Rustic Cabins in Clarksville, AR

Lake Wedington Recreation Area

• The Lake Wedington Recreation Area offers rustic cabins for rental, just an hour outside of Clarksville. Originally built by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, many of the cabins have been recently renovated and repaired, thanks to the Friends of Lake Wedington. This renovation project earned the Friends of Lake Wedington the 1997 Arkansas Heritage Award for Volunteerism. The cabins are primarily constructed of stone and native oak and nestled into the forest's dense collection of hardwoods and mature pines, all near 102-acre Lake Wedington. There are a total of six cabins available for rent. Each cabin has heat, air conditioning, a fireplace, and comes equipped with basic tableware and linens. No pets or smoking are allowed in the cabins.

  There are a variety of activities in the Lake Wedington Recreation Area. Hiking and mountain biking in the forest are popular activities. The lake offers opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating (up to 10 hp motors). Volleyball courts and horseshoe pits are fun for the entire family and there is a playground for the children as well.

  Lake Wedington Recreation Area
  Ozark National Forest
  15592 Lake Weddington Entry Road
  Fayetteville, AR 72704-9750
  877-444-6777
  Recreation.gov

Petit Jean State Park

• Thirty-eight miles southwest of Clarksville is Petit Jean State Park. It is named after Petit Jean, a French girl who dressed up as a boy so she could accompany her sweetheart as he explored the New World. Petit Jean State Park was Arkansas's first state park. The park offers nine rustic, one-bedroom cabins for visitors. Five of the cabins feature a queen bed, and four offer two full-size beds. Both types of units also feature a hide-a-bed sofa, in the living room. These stand-alone cabins are the original, Civilian Conservation Corps cabins despite being modernized over recent years. They feature full kitchens, complete with cookware, silverware, dishes, and glasses. Linens are also provided, along with satellite television.

  Visitors to Petit Jean State Park can enjoy the natural wonders of Cedar Creek Canyon, Seven Hollows, the Grotto, Turtle Rocks, Bear Cave, or Carpet Rocks. The park's impressive waterfall--Cedar Falls--is another popular attraction. The park is open and cabins are available year round.

  Petit Jean State Park
  1285 Pent Jean Mountain Road
  Morrilton, AR 72110
  501-727-5441
  petitjeanstatepark.com

Mount Nebo State Park

• Mount Nebo State Park is located just 21 miles southwest of Clarksville. Mount Nebo rises 1,350 feet and provides panoramic views of the scenic Arkansas River Valley. A portion of Mount Nebo was set aside as a state park in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps used native logs and stone to build many of the trails, bridges, pavilions, and rustic cabins still found in the park today.

  The park offers ten rustic cabins. These cabins are all one-bedroom cabins that offer additional sleeping space with futons. Each cabin features central air conditioning and heat and offers a fully-equipped kitchen, with cookware, tableware, glasses, and silverware. Linens and cleaning supplies are also included. A fireplace or wood burning stove, television/VCR combination, barbecue grill, and picnic table all complement the cabin's amenities. Some units even feature a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom.

  Mountain biking is a popular activity for visitors to the area. The 4 1/2-mile Bench Trail encircles the side of Mount Nebo. This fairly level trail meanders through the pine and hardwood forest, traveling past Fern Lake and rock work that was completed in the 1930s, by the Civilian Conservation Corps. According to the park, this trail is well-suited to a family's first mountain biking experience. In addition to mountain biking, Mount Nebo is one of only two state parks in Arkansas that offers hang gliding launch sites.

  Mount Nebo State Park
  1 Lk Dardanelle Saint Park Srv Road
  Dardanelle, AR 72834
  888-287-2757
  arkansasstateparks.com/mountnebo/