People are excited to get outside, relax with family and friends and enjoy the weather. Lake Charles offers programing, hiking trails, fishing opportunities, wildlife viewing, self-guided kayak and canoe tours, swimming, and a Nature Center. If your family is looking to spend a few days, we offer camp sites, a Rental RV, and a Rental Yurt which can all be reserved in advance by calling the park office at (870) 878-6595.
Lake Charles State Park Program Schedule – July 19th – 28th, 2013
Friday, July 19th
9a.m. – Reptile Hunt – Walk with a Park Interpreter along the Cedar Trail to see how many reptiles and amphibians we can find along the water’s edge. We will look for snakes, turtles, frogs, and lizards.
1:30p.m. – Skins & Skulls – Join a park interpreter in the Nature Center to touch, identify, and learn about mammal skulls and skins.
Saturday, July 20th
9a.m. – Kayak Tour – Join a park interpreter for a guided lake tour via kayak. We’ll tour the lake and see wildlife that lives near the water. It should last about 1.5 hours. Seating is limited so sign up at Visitor Center. $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and under 6 is free when riding with an adult.
12:30p.m. – Catch & Feed – Join a park interpreter near the Nature Center to learn how to throw a cast net. We’ll try out this bait catching technique and then feed what we catch to the animals in the nature center.
Sunday, July 21st
8a.m. – Bird Watching Hike – Join a park interpreter for a hike along the Butterflies & Blooms Trail to do some bird watching, please bring along binoculars and bird guides if you have any, but they are not needed.
Friday, July 19th to Sunday, July 21st
1p.m.-3p.m. – Nature Center – Come down to the Nature Center and see the wildlife we have on display for the summer. A park interpreter will be on hand to answer any questions.
Friday, July 26th
9a.m. – Kayak Tour – Join a park interpreter for a guided lake tour via kayak. We’ll tour the lake and see wildlife that lives near the water. It should last about 1.5 hours. Seating is limited so sign up at Visitor Center. $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and under 6 is free when riding with an adult.
4p.m. – Reptile Hunt – Walk with a Park Interpreter along the Cedar Trail to see how many reptiles and amphibians we can find along the water’s edge. We will look for snakes, turtles, frogs, and lizards.
Saturday, July 27th
9a.m. – Lake Cruise – Come along with a park interpreter on the Pontoon boat for a tour of the lake. It is an excellent wildlife viewing and birding opportunity. It should last about 1 hour and seating is limited so sign up as soon as possible. $7 for adults, $3.50 for kids 6-12, under 6 is free.
12:30p.m. – Catch & Feed – Join a park interpreter near the Nature Center to learn how to throw a cast net. We’ll try out this bait catching technique and then feed what we catch to the animals in the nature center.
Sunday, July 28th
8a.m. – Bird Watching Hike – Join a park interpreter for a hike along the Butterflies & Blooms Trail to do some bird watching, please bring along binoculars and bird guides if you have any, but they are not needed.
Thursday, July 25th to Sunday, July 28th
1p.m.-3p.m. – Nature Center – Come down to the Nature Center and see the wildlife we have on display for the summer. A park interpreter will be on hand to answer any questions.
Lake Charles State Park is one of the 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The park offers camping, boat launch ramp, a standard pavilion, picnic sites, swim beach, nature center, playground, restrooms and 3 bathhouses on 645-acre Lake Charles. Along with the visitor center and gift shop, the park offers three nature trails and year-round interpretive programs. For more information about park events contact the park at (870) 878-6595 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
