With A River, Lake, And A Cave, Bull Shoals Is An Adventure For Any Arkansas Nature Lover
By Carol Ann Carson|Published May 22, 2021
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
With a cave, river, lake, and more there’s no ending to your Bull Shoals adventure! Every Arkansas nature lover will find something to do, whether it be on the water, by the shore, or underground. Have a day filled with lakeside recreation or pack your bags for a full weekend’s worth of activities! Let’s explore this beautiful area more and see what all we can find:
Bull Shoals is a small city peninsula along the northern border of Arkansas.
The city may be small but the lake is actually the largest in Arkansas! We're mostly focused on the local state park but that's certainly not the only place to explore while you're in the area.
There's plenty of gorgeous scenery to drink in, even before you reach the water!
This area is a favorite for motorcyclists, though really anyone with a vehicle can enjoy the scenery! Highways 125 and 178 offer plenty of curvy roads around the mountains and forest.
Multiple trails can be found around Bull Shoals but our favorite for families is the Bull Shoals Lakeside Trail. This little loop is a breezy mile long and is filled with interesting rock formations. For the map of the trail head here.
Bull Shoals Lake is connected to the White River for massive double feature. The lake is well over 90,000 acres and famous for its record-smashing bass population. The cold waters of the White River are a favorite for trout, too!
Come up for a day or spend the whole weekend exploring Bull Shoals.
The state park offers 100+ campsites as well as three Rent-An-RV sites. If you're wanting to splurge on a retreat, the lake has multiple resorts as well!
A short drive north of the state park will take you to Bull Shoals Caverns. Mountain Village 1890, a historical replica of an Ozark settlement, sits on the surface. The history lesson continues as you head underground and into the oldest caves in the nation! You can take a virtual tour and learn more about the cave by reading our full article right here.
Whether you're above or below lake level, Bull Shoals is sure to offer a wealth of adventure!
Before plotting out your Bull Shoals trip we recommend visiting the state park website as well as the city's official page.
What’s your favorite way to explore around Bull Shoals? Share with us in the comments below and feel free to share your photos to our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
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