Arkansans will have an extra reason to visit the state’s lakes, trails, beaches, and other federal recreation areas on Saturday, September 26, 2026, during National Public Lands Day.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will waive day-use fees at Corps-operated recreation areas in recognition of National Public Lands Day. The annual event also encourages people to volunteer and help care for the public lands they use throughout the year.
For Arkansas, where the Corps manages some of the state’s largest and most popular outdoor recreation destinations, the day provides an opportunity to explore public lands while also recognizing the work required to maintain them.
What Is National Public Lands Day?
National Public Lands Day began in 1994 as a nationwide effort to bring volunteers together to improve and restore America’s public lands. Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation, the event is now held each year on the fourth Saturday in September.
What began with about 700 volunteers at three sites has grown into the country’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands.
National Public Lands Day projects have included trail maintenance, litter removal, invasive species removal, habitat restoration, tree planting, campground improvements, and other work that benefits public recreation areas.
The event includes lands managed by federal, state, and local agencies, meaning volunteers may find projects at national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, Corps lakes, state parks, and community recreation areas.
In 2026, National Public Lands Day falls on September 26.
Corps of Engineers Waives Day-Use Fees
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is marking National Public Lands Day by waiving day-use fees at Corps-operated recreation areas nationwide.
The waiver includes fees normally collected at Corps-operated boat launch ramps and swimming beaches. However, it does not cover camping, camping-related services, reservation fees, specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters, or special events.
Recreation areas located on Corps property but operated by other agencies or organizations may have different policies, so visitors should check with the individual recreation area before traveling.
The Corps is one of the nation’s largest providers of outdoor recreation, managing hundreds of lake and river projects and thousands of recreation areas across the country.
Arkansas has an especially large Corps presence.
Little Rock District Recreation Areas in Arkansas
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District manages approximately 500,000 acres of public land and water, including 25 lakes and pools and 146 public parks and access areas across Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Some of the larger and best-known Little Rock District recreation destinations include:
- Greers Ferry Lake, one of Central Arkansas’ major boating, fishing, camping, swimming, and paddling destinations.
- Beaver Lake, a major Northwest Arkansas recreation destination with extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, camping, paddling, and swimming.
- Bull Shoals Lake, stretching across northern Arkansas and southern Missouri and offering hundreds of miles of shoreline.
- Norfork Lake, another major White River basin reservoir known for fishing, boating, camping, and water recreation.
- Millwood Lake, a popular southwest Arkansas destination particularly well known for fishing and wildlife.
- Table Rock Lake, primarily in Missouri but extending into Northwest Arkansas.
- Blue Mountain Lake, west of Mount Magazine and popular for fishing, boating, camping, and wildlife recreation.
- Nimrod Lake, one of Arkansas’ oldest Corps lakes and a popular fishing and camping destination.
- DeQueen Lake, Dierks Lake, and Gillham Lake, a group of Corps-managed recreation destinations in southwest Arkansas.
The Little Rock District also manages recreation sites along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, adding numerous parks, boat ramps, fishing areas, and river access points across the state.
Together, these properties make the Corps one of the most significant outdoor recreation providers in Arkansas.
Vicksburg District Manages Three Major Arkansas Lakes
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District manages more than 100 recreation areas across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Its Arkansas properties include three of the state’s major recreation lakes: Lake Ouachita, DeGray Lake, and Lake Greeson.
Lake Ouachita
At approximately 40,000 acres of water with 690 miles of shoreline, Lake Ouachita is one of Arkansas’ largest outdoor recreation destinations.
The Corps project includes about 20,000 acres of public land along with 18 recreation areas. Opportunities include boating, fishing, paddling, camping, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities.
Surrounded largely by the Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita also provides access to trails and undeveloped shoreline that make it one of the state’s most significant public recreation landscapes.
DeGray Lake
Located on the Caddo River near Arkadelphia, DeGray Lake covers approximately 13,800 acres and has more than 200 miles of shoreline.
The Corps manages numerous recreation areas around the lake with campgrounds, day-use areas, boat ramps, and swimming beaches.
The lake is also home to DeGray Lake Resort State Park, although state park facilities are managed separately from Corps recreation areas.
Lake Greeson
Located on the Little Missouri River near Murfreesboro, Lake Greeson is another major southwest Arkansas recreation destination.
The Corps project contains more than 16,000 acres and includes multiple campgrounds, day-use areas, boat ramps, and swimming beaches. Fishing, boating, paddling, camping, and hiking are among the popular activities around the lake.
National Public Lands Day Is Also About Volunteering
Free recreation is only part of National Public Lands Day.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also encouraging visitors to volunteer at public lands and recreation areas. Volunteer projects vary by location but can include shoreline cleanups, trail work, litter removal, habitat improvements, facility maintenance, and other stewardship projects.
That volunteer component has been central to National Public Lands Day since the event began more than three decades ago.
For outdoor recreation users, it is an opportunity to contribute directly to the lakes, trails, campgrounds, forests, rivers, and other public spaces they enjoy throughout the year.
Plan a National Public Lands Day Adventure
With Corps recreation properties spread across Arkansas, National Public Lands Day can also be an excuse to explore somewhere new.
Spend the morning hiking near Lake Ouachita, take a kayak to Greers Ferry Lake, launch a boat at Beaver Lake, go fishing at Millwood, or visit a Corps recreation area along the Arkansas River.
Visitors planning to take advantage of the September 26 fee-free day should check with the individual recreation area before traveling. The fee waiver applies to Corps-operated day-use facilities, while camping, reservations, special facilities, and areas operated by other organizations may still charge their normal fees.
National Public Lands Day is ultimately about more than getting outside for free. It is a reminder that Arkansas’ extensive network of public lands provides recreation opportunities because generations of land managers, volunteers, partner organizations, and visitors have invested time and resources in caring for them.
September 26 offers a chance to enjoy those places and, perhaps, spend a little time giving something back.
Favorites
For a list of our readers’ favorite lakes around the state, go to this article from last spring.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens, thank you for supporting our work!