⛳ DeGray Lake Resort State Park

Rank: 20

Location: Bismarck

Category: State Parks & Outdoors

Set on the clear, shimmering waters of one of Arkansas’s most inviting lakes, DeGray Lake Resort State Park is where the comforts of a full-service resort meet the quiet thrill of the outdoors. Just outside Bismarck, this park’s appeal is instant and elemental: pine-scented breezes, the glitter of sun on open water, and sunsets that wash the horizon in peach and bronze. It’s a place that invites you to trade hurry for hush, to step from a spacious lodge into a landscape made for play, and to fill your days with as much adventure—or as much serenity—as you like.

What sets this park apart is the balance it strikes between nature and amenity. The lodge rises above the shoreline with broad windows and breezy verandas, offering the kind of lake views that make you slow your coffee and stretch out breakfast just a little longer. An 18-hole championship golf course unrolls nearby, immersing players in a setting of gently sculpted fairways, tall timber, and glints of water that require both strategy and a steady hand. Off the greens, the park’s marina and swimming areas make it easy to take to the water, whether you’re setting off in a kayak at dawn, settling into a pontoon for an afternoon cruise, or wading into a sheltered cove on a summer day.

On land, a network of trails introduces you to the quiet dramas of the Ouachita foothills. Footpaths wind through stands of pine and hardwood, over carpets of needles and leaves that sigh underfoot, and past overlooks where the lake’s coves and islands string out like pearls. Birdsong threads the canopy, and along the shore you may spot herons working the shallows or watch as swallows carve the evening air. In cooler months, the forest turns crisp and clear; in spring, it lifts with fresh green, wildflowers, and the earthy smell of rain. Cyclists and runners find satisfying loops here, while unhurried strollers will appreciate short routes that deliver outsized scenery without much effort.

Of course, the water is the park’s heartbeat. DeGray’s broad expanse invites just about every kind of lake day: a gentle morning paddle, a lazy float punctuated by picnic breaks on the bank, or an active afternoon of watersports. Anglers are drawn by the promise of a good tug on the line at first light and the solitude that often comes with it. Families gravitate to the designated swim areas and easy-access beaches, where smooth stones warm in the sun and kids can skip rocks until their pockets are empty. As the day wears on, boats etch silver wakes across the blue; by evening, the lake settles into glass, stars wink on, and the water throws back a perfect reflection of the darkening sky.

DeGray Lake Resort State Park deserves a spot on any Arkansas itinerary because it makes a complete escape feel effortless. You can pair a morning round on a beautiful course with an afternoon hike, follow a day on the water with a good meal and a comfortable night’s sleep at the lodge, and wake to do it all over again with new views and new light. It’s an easygoing kind of luxury: spacious rooms, big horizons, and the freedom to roam. Whether you’re planning a relaxed long weekend or a week rich with outdoor activity, this park welcomes you into a rhythm that feels both restorative and alive. And because the setting shines in every season—from bright summer days to crisp fall color and quiet winter skies—DeGray Lake Resort State Park remains an evergreen choice for travelers who want the best of Arkansas’s outdoors without giving up the pleasures of a resort stay.