Return to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

Driving into the Little Rock area the next afternoon I was again looking for a place for a walk and instantly remembered Pinnacle Mountain State Park, located just outside the city of Little Rock. Not only is it free but it’s way more scenic than many of my locations for quick afternoon walks. When I had passed through in January I had hiked the summit but I remembered there being multiple other trails which not only wind around the base of the mountain but also traverse the surrounding forest as well as provide other viewpoints of the nearby valley and the Ouachita Mountains to the north. I started with the scenic overlook near the visitor center and then took the East Quarry and Rocky Valley Trails around the abandoned quarry and then into the forest itself. The section of the trail that skirted the quarry was by far the most scenic, but the few mile hike was quite pleasant and a peaceful walk overall.

View from overlook on spur from Rocky Valley Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

View from overlook on spur from Rocky Valley Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

East Quarry Lake, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

East Quarry Lake, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

View of East Quarry Lake from Rocky Valley Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

View of East Quarry Lake from Rocky Valley Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

View of East Quarry Lake from Rocky Valley Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

View of East Quarry Lake from Rocky Valley Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

East Quarry Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas

East Quarry Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas