When the Arkansas summers get in full swing, it can feel like you’re walking around in an oven. Actually, a very hot and humid oven.
Some people choose to spend their summers inside with their air conditioner running as hard as it can. The rest of us don’t like to be cooped up.
There are a lot of great places to explore in Arkansas during the summer and the lakes are some of our favorite destinations.
Can you swim in Arkansas lakes?
Arkansas has some of the cleanest lakes in the country. You can have a blast swimming or perfecting your latest ski trick on our lakes.
Here are some of my favorite Arkansas swimming lakes.
Greers Ferry Lake is great for swimming
Greers Ferry Lake is a beautiful lake for swimming and water sports. Growing up, it was our go-to lake for knee-boarding!
Greers Ferry Lake is ranked among one of the cleanest, clearest lakes in the nation. There are plenty of great swimming areas at the Dam Site Campground in Heber Springs if you choose to camp there!
Nestled in the Ozark foothills between Clinton and Heber Springs, Greers Ferry is among the state’s five largest lakes. It is also tops in providing great fishing, water sports, boating and camping. The award-winning reservoir served as the national model for environmental cleanliness. -source
It is also one of the best Arkansas lakes to live on!
Location:
700 Heber Springs Rd N
Heber Springs, AR
Blue Mountain Lake is a gem in Arkansas for swimming
Blue Mountain Lake is an undiscovered gem for many Arkansans and tourists. That’s what makes it a beautiful place for an Arkansas vacation or just a lazy day of swimming.
Hiking, boating, fishing, camping, and swimming…you can do it all at Blue Mountain Lake.
Waveland Park on Blue Mountain Lake has a designated swimming beach. You may also be surprised to learn that the park has a life jacket loaning station located at the beach! They make it easy to be safe. Just borrow a life jacket, use it all day, and bring it back when you are finished swimming.
Need more convincing? Read: [INCREDIBLE] Reasons to Visit Blue Mountain Lake in Arkansas
Location:
10152 Outlet Park Road
Havana, AR 72842
Lake Ouachita is perfect for swimming and scuba diving!
So, maybe you thought that you can only enjoy good scuba diving in the ocean. Well, Arkansas is special because we have lakes that are perfect for swimming and scuba diving!
Lake Ouachita is a 40,000-acre lake that is entirely in Arkansas. It is also the cleanest lake in Arkansas!
So, pack your swimsuit and make a trip to Lake Ouachita. There is also free camping near Hot Springs if you like to get adventurous.
Pro tip: Lake Ouachita also has jellyfish!
Lake Ouachita has rare jellyfish (non-stinging) and sponges found in very few freshwater lakes. Scuba divers from all over the world enjoy the underwater experience as well as the special spear fishing season. -source
Don’t miss: AMAZING Tent Camping Near Water in Arkansas!
Location:
5451 Mountain Pine Rd
Mountain Pine, AR 71956
Official Website
Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas is ideal for a day of swimming
Featuring 28,000 acres of clear water that attracts thousands of water sports lovers, fishermen, hikers, and birdwatchers, Beaver Lake is located in the Ozark Highlands near Rogers and features forests, tall bluffs, and meadows crisscrossed by hiking trails. Boating, scuba diving, water skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, swimming, and picnicking are just as popular. -source
Location:
2260 North 2nd Street
Rogers, AR 72756
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