Petit Jean State Park


View State Parks in a larger map
Petit Jean State Park

The Basics

Petit Jean State Park
1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road
Morrilton, AR 72110

Phone: (501) 727-5441
Email: petitjean@arkansas.com

Directions: From Morrilton: Travel 9 miles south on Ark. Hwy 9, then go 12 miles west on Ark. Hwy 154.
From Russellville: Travel 10 miles south on Ark. Scenic Hwy 7 to Centerville, then go 16 miles east on Ark. Hwy 154.

About Petit Jean

Legend has it that a young French girl disguised herself as a cabin boy on a ship to secretly accompany her sweetheart, a French explorer, to the new world and eventually this mountain. She soon became ill, revealing her identity, and requested to be buried atop the mountain that now bears the name she used as she pretended to be a young boy, Petit Jean, which means "little John" in French.

Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas' first state park, illustrates this legend with its sweeping panoramic views, enchanted surrounding forests, free flowing streams and creeks, brightly colorful wildflowers, and a spectacular waterfall.

Cedar Creek, which flows through the park, has, over time, created beautiful stone bluff walls, Cedar Creek Canyon, and Cedar Falls, a 90-foot waterfall in the middle of this impressive canyon. Other unique features to explore include the Seven Hollows, Bear Cave, Rock House Cave, the Grotto and Natural Bridge, and unusual rock formations called Turtle Rocks and Carpet Rocks.

Available for one night to week long stays, the historic  Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park offers a wide variety of ammenities to make your stay more enjoyable. The lodge complex offers a swimming pool, gift shop, and full service restaurant with on site catering available. Rooms feature rustic pine walls and ceilings, satellite TV, clock radio, coffee pots, ironing boards and irons, plus a full bathroom with shower. No telephones in the rooms are available, however.

Twenty-one cabins are nestled in the woods around the Mather Lodge. Nine rustic cabins, five duplex cabins (10 units), and one honeymoon cabin with hot tub are available for your choice of stay. Each cabin features a fireplace, and comes equipped with a full refrigerator, full cook stove, cooking utensils and hardware, pot, pans, dishes, glasses, microwave, coffee pot, linens, and are heated and air conditioned year round. Six overnight duplex cabins, 12 units each with fireplaces, are also located near the lodge. These units, however, do not come with kitchens/accessories.

While you're in the park, don't forget to check out the Mather Lodge Restaurant. Located in the lodge, this restaurant provides a casual dining atmosphere with unsurpassed panoramic views of Cedar Creek Canyon, through glass walls that are eight feet tall. The restaurant also provides catering services in the park to day use facilities.

The park's visitors center offers guests an information center about the park and surrounding area, as well as a gift shop with camping supplies, local interest books, food and snacks. Also available are exhibits on park history, geology and natural science.

Fishing is available at the park on Lake Bailey, and a marina is available for boat rentals as well. Many trails are avaialble throughout the park, and many lead to breathtaking overlooks, as well as to the many unique geologic features that make this park so famous.

Features & Facilities

Visitor Center | Gift Shop | Exhibits | Meeting Rooms | Pavilions | Picnic Area/Tables | Tennis Court | Basketball Court | Swimming Pool | Caves | Restaurant | Lodging | Cabins | Campground | Group Camping | Restrooms | Dump Station | Marina | Boat Rentals | Fishing Pier | Airstrip | Waterfall

Activities Available

Camping | Hiking Trails | Canoeing/Kayaking | Swimming | Fishing | Cedar Falls

What's Nearby


Parks & Nature
Galla Creek WMA
Harris Brake WMA
Holla Bend NWR
Lake Dardanelle State Park
Mt Nebo State Park
Ouachita National Forest
Petit Jean River WMA

Trails
Lake Dardanelle State Park
Mt Nebo State Park
Ouachita National Forest

Camping
Lake Dardanelle State Park
Mt Nebo State Park
Ouachita National Forest

Lodging
Mt Nebo State Park

Local Eateries

Gear & Supplies

Other Attractions

Towns & Cities