Things to Do at Lake Catherine

Lake Catherine State Park: The Anchor of On-Site Activity

Lake Catherine State Park covers 2,180 acres on the lake's south shore. For residents of adjacent communities, it functions as a permanent backyard: trails, swimming, horseback riding, and interpretive programs without leaving the neighborhood. The park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and several structures from that era — three stone-and-wood cabins, a former concessions building, and a bridge — are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This gives the park a genuine character that most modern recreational facilities simply don't have.

Hiking: Four Trails, One Waterfall

The state park offers approximately 10 miles of hiking trail across four main routes:

• Falls Branch Trail: The most popular trail on the property. Leads to Falls Creek Falls, a waterfall fed by a Falls Creek tributary of Lake Catherine. The hike is moderate and suitable for most fitness levels. The waterfall is the park's signature natural feature.
• Dam Mountain Trail: A 3.6-mile rugged loop crossing hardwood forest, streams, and providing a ridge overlook. Rated steep and challenging in sections. The trail passes near Falls Creek Falls (above the falls, with a spur trail down to the base) before summiting Dam Mountain.
• Horseshoe Mountain Trail: A 3-mile route along rocky ridges and grassy knolls. More exposed terrain than the forested lower trails.
• Slunger Creek Nature Trail: A half-mile paved, barrier-free loop alongside the creek. ADA-accessible with benches. Suitable for visitors with mobility limitations, strollers, and families with young children.

All trails are open year-round. The lower trails near the waterfall and creek are especially pleasant in spring and fall when the mountain foliage provides shade or color. Summer hiking is best done before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid the midday heat.

Swimming: State Park Beach

The state park has a designated swimming area with a sandy beach near the visitor center. The beach is unguarded — swim at your own risk. The park's historically clear water (one of the reasons the lake is called a Crystal Lake in some descriptions) makes it popular for swimming in the summer season. The beach is accessible to day users without a fee.

Horseback Riding

Guided trail horse rides are available at the state park from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Sunday through Saturday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Reservations are recommended: call 501-262-0777. This is one of the less commonly known amenities at Lake Catherine that Diamondhead-area residents and park visitors can take advantage of without traveling elsewhere.

Kayaking and Paddleboarding

The state park marina rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards year-round, even when the full marina is closed for motorized boat rentals. This makes Catherine one of the few lakes in the region where non-motorized water recreation is accessible to visitors who don't own boats. Paddling in Catherine's coves and along the wooded shoreline near the state park offers a different experience from the open-water lake: more wildlife, quieter conditions, and views of the CCC-era park structures from the water.

Golf at Diamondhead

The Diamondhead Golf Club operates an 18-hole, par-72 championship course with a PGA sanctioning. The course is open to Diamondhead community members and their guests, with a pro shop, driving range, cart rentals, and the 19th Hole restaurant. For residents, this is an on-site amenity that eliminates the need to drive to public courses in Hot Springs for regular golf. The course layout works with the terrain rather than against it, and the mountain setting gives it a different feel from flatland Arkansas golf.

Hot Springs: Regional Attractions Within 20 Minutes

The Hot Springs area provides a depth of cultural and recreational attraction that most lake communities of this size simply cannot access. All of the following are within approximately 15–25 minutes of the Diamondhead area:

• Hot Springs National Park and Bathhouse Row: The historic district of 19th-century bathhouses, several of which have been restored and operate as spa facilities. The Fordyce Bathhouse is a free museum. The Superior Bathhouse Brewery operates within the national park boundary.
• Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort: Live thoroughbred horse racing at one of the oldest tracks in the country. The Arkansas Derby draws regional and national attention. The facility also operates year-round casino gaming.
• Magic Springs Theme and Water Park: Regional amusement and water park in Hot Springs, operating seasonally with summer concerts.
• Garvan Woodland Gardens: 210-acre botanical garden on Lake Hamilton, operated by the University of Arkansas. Particularly known for spring blooms and holiday light displays.
• Hot Springs Mountain Tower: Observation tower providing views of the Ouachita Mountain range surrounding Hot Springs.
• Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo: A Hot Springs institution dating to 1902, unlikely but genuinely worth a visit with children.

State Park Programs and Interpretive Events

Lake Catherine State Park's staff offers seasonal programs throughout the year:

• Guided lake tours (boat-based, seasonal)
• Guided hikes on park trails (spring, summer, fall)
• Nature talks and demonstrations
• Nature cabin exhibits on the park's cultural and natural history (open Memorial Day through Labor Day)

These programs are accessible to day users without camping or cabin reservations. The interpretive calendar is published on the Arkansas State Parks website seasonally.

Day Activities in All Seasons

Fall drives on Highway 171 and the surrounding Ouachita Mountain roads provide genuine foliage viewing without requiring destination travel — the mountains turn in October and the two-lane roads through the valleys put you in the middle of it. Winter offers the quietest lake conditions and excellent tailwater trout fishing below Carpenter Dam for those willing to check generation schedules and wade in cold conditions. Spring brings the fastest transition from winter quiet to full lake activity, with wildflower displays along the park trails preceding the summer rush.