Top 5 Lakes around Prairie Grove

For a wide range of activities, Lone Tree at Moraine Hills State Park offers paved, dirt, and rocky trails for hiking and biking. Lake Wedington is also excellent, providing fishing, swimming, picnicking, camping, hiking, and mountain biking. You can explore trails like the Lakeshore Hiking Trail and the 7-mile North Twin Hiking/Mountain Biking Trail there.

Yes, Bangs Lake is known for its beach and family-friendly amenities, including picnic benches. Lake Wedington also offers a variety of family activities like swimming, picnicking, and non-motorized boating, with rentals available.

Many lakes offer excellent hiking. Lone Tree at Moraine Hills State Park features a network of diverse trails. Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve has woodsy trails that connect to the McHenry County Prairie Trail. For more options, you can find detailed hiking routes around the area in the Hiking around Prairie Grove guide.

The lakes near Prairie Grove are great for wildlife viewing. Bob Kidd Lake is particularly good for birdwatching, especially during waterfowl migration and in mid-winter when Bald Eagles are often present. Lake Elmdale also offers opportunities to spot local wildlife and waterfowl during migration and winter. Three Oaks Recreation Area, a revived quarry, is now home to an array of wildlife.

Prairie Grove Lake is known for Largemouth bass, Channel catfish, and Spotted bass. Bob Kidd Lake is a prime location for fishing, managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Lake Elmdale is popular for Largemouth bass, Spotted bass, Bluegill, bream, catfish, and crappie. Lake Wedington is regularly stocked with bass, bream, crappie, and catfish, and features a handicap-accessible fishing pier.

Lake Wedington Recreation Area is rich in history, with facilities like cabins, a lodge, and a bathhouse built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve offers protected wilderness with rugged timber trails.

Prairie Grove Lake allows light boating with permits during its summer season. Lake Wedington permits motors up to 10 horsepower and offers non-motorized options like canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boating, with rentals available. At Three Oaks Recreation Area, you can rent row, sail, and paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks, and even try scuba diving.

Prairie Grove Lake is open during the summer season, typically from April 3rd through September 5th. Generally, spring and fall offer pleasant weather for hiking and outdoor activities around all the lakes, with vibrant foliage or blooming wildflowers. Winter can be good for birdwatching, especially for waterfowl and Bald Eagles at Bob Kidd Lake.

Yes, there are several cycling routes. For example, you can find routes like the 'Beautiful view from the shaded area – Leatherleaf Bog Trail loop from Moraine Hills State Park' or the 'Sterne's Fen Nature Preserve – Petersen Park Beach loop from Crystal Lake'. More cycling options are available in the Cycling around Prairie Grove guide.

Lake Wedington Recreation Area provides primitive campsites, group camp areas, and six historic cabins for reservation. Prairie Grove Lake has a boat launch and fishing pier. Bob Kidd Lake also features a boat launch and a fishing pier. Moraine Hills State Park, which includes Lone Tree, has multiple parking areas, trailheads, restrooms, and picnic areas.

Yes, Lake Wedington offers swimming as one of its recreational activities. Bangs Lake also features a beach, making it suitable for swimming and enjoying the water.

Yes, Lake Wedington Recreation Area provides 18 primitive campsites and group camp areas. Additionally, six historic cabins are available for reservation, offering a unique lodging experience within the recreation area.