Day Use

Picnic | Playground | Beaches | Boat Ramp | Trails

Arkabutla Lake’s day-use areas offer a serene retreat for an enjoyable day spent outdoors. Within our day use areas, you can enjoy picnicking with shoreline views for watching beautiful sailboats float by or you can enjoy a nice relaxing walk in a tranquil forested setting. 

There is a total of 10 day-use recreation areas located around the lake.  These areas offer a variety of outdoor activities and amenities for the entire family, including picnic tables with grills, playgrounds, nature trails, ADA accessible picnic areas, restrooms, swimming beaches, drinking water, and boat launching ramps. 

Some of these areas have picnic shelters that can accommodate larger numbers of visitors for family reunions, church gatherings or company picnics.  These picnic shelters can be reserved or are available on a “first come – first serve” basis.  Please contact the Arkabutla Lake Field Office for further information. 

Come enjoy a special day at Arkabutla Lake in a peaceful, natural, and family friendly “alcohol free” environment.

Arkabutla Lake Brochure Map

Picnic Areas

Arkabutla Lake has 10 day-use recreation areas around the lake.  Picnicking is free of charge. 

Picnic sites include a table and grill.

Dub Patton Day-Use Area	112 picnic sites
South Abutment Day-Use Area	66 picnic sites
Hernando Point Day-Use Area	85 picnic sites
Bayou Point	106 picnic sites
Outlet Channel	84 picnic sites
Kelley’s Crossing	24 picnic sites
Pleasant Hill	10 picnic sites
Coldwater Point	2 picnic sites
Highway 51 Landing	3 picnic sites
Plantation Point	2 picnic sites
Some of these areas have picnic shelters that can be reserved for your special event.
Dub Patton Day-Use Area	2 reservable picnic shelters
South Abutment Day-Use Area	1 reservable picnic shelter
Hernando Point Day-Use Area	1 reservable picnic shelter
Bayou Point	2 reservable picnic shelters
Outlet Channel	1 reservable picnic shelter

* The cost of reserving a picnic shelter is $50 per day.

Click the links to view illustrations of  campgrounds and day-use areas:  Hernando Point Campground and Day-Use Area  and  Arkabutla Lake Dam Area Campgrounds and Day-Use Recreation Areas

Playgrounds

Five of Arkabutla Lake’s day-use recreation areas have ADA playgrounds. 

These areas include:

Dub Patton Day-Use Area

South Abutment Day-Use Area

Hernando Point Day-Use Area

Bayou Point

Outlet Channel

Beaches

Three of Arkabutla Lake’s day-use recreation areas have swimming beaches.

These areas include:

South Abutment Day-Use Area

Hernando Point Day-Use Area

Pleasant Hill

 

 

* Swimming is allowed within the designated swimming beaches inside of the buoy line area.  The cost of using the designated swimming beaches is $1 per person but no more than $4 per vehicle, and children under the age of 12 can swim free of charge.

* Swim at own risk, there is no life guard on duty at any of the swimming beaches.

* Depth markers indicate the depth of the water throughout the designated swimming areas.

* Rescue devices (Reach Poles and Throw Bags) have been placed at our swimming beaches and should only be used in case of an emergency.

* Please follow the posted rules and regulations of the swimming beach: 

• Alcohol is prohibited at Arkabutla Lake
• Pets are not allowed on the beach or in the swimming area
• Fires are prohibited
• Motor vehicles are not allowed on the beach
• No cans or bottles are allowed on the beach
• No diving in the swimming area as posted                   

Boat Launching Ramps

There are eight boat launching ramps around Arkabutla Lake.

These areas include:

Dub Patton Day-Use Area

Unable to launch at lake level of:   211.0

Hernando Point Day-Use Area

Unable to launch at lake level of:   215.0

Bayou Point

Unable to launch at lake level of:   209.0

Kelley’s Crossing

Unable to launch at lake level of:   211.0

Pleasant Hill

Unable to launch at lake level of:   215.0

Coldwater Point

Unable to launch at lake level of:   220.0

Highway 51 Landing

Unable to launch at lake level of:   218.0

Outlet Channel

Downstream access to Coldwater River

* The cost of launching at any of these ramps is $3 with the exception of  Coldwater Point.  There is no charge for launching at Coldwater Point.

* Annual Passes for launching boats are available at any Corps of Engineers Lake Field Office.  The cost of an Annual Pass is $30; they are good for one year from date of purchase and they are accepted at any U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Project, Nationwide.

Click link for more information about recreation passes issued, sold, and accepted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: 
Recreation Fee Program & Age and Disability Discount Passes for Recreation Fees

Bayou Point Boat Ramp

Trails

Arkabutla Lake has two great trails for hiking, mountain bike riding, or just enjoying the outdoors. 

The two nature/hiking trails are located near the Outlet Channel. 

Coldwater River Nature Trail System

The North Outlet Channel Recreation Area provides access to the Coldwater River Nature Trail System. This network of trails encompasses two hiking trails (one trail is 3 miles in length and the other is 5 miles in length) and the Big Oak Nature Trail which is a self-guided interpretive trail.  The area includes pristine bottomland hardwood and pine forests where an abundance of wildlife and native plant species can be found throughout.  A self-guided interpretive booklet is available at the trailhead located on the north side of the Outlet Channel, or the booklet is available for download by selecting the link below.

Coldwater River Nature Trail System Guidebook

Swinging Bridge Nature Trail

The South Outlet Channel Recreation Area offers a unique trail experience.  The Swinging Bridge Nature Trail is a self-guided trail that includes an old section of the Coldwater River prior to the construction of the dam.  The Coldwater River was once flowing through this very trail area!  Please enjoy a walk through this historic trail and learn about the history of the Arkabutla community or how the Corps of Engineers redirected the Coldwater River. Maybe you would like to learn how to identify native plants and wildlife, or just enjoy the tranquility of the trail’s azalea garden.  Information panels are placed throughout the trail to help guide you along your walk. 

Entrance to Swinging Bridge Nature Trail