Lake Alma is in the city of Alma – a bit northeast of Fort Smith – north of I-40 (exit 13) and east of US-71. I suppose it would be classified as an urban park but the main trail sometimes doesn’t feel so urban, especially in the northwest area. There are picnic areas, a disc golf course, and bathrooms (seasonally). The primary parking area is about 35.4968°N, 94.2174°W.
Maps
Here’s some general info about my maps. Every time I update the map the file will have a different name so if you want to bookmark or share it, link to this page – not the file.
My map of the lake area is a 1-page PDF that will be about 1:9000 scale on 8.5″x11″ paper.
Trails
The Lake Alma Trail is the main attraction. It is a natural surface, runs about 4.5 miles all the way around the lake, and is open to mountain bikes. It runs along the top of McWater Falls (12′). You’ll have to wade across Little Frog Bayou at the north end but other creek crossings are on bridges. There are many places where people are taking shortcuts and creating future erosion problems. Please don’t.
Rather than a separate trail, the McWater Trail is an alternate path that runs parallel to the Lake Alma Trail in a couple areas, and closer to the lake. Taking these routes would shorten the distance a tiny amount.
The Waterfall Trail is a 0.1 mile spur that heads east from the McWater Trail on the east side of the lake up to the base of McWater Falls.
The Wildlife Trail is a 0.5 mile paved interpretive loop.
Photos
Last review/update: Dec 6 2025
The Compulsive Hiker 