Most programs/events are free and will meet at the David H. Pryor Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Call the park office at 479.789.5000 or visit the Arkansas State Parks web site under Hobbs State Park events or the Friends of Hobbs State Park Facebook page or web site for more info.
Sat., August 1st, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Hobbs Hiking Club for Adults: Join us for our monthly hike for adults on the first Saturday of each month. Each hike will include healthy outdoor recreation, sharing some of nature’s secrets, and the opportunity to socialize. Bring a friend and meet some new ones! Dogs are welcome if they are leashed and not aggressive. The trail, distance, and time may vary each month, but fun will always be had! For the August hike we’ll meet at the Piney Road Trailhead and hike a total of 3 miles out and back on the Hidden Diversity Trail to a beaver pond. This is a relatively easy hike. Snacks will be provided. Recommended age 18+
Sat., August 1st, 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Outdoor Safety on Monument Trails: There are several potential dangers you couldencounter when exploring the trails at Hobbs or elsewhere. Spin the “wheel of misfortune” and discover more about these dangerous situations, the plants and animals to avoid, and what to do if you should encounter them.
Sun., August 2nd, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
The Rocks Beneath Our Feet Tabletop: The rocks at Hobbs can reveal a lot to us about what the Earth was like here in the past. Discover the types of rocks and how they formed and learn about the karst landscape at Hobbs known for its caves, springs, and sinkholes. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Fri., August 7th, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Morning Kayak Tour: Spend the morning paddling on Beaver Lake while guided by a park interpreter. Learn the basics of kayaking while enjoying nature. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent, and wear water shoes. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Space is limited to 10 people. Registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before the tour. Call (479) 789-5000
Fri., August 7th, 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Live Reptiles and Amphibians of Hobbs: These important creatures don’t deserve the bad rap they’ve gotten! Check out some live examples of these live “herps” found at Hobbs and discover their role in our ecosystems. Join the park interpreter in singing the reptile rap!
Sat., August 8th, 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Leave No Trace Principles on Monument Trails Hike: The choices you make while enjoying outdoor recreation can have a positive or negative impact on the park resources and trails. Join the park interpreter on an easy 0.25-mile hike on the ADA accessible Ozark Plateau Trail as we discover the Leave No Trace principles.
Sat., August 8th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Sunset Kayak Tour: Spend the evening paddling on Beaver Lake while guided by a park interpreter. We will learn the basics of paddling and enjoy the sunset on the lake. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Space is limited to 10 people. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent, flashlight, and wear water shoes. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before the tour. Call (479) 789-5000
Sun., August 9th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Butterfly Tabletop: Butterflies are probably the most popular insects, due to their beautiful wings. They play an important role as pollinators of many plants, and some are food for birds and other wildlife. Discover the butterflies you could see while exploring at Hobbs and how you can help these insects thrive at home. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Fri., August 14th, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Historic Van Winkle Walk: Join a park interpreter on this easy half-mile walk on an ADA accessible trail through the Historic Van Winkle Hollow and learn about the Van Winklefamily and their mill, the largest steam-powered mill in the state during the 1870’s. Thisarea is on the National Register of Historic Places. Meet at the Van Winkle Trailhead.
Fri., August 14th, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Outdoor Safety on Monument Trails Hike: There are several potential dangers you couldencounter when exploring the trails at Hobbs or elsewhere. Hike along the 0.25-mile, A.D.A. accessible Ozark Plateau Trail and spin the “wheel of misfortune” as we discover more about these dangerous situations, the plants and animals to avoid, and what to do if you should encounter them.
Sat., August 15th, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Morning Kayak Tour: Spend the morning paddling on Beaver Lake while guided by a park interpreter. Learn the basics of kayaking while enjoying nature. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent, and wear water shoes. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Space is limited to 10 people. Registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before the tour. Call (479) 789-5000
Sat., August 15th, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Leave No Trace Principles on Monument Trails Hike: The choices you make while enjoying outdoor recreation can have a positive or negative impact on the park resources and trails. Join the park interpreter on an easy 0.25-mile hike on the ADA accessible Ozark Plateau Trail as we discover the Leave No Trace principles.
Sun., August 16th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Ozark Chinquapin Tree Tabletop: Discover the story of this incredible tree that almost became extinct and what folks are doing now to try and restore it to our Ozark forests. Learn how you can help! A 15-minute program will be offered every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Sat., August 22nd, 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Live Reptile Meet and Greet: These scaly creatures don’t deserve the bad rap they’ve gotten! Meet our snake and turtle ambassadors and discover their valuable roles in our ecosystems.
Sun., August 23rd, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Mammals of Hobbs Tabletop: Do you know your mammals? Drop by this tabletop and take the mammal quiz to identify local mammal furs and skulls and discover more about this fascinating group of animals. A 15-minute program will be offered every half hour. Come and go as you please.
Wed., August 26th, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Moonlight Kayak Tour: Spend the evening paddling on Beaver Lake under the moon guided by a park interpreter. Learn the basics of kayaking, see what’s visible in the night sky, weather permitting, and enjoy the sounds of the night. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent, flashlight, and wear water shoes. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Space is limited to 10 people. Registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before the tour. Call (479) 789-5000
Fri., August 28th, 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Goin’ on a Bug Hike: Insects and other invertebrates are very important but are often misunderstood. Join a park interpreter on a bug hunt around the Visitor Center as we discover their diversity and learn how we can help them. Nets and bug jars are provided.
Fri., August 28th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Sunset Kayak Tour: Spend the evening paddling on Beaver Lake while guided by a park interpreter. We will learn the basics of paddling and enjoy the sunset on the lake. Meet at the Visitor Center and then caravan to the launch site. All equipment is provided. Space is limited to 10 people. Bring a water bottle, insect repellent, flashlight, and wear water shoes. Minimum age 9. NO charge for this event. Registration is required by 5 p.m. the day before the tour. Call (479) 789-5000
Sat., August 29th, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Karst Loop Monument Trail Hike: What is karst and why is it found here? Find out the answers on this moderately strenuous 4-mile hike. We’ll explore a section of the multi-use Karst Trail on this out-and-back hike on top of a rocky bluff overlooking Beaver Lake, stopping to peek into Page Sawmill Cave along the way. This trail is also very popular for mountain biking. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Meet at the Visitor Center first and then drive 5 minutes to the trail.
Sat., August 29th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Creek Critter Hike: A park interpreter will lead an exploration of Little Clifty Creek along the Van Winkle trail. We’ll catch crawdads, aquatic insects, and other creatures! If the water is high enough, we’ll put on masks and snorkels to help discover what lives in the creek. Learn how the “bugs” can tell us if the water is clean or polluted. Participants are welcome to borrow our masks and snorkels or bring their own. Meet at the Van Winkle/Sinking Stream Trailhead and wear water shoes or old tennis shoes for wading.Recommended age 5+
Sun., August 30th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Hooray for Hummingbirds Tabletop: Join us on our front porch as we observe the hummingbirds at our feeding station and learn more about these amazing birds as they prepare to migrate South for the winter. A 15-minute program will start every half hour. Come and go as you please.
