Take a hike! Don't just come to Beaver Lake to relax; get out and enjoy the view from one of the scenic maintained hiking trails.
Hobbs State Park at Beaver Lake offers several great trails for hikers to enjoy.
The park's Pigeon Roost Trail is an eight and one-half mile loop in a figure eight formation giving the hiker options of four mile loops or the entire route. This moderately difficult trail is excellent for beginners, scouts and families looking for adventure and scenery without having to travel a great distance. Campsites are marked with signs and each has a tent pad and fire ring. The trailhead and its associated parking area are located on Hwy. 12. The trail passes several sinkholes and some portions follow ridges overlooking Beaver Lake. Some of the primitive campsites on the trail offer views of the lake, especially in winter when leaves are off the trees in the surrounding Ozark oak/hickory/pine forest. Wild turkey, whitetail deer and other wildlife are commonly seen along the trail.
The one and one-half mile Shaddox Hollow Trail can be accessed from its trailhead parking lot located on Ark. 303, approximately one mile from the intersection on the north side of Ark. 12. The first half mile of this loop trail follows a ridgeline, providing an easy hike. A scenic vista provides an overlook of Beaver Lake. The trail then descends into Shaddox Hollow. The descent is rather steep in places. The trail winds along the creek through strands of hardwoods and native Ozark vegetation. Some interesting limestone bluffs are found along this section. After progressing up the creek, the trail begins the climb back to the trailhead. This climb can be strenuous in places.
The park’s new Historic Van Winkle Trail is a one-half-mile trail that leads hikers through a tunnel under State Highway 12 to the site of the historic Van Winkle lumber mill and home in Van Winkle Hollow on the West Fork of Little Clifty Creek. Here hikers can see the remnants of a sawmill and an antebellum garden owned by Peter Van Winkle during the 19th century. Beginning in the 1840s and continuing throughout his life, Van Winkle acquired approximately 17,000 acres of land throughout Washington, Benton, Madison and Carroll counties by filing for land patents and purchasing foreclosed land. The tunnel and associated walkways were designed to provide barrier-free access to the historic site. Wayside interpretive panels along the trail provide hikers with information about this historic area. The parking lot at the trailhead will serve as the access point for the trail. The lot is large enough to accommodate two school buses or recreational vehicles, and 18 automobiles. Public restrooms are located adjacent to the parking area.
Sixteen miles of equestrian/multi-use trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hunting opened in the park during 2005.
NOTE: Camping areas on Beaver Lake are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. To reserve a campsite, call (877) 444-6777 or visit http://www.reservusa.com
