Lower Lake Recreation Area

Summary

Lower Lake Recreation Area is located beside the Caddo River, providing visitors with a variety of activities such as hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf and picnicing. It has a group use shelter available for renting, a playground, a sand volleyball court, a boat ramp and the Lower Lake Disc Golf Course. The Voss Fitness Trail is a 1 mile gravel trail with four fitness stops, and the DeGray Lake Sunset Trail is a 1.7 mile loop trail featuring lakeside views. The area is also home to the DeGray Lake Resort State Park, the Ouachita National Forest and Hot Springs National Park.

Overview

Lower Lake is an area developed for visitors of the regulating dam. Fishing in the continuous outflow of the dam is a popular pastime. Other visitors fish the 400-acre pool above the dam or float and fish the river below the dam. Individual covered picnic tables plus one group shelter with a large cooking grill are available for use. The openness of the area lends itself to volleyball, softball, 18-hole disc golf course, and a fitness course.

Recreation

Hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and picnicing are popular activities in the area.

Facilities

Lower Lake Recreation Area has a group use shelter available for renting. It is located beside the Caddo River and has a maximum seating capacity of 50 people. A playground, a sand volleyball court and an open playing field are adjacent to the shelter. A restroom is within walking distance of the shelter. There is a boat ramp in the park to access the river. The scenic Lower Lake Disc Golf Course is located in Lower Lake Recreation Area. Opening in late 2011, the course has become one of the most popular in the area. The Voss Fitness Trail is a 1 mile gravel trail with four fitness stops featuring a total of 19 workout stations. 

DeGray Lake Sunset Trail is a 1.7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located at the Lower Lake that features lakeside views and is great for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The ADA-accessible trail meanders along a level paved surface, ideal for an easy afternoon walk.

To see USACE DeGray Lake Virtual Tour, click here 

Natural Features

Degray Lake is one of the region's five Diamond Lakes, known for their crystal clear waters. The lake flows from the Caddo River in western Arkansas and spans 13,500 surface acres. The first settlers around the lake were the Caddo Indians, whose remains have been traced back to 700 A.D. The early inhabitants were skilled in agriculture, and grew crops like beans, squash, maize and sunflowers.

Nearby Attractions

The DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers golf courses, tennis courts, horseback riding trails and more along the 207 miles of lake shoreline. The Ouachita National Forest and Hot Springs National Park are both located nearby.