Crater of Diamonds

There are 59 campsites with water and electricity available and I was fortunate to acquire a campsite near restrooms with showers. The park attendants keep the facilities very clean and empty the trash cans regularly. Close by is "The River Trail." A 1.2 mile hike winding through the woods to the scenic Little Missouri River. In the past I have floated and fished the river. A little later in the year after the weather warms I plan to go back and do some fishing.

The park Visitor Center has a gift shop, exhibits, object theater, rest rooms, and offices are located there.

No need to bring your own mining tools - they can be rented at this rent shop for a reasonable fee.

A woman mining in the field.

A four feet deep mining hole someone worked for several days.

In 1924, The Uncle Sam - at 40.23 carats, the largest diamond in North America was found at this site..

Oh, by the way, I only found four small pieces of diamonds that are worthless, but I had a good time.

Crater of Diamonds

Among the tall pines of southwest Arkansas near Murfreesboro, visitors from all around the world search for diamonds in a 37 acre field.

Over 75,000 diamonds have been found at the Crater, an eroded volcanic pipe. They claim an average of 600 diamonds are found each year.

Late April, 2008 I decided to make my third trip to the Crater to try my luck at finding a big diamond. Well, it turned out that my luck has not changed but I had a good time and got lots of exercise. Digging in that hard ground and washing away the dirt to leave rocks is hard work.

This is the entrance sign to the park at the intersection of Highway 301 and State Park Road. As I stepped out of my truck to photograph the sign I saw my first robin of Spring hopping around in between the trees looking for insects. The air had a nice clean fresh smell, unlike the air we breathe living near Interstate 40 at Little Rock.