Lake Catherine State Park
Lake Catherine State Park
4.5
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Offers good hikes, but it can be humid.
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- TravelingBum10United States2,741 contributionsGreat parkThe state park is well taken care of. The trail to the falls is only 3/4 of a mile with great views of the lake. There’s a nice campground with large spots. Spot 40 and up are full hookups and 38 and below are water and electric. You can rent a canoe or kayak for a minimal price.Visited April 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten March 31, 2023
- 3fpmLouisiana162 contributionsSpring break vacationSpent 5 nights during spring break and had a great time. The campsites are level and very generously spaced. The park is convenient to Hot Springs and Garvan Gardens. Park staff is courteous and professional. We’ll be returning.Visited April 2023Traveled with familyWritten April 18, 2023
- BangkokSachseBangkok, Thailand42,344 contributionsBeautiful Park!We visited Lake Catherine State Park in August. The rangers told us the waterfalls had little water. We drove around the Lake Catherine State Park. The lakeside cabins were nice. We went to swim at the beach area near the visitor center. The bathrooms were clean.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten August 28, 2023
- saschamcMemphis, Tennessee184 contributionsweekend getawaymy hubby and I came for a weekend getaway the day after Thanksgiving. We rented cabin 12, which is a 1 bedroom and dog friendly. We brought our Blue Heeler. The cabin was great. It was very well stocked and we had everything we needed. It was very clean and the bathroom and living room were very spacious. Awesome big shower with excellent water pressure and plenty of hot water. The deck was very close to the lake and we really enjoyed the view and the quiet. We did the Falls trail. It was well marked and the dog had a blast. The falls were really roaring, since it had just rained, so that was cool. Trails were all well marked and it was definitely moderate, not easy, just like the sign said. We did the Strunger Creek trail before we left too, and it was paved, level, and easy. We had a great time. There’s no restaurants or stores close, but we went to a Walmart Neighborhood Market and it was only 20 minutes away. Downtown Hot Springs was about 25 minutes away. I saw deer every night, right off our porch, and along the hiking trail, so would definitely recommend keeping your dogs on leash! It was a nice time and a pretty place. We would definitely come back.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 29, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
501 reviews
Excellent
319
Very good
141
Average
35
Poor
3
Terrible
3
EYDJ14
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Solo
I am in town for a day and wanted to do some bass fishing from the bank for a few hours. The only place to do this is a small area from the boat rental dock to swimming area. You have to either launch a boat or reserve a cabin to fish anywhere else.
I gave the park 3 stars because it is such a beautiful place. Absolutely gorgeous! It’d be nice if you could accommodate those who just want to fish for a little while. That’s why I knocked a few stars off.
I gave the park 3 stars because it is such a beautiful place. Absolutely gorgeous! It’d be nice if you could accommodate those who just want to fish for a little while. That’s why I knocked a few stars off.
Written August 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pippibee
90 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
My highly anticipated camping trip to Lake Catherine was a huge disappointment for the camping site, which had a horrible view of a hideous power plant. We booked a “lakefront camping site” for $36/ night, which I would not have minded for a beautiful site.
The park does have nice, flat campsites, clean restrooms, and nice walking trails.
The visitor center was not open, nor the park offices. All in all, I would say camp somewhere else and come over to enjoy the trails but save your money. Relaxing around the fire and enjoying the view just isn’t possible, at least in camping area C, which is the only area with full hookups. (My true rating would be below average, but it skips from average to poor on the ratings.)
The park does have nice, flat campsites, clean restrooms, and nice walking trails.
The visitor center was not open, nor the park offices. All in all, I would say camp somewhere else and come over to enjoy the trails but save your money. Relaxing around the fire and enjoying the view just isn’t possible, at least in camping area C, which is the only area with full hookups. (My true rating would be below average, but it skips from average to poor on the ratings.)
Written December 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BnB_SE_Texas
Southeast Texas79 contributions
May 2021
We went in the rains of Mid May but found an overcast morning to go out to Lake Catherine. We decided to do the "easy" 2 mile loop that goes by the waterfalls. With all the rain before our visit, there were several waterfalls. Some parts of the walking paths had water running over them. But the trip was worth it! The "big" waterfall (about 1.5 miles in) is beautiful, and just beyond in the trees is a higher, cascading waterfall. Very enjoyable.
Written May 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra S
22 contributions
Mar 2021 • Family
As I drove into Lake Catherine State Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, it was magical! The hilly winding roads, tall pines, birds singing, and the fresh crisp air were so inviting. The staff were so friendly. I drove up to my cabin and walked in. My son and I loved it. The cabin was clean and spotless and cozy. There was a kitchen, den, bedroom, and bathroom. It was a beautiful cool spring day and we could look out over the lake. My son and I ate a late dinner and I sat on the patio overlooking the serene lake and watched the sun go down. We awoke early to hike on one of the trails. There were paddle boats and canoes for rent too. There were also boat docks. We all had our our piers to sit out on too. My only regret was that I did not book it for the week or even longer.
Written April 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith S
Denver18 contributions
Sep 2020
As South Texans, reaching any other state within a day is a challenge. Read the reviews of Lake Catherine and we figured we could make a long day out of it and arrive before dark. We did.
What we were not prepared for is how freaking awesome the state park is. We opted for the el cheapo camping area (Class "B") and parked our RV there for two nights. If I had it to do over again (and I will) I would opt for the "AAA" sites. They have full hookups and better amenities. Amazingly better, in fact.
Our trip was the day after labor day and it was still a bit warm, but not oppressive. We enjoyed the friendly staff, the "elbow room" of a large campground and the impressive view of Lake Catherine.
Absolutely loved it. Will return when I can.
What we were not prepared for is how freaking awesome the state park is. We opted for the el cheapo camping area (Class "B") and parked our RV there for two nights. If I had it to do over again (and I will) I would opt for the "AAA" sites. They have full hookups and better amenities. Amazingly better, in fact.
Our trip was the day after labor day and it was still a bit warm, but not oppressive. We enjoyed the friendly staff, the "elbow room" of a large campground and the impressive view of Lake Catherine.
Absolutely loved it. Will return when I can.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bcasey1
Plant City, FL1,665 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
Nice afternoon drive through the park after visiting Hot Springs National Park. Pretty stops for photo opportunities. We liked the lake, and seeing the hisyoric springs that are said to heal different ailments.
Written April 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
saschamc
Memphis, TN184 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
my hubby and I came for a weekend getaway the day after Thanksgiving. We rented cabin 12, which is a 1 bedroom and dog friendly. We brought our Blue Heeler.
The cabin was great. It was very well stocked and we had everything we needed. It was very clean and the bathroom and living room were very spacious. Awesome big shower with excellent water pressure and plenty of hot water. The deck was very close to the lake and we really enjoyed the view and the quiet.
We did the Falls trail. It was well marked and the dog had a blast. The falls were really roaring, since it had just rained, so that was cool. Trails were all well marked and it was definitely moderate, not easy, just like the sign said. We did the Strunger Creek trail before we left too, and it was paved, level, and easy. We had a great time. There’s no restaurants or stores close, but we went to a Walmart Neighborhood Market and it was only 20 minutes away. Downtown Hot Springs was about 25 minutes away. I saw deer every night, right off our porch, and along the hiking trail, so would definitely recommend keeping your dogs on leash! It was a nice time and a pretty place. We would definitely come back.
The cabin was great. It was very well stocked and we had everything we needed. It was very clean and the bathroom and living room were very spacious. Awesome big shower with excellent water pressure and plenty of hot water. The deck was very close to the lake and we really enjoyed the view and the quiet.
We did the Falls trail. It was well marked and the dog had a blast. The falls were really roaring, since it had just rained, so that was cool. Trails were all well marked and it was definitely moderate, not easy, just like the sign said. We did the Strunger Creek trail before we left too, and it was paved, level, and easy. We had a great time. There’s no restaurants or stores close, but we went to a Walmart Neighborhood Market and it was only 20 minutes away. Downtown Hot Springs was about 25 minutes away. I saw deer every night, right off our porch, and along the hiking trail, so would definitely recommend keeping your dogs on leash! It was a nice time and a pretty place. We would definitely come back.
Written November 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl677
Crown Point, Indiana287 contributions
Apr 2021
Wonderful State Park that had a wonderful trails one to a beautiful water fall that you can take a dip in. It was a nice lake were you can swim, fish or rent a boat or bring your own. there are cabins to stay in or you can camp. some camp sites are right on the lake with there own pier. Others are in a nice woods. Great place to spend the weekend or even a few more days.
Written May 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary
11 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
We loved the cabin. It was adorable. We had a fire every night. The host delivers a bundle of wood to your door every afternoon. It was a bummer to lake was low because the personal dock was not usable. We stayed in cabin #4 which is pet friendly so we brought our dog. They had a dog bed and milk bones for her! It was so beautiful and peace. We had a lovely time.
Written March 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cryptic_Tourist
Saint Louis, MO742 contributions
Oct 2021 • Family
So glad my friend and I finally got to go hiking here! We did the Falls trail and loved it. We got there early in the morning on a Saturday and did not see anyone else out on the trail. To be fair, it was supposed to storm so we didn’t think we would see many people. The rocks were wet from the rain the day before but it trail was still in excellent condition - not muddy at all really.
We encountered a LOT of spiders near the creek but once we passed that, not too bad. The waterfall was very pretty but honestly most of the hike was gorgeous including the lake. Would love to do more hikes in this area.
We encountered a LOT of spiders near the creek but once we passed that, not too bad. The waterfall was very pretty but honestly most of the hike was gorgeous including the lake. Would love to do more hikes in this area.
Written October 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle U
Romeoville, IL4 contributions
Can you use a stroller on the trails in this park?
BY71
Texas124 contributions
I think it would be difficult. It is rocky and even the easier route requires stepping over large rocks. I wouldn’t advice it.
brooke2h
Hot Springs, AR59 contributions
How difficult is the trail to the falls? My 75 year old aunt is in good physical condition, but I want to make sure it isn't too dangerous for her.
kdocter
Louisiana51 contributions
The ground is mostly flat with the exception of the steel cable bridge was taking out by a falling tree, so people are walking down into the little drainage depression and coming back up the other side... maybe 25-30" down and up spanning about 25-30 feet. There is a place in the path that has two steps...about 10" each. If memory serves me right, there is a walkaround at this point too....don't remember. There is a bench to rest about 2/3 the way to the falls. Other than that I think she will do fine.
Don't forget to walk the route "backwards" that is the shortest way by far! And it's not that long. Maybe a 6 minute walk?
Hope this helps.
Can you kayak to the waterfall?
kdocter
Louisiana51 contributions
Absolutely. Many people do.
yolanda O
Fort Worth, TX
Can you drive to the waterfall instead of hiking?
Wanderer622284
Little Rock, AR35 contributions
No, however it is a very short hike in. During the right time of the year you could take a kayak or canoe up to it.
Callie S
Alexandria, LA29 contributions
Hi, are there any amenities in the primitive area such as picnic tables or fire rings? Are they communal or each site has something. Thanks in advance
Shannon Jones
Hot Springs, AR26 contributions
There are personal use areas/campsites and larger areas for group use, including covered pavilions. I'm not sure about fire rings but there are grills and picnic tables. It's very peaceful out there.
vslack
Longview, TX12 contributions
Can you swim here? If not, is there a place like this you can swim?
kd6sxi
Allen, TX40 contributions
Yes you can swim, there are designated spots for swimming, and you can also swim in the lake proper itself. Be safe and wear a life jacket if need to. Better be safe and have fun with a little inconvenience and sorry.
There are accessible shower stalls to wash off after the swim.
Is swimming allowed here? Are there designated spots?
kd6sxi
Allen, TX40 contributions
Yup, just keep swimming. Wear a life jacket if you need one though.
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Claim your listingLake Catherine State Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Catherine State Park
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