Pike: Diamond Hunting and Nature at Lake Greeson

A stay in Pike can take different directions: searching for natural diamonds, exploring archaeological traces, or spending time by the water. Experiences range from an unusual search field to wooded shores and historic sites. You can decide which ones will shape your trip based on your interests.

Diamond Hunting and Archaeological Traces

Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only place in the world where the public can search for natural diamonds in their original volcanic source. The search area covers 37 acres: a plowed field on the eroded surface of a volcanic crater. At the Diamond Discovery Center, you can learn more about the rocks and minerals found in the park, as well as three recommended diamond-hunting techniques. This makes the outdoor search and information about the discovery area two different aspects of a visit.

Another way to explore the area's history is at Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village. The site was inhabited for more than 1,000 years. On a self-guided tour, you can see excavated mounds; there is also an opportunity to search for arrowheads and crystals, as well as a 1/8-mile nature trail. The museum displays pottery, water bottles, pipes, stone tools, and projectile points belonging to the area's prehistoric inhabitants. For planning purposes, you can distinguish between touring the excavations and viewing the artifacts in the museum.

Lake Greeson: Scenery and Activities

Daisy State Park is located in the Ouachita Mountains on Lake Greeson and the Little Missouri River. Visitors can hike the Daisy Nature Creek Trail. Lake Greeson is about 12 miles long and covers 7,260 acres of water. Activities available there include water sports and picnics, as well as hikes along the wooded lakeshore. Public lands around the lake provide habitats for white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, geese, bald eagles, migrating waterfowl, and songbirds.

The Bear Creek Cycle Trail is a 31-mile ATV trail along the shore of Lake Greeson, offering panoramic views of the lake and the Ouachita Mountains. It begins at Daisy State Park, passes near Kirby Landing and the Bear Creek Recreation Areas, and ends at the western end of Rough Mountain. This makes the trail a distinct motorized activity, separate from hikes along the wooded lakeshore. Lake Greeson is home to various bass, catfish, crappie, walleye, and sunfish. Below the dam, the waters of the Little Missouri River are home to rainbow trout and black bass.

The Caddo River also offers opportunities for floating and paddling. Visitors who would rather focus their stay on water and scenery can compare these activities with what's available at Lake Greeson; those interested in archaeological evidence will find a different focus at Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village. The Pike County Fair and Rodeo takes place annually and includes a parade. The 2026 program describes horses starting at the fairgrounds and being ridden to Smokey Bear Lane. If the event might fit your trip, check the specific dates.

History and Directions

The Pike County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 16, 1986. For additional directions, a route from Texarkana to Narrows Dam follows Interstate 30 to Prescott and then heads north on Highway 19. This description ends at Narrows Dam; it is a specific route to that destination.

Explore more destinations: Glenwood, Franklin County, Stone County, Conway County, Sharp County, Greene County, Garland, Phillips County.

For the main travel overview: Arkansas.