Reviews

Tej Raj Karki

It was a great park. We camped there in June, and the experience was very good. The campground has many camping spots, along with bathhouses, water, and electricity hookups. It also offers a good Wi-Fi connection in most areas. Due to the busy summer weekends, the bathhouses were a little dirty, but overall the campground was well maintained. There were clear signs throughout the campground, making it easy to find our spot. What I liked most about this campground was that the campsites were spacious, providing more comfort.

Courtnie Parsons

We've been twice. It's a beautiful place. Very rocky terrain. Come prepared with shoes that have a good grip and ankle support. Absolutely stunning after a good rain. Lots of places for kids to climb and caves to explore. Only downside is the all of the water, including the lake, is contaminated by pasture run off and swimming is strictly forbidden. Museum of Automobiles is an awesome place to see even if you're not into cars. Bring your change because all of the very old arcade games still work.

Katie Robb

The park is stunning! Amazing views all around. The lodge and restaurant is nice too with the same amazing views. The visitor center is a gorgeous building with helpful staff. Decent amount of hikes to do. The campground looks super nice. We did the waterfall. The trail isn’t as bad as they say. Super busy on a nice Saturday. Service is iffy in some spots

Josh Wise

Excellent place to visit even just for a quick day trip. Plenty of trails, short and long. Beautiful overlooks, just be careful of course as they are hundreds of feet tall at some points. Beautiful, clean, cozy, and relaxing. Brings your bicycles, walk, or however you want to get around. Mary Ann Richter overlook is nice, on clear days you can see Mt Nebo and Mt Magazine 50 miles away, the Arkansas River, and Petit Jean river. Plan on staying here longer next time!

Forrest Winters

The hike up and down to the fall is a fairly step incline at points. If you're in fairly good physical shape it shouldn't be a problem. The park is very dog friendly. The views are beautiful. Definitely worth coming to check out. There's a coffee shop pretty close to the park if you want a post hike treat.

Charles Bowman

We had a group of 8 camping in 4 RV's. This park has beautiful views. The waterfall is very small this time of year, but in the spring it is large. Many sites to see with a short walk. The Rockefeller's have a place & airport on the mountain on the East side. Call colors were perfect this time of year. We spent the day exploring

DJ Stewart

Petit Jean State Park absolutely stole our hearts. From hiking two of its signature trails—Cedar Falls Trail and Seven Hollows Trail—to cozying up in Cabin 10 by historic Mather Lodge, and savoring a great meal at the lodge restaurant, it was the perfect Arkansas escape. Trail Highlights Cedar Falls Trail Distance and difficulty: ~2 miles round-trip; moderate with a steep initial descent and climb back out. What we loved: The trail drops about 200 feet into a lush canyon, following Cedar Creek. The payoff is Cedar Falls, a stunning waterfall around 95 feet high—misty, powerful, and photogenic. Cool rock formations and shaded stretches make the trek feel immersive, especially after rainfall when the creek and falls are lively. Tips: Start early to beat crowds and heat. Wear sturdy footwear—the stone steps and creekside sections can be slick. Leave time to linger at the base; it’s a true “wow” moment. Seven Hollows Trail Distance and difficulty: ~4.5-mile loop; moderate, with rolling terrain. What we loved: A sampler of everything that makes Petit Jean special—bluff lines, sandstone formations, box canyons, and quiet forest. The Grotto spur is a must: a serene alcove with a seasonal waterfall and a mossy, cool oasis feel. A natural stone bridge and sculpted rock corridors give the hike a sense of discovery around every bend. Tips: Bring water and a snack; it’s longer and more leisurely than Cedar Falls. Clockwise or counterclockwise both work—just take the short spur to the Grotto when you see it. Cabin 10 at Mather Lodge Our stay in Cabin 10 near Mather Lodge was wonderfully cozy—quiet, tucked among trees. The cabin felt inviting from the moment we stepped in, with that classic state-park charm and the kind of calm you only get in the woods. We loved winding down there after hiking—simple, comfortable, and restful. Dining at Mather Lodge Restaurant The lodge restaurant delivered exactly what we hoped for after the trails: hearty, satisfying food and friendly service. The portions were generous, the flavors hit the spot, and the dining room’s big-window views made every meal feel special. It’s the kind of place where you relax into your chair, swap trail stories, and consider dessert even if you swore you were “too full.” Final Take Petit Jean State Park blends natural drama with genuine comfort. Cedar Falls Trail gave us that iconic Arkansas waterfall moment; Seven Hollows Trail felt like an adventure through sculpted stone and hidden grottos. Cabin 10 at Mather Lodge was the coziest home base, and the lodge restaurant rounded out each day beautifully. If you’re looking for an Arkansas getaway where the trails are inspiring and the evenings feel like a hug, this is it.

Jessica D

Petit Jean State Park is absolutely beautiful! You can catch an incredible sunrise with no hiking required — just pull up and enjoy the view. The trails are excellent and well maintained, and the waterfall is truly breathtaking. Mather Lodge has gorgeous views from the restaurant, and staying in one of the cabins makes the experience even more special. There are also nice coffee shops and gift shops nearby, which make it a perfect getaway spot. Highly recommend visiting!

Turn By Turn

Petit Jean is a really nice AR state park. The trails are marked pretty well. We stayed in dog friendly cabin #29. It was clean and the bed was very comfortable. They give free firewood because there is a wood burning fireplace inside (but also heated and cooled). There is ample room to store your things and the bathroom area is spacious and nice. We had adjoining neighbors and there was no problem with noise (they had a dog too) or lack of hot water. The swing on the porch is super nice. There is a small fridge and coffee pot with coffee and set ups. Don't forget to visit Mather Lodge Restaurant. The food was very good, avg price ($$) and the view is absolutely beautiful! It's best not to arrive for the first time after dark though!

A Loftin

The beauty of this place is just breathtaking. My husband and I decided to head here after helping our daughter move to Missouri. We grabbed a cabin & we were able to see the sunset & sunrise at the cliff by the Mather Lodge. We didn't get to see everything or do trails but we did get to take some beautiful pictures and realize how much we have taken for granted in life . We will be going back again!

Renee Pinkston

Wonderful state park with plenty to do and see! The hikes are great and the variety is perfect and ranges from short and easy to challenging. Make sure you know which you are on. There is even a wheelchair accessible walk to the see the overlook and view of the waterfall from the top. Make sure you check out all the of the overlooks on Red Bluff Drive as well. This road is one way once you get past the residential areas, so stay right on the road. The overlooks are amazing and there is interpretation and places to sit and take in the views. There are lots of other things to see and explore here too. Mathers Lodge is really cool and has a gift shop and restaurant inside, there is an old cabin at the start of Cedar creek trail, and don't forget the cool water tower and the bridge/dam/small waterfall! The visitors center is where you get your passport stamp and the gift shop has some really cute things to purchase, as well as a little museum area to explore. This is truly a great state park that you could spend all day at and still find more interesting things to look at.

Melissa Williams

Great hikes, ranging from challenging to very simple and short. The hike to the waterfall is quite challenging in the heat, and you better be ready for an uphill hike all the way to the top on your way back. The waterfall is well worth seeing at the end of the trail with the opportunity to hike behind and cool off under the waterfall. Don't forget the automobile museum on the state park rounds. It actually has the General Lee for you '80s kids!

Mae Pritchard

We went on the short 30min round walk to the "Rock House cave". The Turtle shell Rocks were very unique. Cameras for your security all throughout which made me feel more comfortable in a way. The cave was big & very cool. We didn't spot any of the pictographs sadly. They do have facilities but they are pretty dirty.

Elizabeth Carlson

Our new favorite park to camp at! We’ve heard such good things for years about Petit Jean but we hadn’t been able to visit yet. We are so glad we finally decided too! There were so many amazing things! Everything is so nicely maintained and clean, so many beautiful trails, not to mention a waterfall, a beautiful lodge/restaurant and swimming pool! Even the welcome center was amazing and all the staff were so incredibly helpful and nice! We definitely plan to come back!

Ima Goodflyer

Well maintained. The Mather Lodge has classic CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) construction and architecture. A nice variety of trails for difficulty and length. There are several drivable observation points that have beautiful overlooks. Good visitors center with interpretive displays. Small gift shops with a nice variety of quality goods Plenty of camping spots. We stayed in one of the cabins, which was clean, had good beds and pillows, and a very small, split bathroom set up. There's swimming, tennis and other family activities. We had dinner in the lodge restaurant; the food was tasty, pleasant but slow service.