Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Rate this placeNearby: Maumelle Park Palarm Public Use Area
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Pinnacle Mountain State Park is a popular destination located in central Arkansas, just west of Little Rock.
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Summary
The park offers visitors a range of outdoor activities including hiking, picnicking, and fishing. The park's main attraction is Pinnacle Mountain, a large rock formation that provides stunning views of the surrounding area from its summit.
Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the park, with several trails offering varying degrees of difficulty. The West Summit Trail is the most challenging, climbing nearly 1,000 feet in elevation over 1.5 miles, but rewards hikers with panoramic views of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains. The East Summit Trail is a shorter and easier option, while the Kingfisher Trail offers a more leisurely walk along the Big Maumelle River.
Other points of interest within the park include the Arkansas Arboretum, which showcases the state's native flora, and the Arkansas River Overlook, which provides a view of the Arkansas River and the Little Rock skyline.
Interesting facts about the area include that Pinnacle Mountain is actually a part of the Ouachita Mountains, which are some of the oldest mountains in North America. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and bobcats.
The best time of year to visit Pinnacle Mountain State Park is in the spring or fall, when temperatures are mild and the foliage is at its most vibrant. Summer can be hot and humid, while winter can bring ice and snow to the trails. Visitors should also be aware that the park can get crowded on weekends and holidays, particularly during peak hiking season.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Maumelle
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Burns Park
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Camp Robinson RV Military
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Maumelle Park
Palarm Public Use Area
Little Rock Reservoir Park
Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area
Brodie Creek Park
Little Maumelle River
Lake Maumelle
Lake Norrell