Aaron Shanning
Fishing, hiking, and Bald Eagles at Lake Ouachita
Lake Ouachita State Park is home to one of the best fishing lakes in Arkansas and an all around beautiful place to spend a Saturday. Even is you're not an avid angler, this 40,000-acre man-made lake is consistently ranked as one of the cleanest lakes in the United States and you have plenty of spots for swimming, boating, and water-skiing.
First things first: boating. There's a marina at lake Ouachita where you can rent boats ranging from kayaks and canoes to full-on party barges if you're in a big group. Like all Arkansas state parks, the prices for daily boat rentals are unbelievably good. The marina also sells bait if you're looking to try your luck at a freshwater bass or catfish.
Hiking and bird-watching are the two other big draws at Lake Ouachita State Park. The park is a winter home for Bald Eagles and they hold regular Eagle Hikes that take visitor up into the woods to try and catch a glimpse of America's national bird. Also, don't miss the Three Sisters Springs, a trio of natural springs whose waters supposedly have healing qualities.
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