"Yoo hoo. You in the tent," the ranger at DeGray Lake Resort State Park called to my friends and me. He told us we had to register for our campsite by 10 a.m. We checked our watches: it was 9:35. After a trip to the visitors center, we knew we were lucky to get one of the park's last vacant sites.
Though there are several U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' campgrounds surrounding the 13,800-acre lake, visitors who want to occupy one of the 113 sites at Arkansas's only resort state park should consider reservations, especially on a sizzling summer weekend.
Many who visit the park are lured by its 96-room lodge and restaurant located on an island, by its 18-hole golf course, by horseback riding and by the hope of catching bass, catfish or crappie. But it was a guided snorkeling trip, one of dozens of programs offered by park interpreters, that reeled me in on a recent weekend.
At the park's marina, my companion and I -- along with 13 kids and nine other adults -- boarded a tour boat. Kelly Farrell and DeAnna Balthazor, our interpretive guides for the trip, handed out lifejackets, masks and snorkels. As we headed across the lake, Kelly demonstrated the proper mask and snorkel fit. The kids responded with laughter when she said the best way to defog the masks was to spit in them.
Five minutes and a mile from the marina, we rounded Tall Island, anchored the boat and anxiously waited to get wet as Kelly cited a few last safety rules. When one of the kids asked her about alligators, she said -- much to our relief -- that the water was too cold for them. But it soon proves the perfect temperature for us.
We plopped into the water and dipped our heads into the tranquil milieu. There was about 12 feet of visibility, but on a good day, Kelly said, snorkelers can see as far as 20 feet.
The Caddo River -- which was dammed to create DeGray Lake -- had shaped the steep slopes of what's now Tall Island when it was a peak standing beside the river's former channel. Kelly said it was now an ideal place to see fish and other wildlife. She was right. It didn't take long before I spotted fish lurking among the lofty underwater boulders and aquatic plants. Sensing my excitement, Kelly added that I should be on the lookout for sunfish on their beds, particularly males guarding eggs.
"This is really a neat program," Kelly said. "If people want to learn about what's out there, they can. That's what we [the interpreters] are here for. Or, if they just want to go out and have fun, they can."
While my companion and I opted for the more educational experience, listening as Kelly and Deanna shared their knowledge of the lake, many of the others swam out to explore on their own. The quiet was pierced by giggles as the kids zealously scouted the shoreline in search of fish and crawdads.
Eventually, 10-year-old Kailey Rose from Tulsa, Okla., joined us. When I later asked her why, she said snorkeling with her friends had been fun, but the best part of the trip was learning about the mussels, fish and geological formations we encountered. Kailey had been on other interpretive trips, but this one, she said, had been her favorite. Mine, too.
In little more than an hour and a half, we climbed back into the boat and motored back to the marina with smiles on our faces, watching turtles sunbathe by the dock.
The snorkeling program is offered almost daily, beginning after Memorial Day through mid-September. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children 6-12. The minimum snorkeling age is 6 and children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations, which can be made by calling (501) 865-2811, are recommended and can be made beginning 24 hours in advance of each trip. Participants should bring sunscreen and shoes that can get wet. Participants are also welcome to bring disposable underwater cameras and their own snorkeling gear.
Other Interpretive Programs at DeGray
Other interpretive programs at the park include a variety of guided nature hikes, evening slide shows, lake tours, sunset cruises and kayaking adventures. Other topics range from the area's Native American history to creating backyard bird-watching areas. Programs are offered daily (five to seven programs per day) from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and every weekend during the fall and spring. In addition, bald eagles and migrating waterfowl winter on DeGray Lake, and from late October through February the park's eagle-watching tours are popular.
When You Go
Campsites with water and electricity and located near bathhouses with showers can be reserved by calling (501) 865-2801. To reserve rooms at the lodge, phone 1-800-737-8355. For more information on interpretive programs and other recreational and educational opportunities at DeGray Lake Resort State Park, phone (501) 865-2801 or visit www.degray.com.
The park is located off Ark. 7, about six miles north of Arkadelphia and Interstate 30 or about 25 miles south of Hot Springs.
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com