🌤 Weather at Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42–80 °F | 68–90 °F | 41–84 °F | 31–54 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Keo, 5 mi away, elevation 231 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park, formerly Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park, is a state park run by Arkansas State Parks, part of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, about four miles from Scott. It preserves the largest and most complex mound site in Arkansas and is one of four National Historic Landmarks in the Arkansas State Park system. The department announced the new name on November 2, 2022: “Toltec” was always a misnomer, because the mounds were built by Native Americans that archeologists call the Plum Bayou culture.
Quick Facts
| State | Arkansas |
| Former name | Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park (renamed 2022) |
| Status | National Historic Landmark |
| Mounds | 18 earthen mounds, built AD 650 to 1050 |
| Bought by State Parks | 1975 |
Location & Getting There
The park is at 490 Toltec Mounds Road, Scott, AR 72142; the street address still carries the old name. It lies about four miles from Scott and is an easy drive from Little Rock. Contact the park at 501-961-9442 or [email protected].
Things to Do
You explore the earthen mounds on two trails, the Knapp Trail and the Plum Bayou Trail; the park offers guides to both and a children’s guide to the Knapp Trail. Here you can also watch archeological research in progress: the Arkansas Archeological Survey runs its Plum Bayou Research Station at the park. Guided tours are available by advance request, and the event program includes an archeological excavation site tour, a spear and atlatl demonstration, winter and summer solstice celebrations and a fall equinox sunset tour. The native garden exhibit is called the Plum Bayou Garden. Groups can rent an enclosed, climate-controlled pavilion for $145 per day (as of October 2026); call 501-961-9442 to reserve.
Best Time to Visit
Interpretive programs run year-round. The visitor center is open Wednesday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (except Memorial Day, Labor Day and the Fourth of July when required) and on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (as of October 2026).
Visitor Tips
Plan your visit for Wednesday through Sunday, when the visitor center is open. If you want a guided tour, for a school group or otherwise, request it in advance. For the pavilion and other questions, contact the park at 501-961-9442 or [email protected].
Explore More Arkansas State Parks
Plum Bayou Mounds was the first archeological state park in Arkansas. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Arkansas guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Wildlife & Nature
The site holds 18 earthen mounds, enclosed by a ditch and an earthen embankment on three sides and an oxbow lake on the fourth. Native Americans built them between AD 650 and 1050, in the Terminal Late Woodland period. The site was ceremonial: communities from the surrounding hamlets and villages traveled here for rituals, feasts and other religious events, while only a few religious leaders likely lived on site year-round. Archeologists cannot tie it to a single Tribal Nation, though several, such as the Quapaw and Osage Nations, have ancestral ties to the region. In the late 1800s the site was known as the Knapp Mound Group; investigations in 1879 and 1882 showed that ancestors of local Native Americans built the mounds, not the Toltec civilization of Mexico.
Nearby Attractions
Scott is about four miles away, and Little Rock is an easy drive.
Keep exploring: The closest neighbor is Plantation Agriculture Museum (a short drive away).
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in Arkansas State Parks, including many trails, but must be restrained and under the owner's direct physical control at all times.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Pets must be leashed, caged or otherwise restrained under direct physical (not verbal) control; no maximum leash length is specified.
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets (other than service animals) are not permitted at swimming beaches or pools at any time, nor in public buildings.
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Designated dog-friendly cabins and lodge rooms exist at all lodging parks (about 25% of cabins at 14+ parks incl. Petit Jean, Mount Magazine, DeGray Lake Resort, Devil's Den); limit 2 dogs per unit, non-refundable per-dog fee at check-in, proof of vaccinations required.
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No day-use pet fee; a non-refundable per-dog fee applies for dog-friendly cabins/lodge rooms.
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Only dogs (no other pet types) are allowed in lodging units.
Are dogs allowed at Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park?
Pets are allowed in Arkansas State Parks, including many trails, but must be restrained and under the owner's direct physical control at all times. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via codeofarrules.arkansas.gov. More: Arkansas state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
Plan your gear for Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
