I’m not trying to be melodramatic, but there’s an ancient place in Arkansas that you need to go explore as soon as possible. Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park is full of ancient history. The tallest prehistoric mounds in the Natural State can be found there, along with impressive trails and some incredibly scenic land. There isn’t anything like this state park, and I’m pretty sure you’ll want to check it out.

Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park is located at 490 Toltec Mounds Road near Scott.

Some of the appeal of Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park is its location. This central Arkansas state park is just 25 minutes from Little Rock.

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The most appealing parts of the park, of course, are the mounds themselves. Where once eighteen mounds stood arranged roughly in the shape of a rectangle, only three remain. It’s not an exaggeration to call the mounds ancient. They were built between 650 and 1050 A.D.

Flickr/Zack Weinberg

The culture responsible for the mounds is the Plum Bayou people. They were mostly farmers, who hunted game like white-tailed deer and turkey and supplemented their endeavors by fishing. Today the body of water near the mounds is called Mound Pond. You can imagine fishing in the cypresses there.

Flickr/Zack Weinberg

The place where the mounds stand today wasn’t a Plum Bayou village. It held religious significance to the Plum Bayou people, and some religious officials lived there, but most of the people lived in the surrounding countryside.

Flickr/Farther Along

Though the original heights of the three remaining mounds are not known, today they stand at forty-nine feet, thirty-nine feet, and thirteen-and-a-half feet high, respectively. It’s not known where the Plum Bayou people went when they abandoned the site around 1050 A.D., but those three remaining mounds are the centerpiece of the 100 acre Toltec Site.

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Luckily enough, you can find you trails and interpretive programs to take you through the rich history of the Toltec Mounds. The state park is incredible, scenic and well-maintained, offering you a view of the Natural State like you’ve never seen it before.

Flickr/Zack Weinberg

If you make reservations, you can even get a guided tour of the park. The fee for a guided walking tour is $4 for adults and $3 for children aged 6-12.

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A guided tram tour is also available, priced at $6 per adult and $5 per kid.

Flickr/Farther Along

As far as state parks go, Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park has everything you could want: it’s unique, scenic, and endlessly interesting. This is one state park you really need to see with your own two eyes.

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For more unexpected places where history is hiding in the Natural State, check out this article. You might also be interested in this state park where you can step back in time, this state park built around the oldest European settlement in Arkansas, or even the oldest state park in the Natural State.

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Flickr/Zack Weinberg

Flickr/Farther Along

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