Daisy State Park
4.7(883)google
4.6(11)yelp
Nature
Overview
Daisy State Park is a 276-acre (112 ha) Arkansas state park in Pike County, Arkansas in the United States. The park at the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains features Lake Greeson, a 7,000-acre (2,800 ha) fishing lake constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1950. The park is surrounded by timberlands and is located near the Ouachita National Forest.
Practical Info
Mon8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeJune through September is prime for cool lake recreation, rental boating, and tournament bass fishing on Lake Greeson. The most photogenic hours are 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM on summer evenings; the setting western sun paints the expansive waters and the park's dramatic slate rock shorelines in shades of soft crimson and amber.
Getting ThereNestled in Kirby at 103 State Park Rd. Driving is highly straightforward: from Hot Springs, take highway US-70 W southwest for approximately 50 miles straight through the foothills into Kirby. Turn right north onto State Park Road at the grand official monument sign to arrive directly at the paved lakeside loops.
Travel Tips
- The Lake Greeson shoreline comprises jagged geological shale strata; entering the water barefoot outside designated swim zones triggers immediate laceration risks. The surrounding deadwood is active habitat for venomous copperheads, requiring visual scouting.
- Deploying personal marine hulls inside state park boat slips requires displaying current state-validated launch permits. Long trailer bays are highly finite; passenger sedans straddling these specialized zones face rapid ranger ticketing and impoundment.
- Campground perimeters lock electronically from 10:00 PM to 06:00 AM nightly, barring casual late vehicle entries; fuel generator activation is banned during this window. Electrical posts max out at 30 amps; system overloads trigger structural utility failure and fines.
Reviews
Positive
- Nestled along sparkling Lake Greeson, featuring exceptionally clean open water framed by striking mountain bluffs and serene country scenery.
- A premier haven for RV camping and lake angling; campsites sit right near the shoreline, and the waters are heavily stocked with crappie and bass.
- Boasts the exciting Bear Creek multi-use motorized trail system, offering rolling dirt tracks that deliver great off-road thrills for dirt bikes.
- As a fine state park, service and park maintenance are flawless, providing public shower facilities with endless hot water kept spotlessly clean.
Heads up
- Because park value relies heavily on the lake, seasonal dam drawdowns can cause water levels to drop violently, leaving ugly mud flats along the shore.
- Allowing ATVs and dirt bikes on specific trails introduces annoying loud engine revving sounds that can disrupt a quiet morning in the campgrounds.
- The location is somewhat deeply rural, requiring a long drive to reach major chain grocery stores or emergency clinics; pre-stocking is vital.
- Steamy summer months bring dense infestations of wood ticks, biting chiggers, and wild poison ivy patches near the hiking trail edges.