Northwest Arkansas — Arkansas' largest state park was largely unknown to most Arkansans until theopening of a new visitors center in May. Prior to that, many of the people who used the 12,000-plusacre Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area thought of it more as a wildlife management area where hunting was allowed. Although it was never a WMA, it is still the only state park where hunting is allowed.

The 17,531-square-foot visitors center and its current staff of 10 are now working to spotlight the park, the center and the Ozark environment. In June, the center hosted 128 programs for 3,640 mostly student visitors on "Leave No Trace" use of the land, wildlife, flora and conservation issues. Located on Arkansas Highway 12 near the intersectionof War Eagle Road, the center offers modern interactive kiosks, classrooms and Wi-Fi wireless Internet access.

Most of HSPCA was acquired by the state in 1979. The sprawling and, in some areas, disjointed patch of the Ozark Plateau has 60 miles of border, including approximately 20 miles of undeveloped shoreline onBeaver Lake. In fact, until four years ago, the park was known as Beaver Lake State Park, a confusing title considering that the park has no developed public access to the lake. With the continuing development of much of the rest of Beaver Lake, the steep and wild shoreline within the park is already considered by some to be one of the park's better points.

To get there by boat requires launching at one of the lake's marinas or public boat launches outside the park. And it may stay that way for the foreseeable future.

Arkansas State Parks Director Greg Butts has walked and boated most of the HSPCA shoreline on Beaver Lake and calls it "straight up and down in most places. It's rugged and steep and does not lend itself to shoreline development."

That said, get a boat, the smaller the better, pack a lunch and explore some of Beaver Lake's nicest scenery.

The park now offers seven trailstotaling 33 miles of real Ozarks walking, including 23 miles open to mountain bikers and horseback riders. With the exception of the short wheelchair-accessible Historic Van Winkle Trail, most of the hiking in HSPCA is moderate to strenuous.

Plans exist for two more wheelchair-accessible trails, one of which is to be a "wheelchair challenge."

Three of the trails include overlooks and some access to Beaver Lake. There is also a 100-yard shooting range with covered firing stations and an angled bullet trap.

Camping is allowed only at designated and remote spots on the Pigeon Roost Trail, but long-term development will include campgrounds on park land recently acquired near War Eagle Creek. Currently, there are no vehicle-accessible campsites.

Maps showing the trails and trailheads are available at the visitors center. Because hunting is allowed at HSPCA, the trails are closed during muzzle-loading season, Nov. 14-18, and modern-gun season, Dec. 5-9. The visitors center (479-789-5000) is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week.

Through the Lens, Pages 16 on 08/30/2009