The first people to settle the area referred to Pinnacle Mountain as "Mamelle", the French name for a boob-shaped hill. "Mamelle" eventually became "Maumelle", which is the name used for the Big Maumelle and Little Maumelle rivers, as well as the nearby city of Maumelle. A trip to Pinnacle Mountain was a popular activity in the 1800s. Climbing became even more popular with the construction of the local railroad in the 1890s and common use of the automobile in the 1900s. Quarrying for sandstone and shale within the modern park began in about 1920. The eastern slope of Pinnacle Mountain was a major source of material for the construction of the Lake Maumelle dam in the 1950s. Located immediately northwest of Pinnacle Mountain, Lake Maumelle is a high-quality raw water supply serving a population of almost 398,000; the reservoir went online in 1958, at least two years after the Big Maumelle River was impounded. In the 1960s, extensive quarrying of sandstone took place at the modern visitor center, the result of which can be see by the quarry pond. The idea for a park had been considered for many years, but did not get off the ground until the 1970s. In 1973, the Arkansas General Assembly approved the creation of Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Since then, 2,356 acres have been set aside for various purposes including environmental education, outdoor recreation, and preservation.
Hiking
Pinnacle Mountain State Park features a number of hiking trails. Trails that start at the West Summit parking lot are the 0.5-mile Kingfisher Trail, which passes by the Little Maumelle River, and the 1.5-mile West Summit Trail. The West Summit Trail is the standard route up Pinnacle Mountain and is easily one of the most trafficked trails in Arkansas. Trails that start at the East Summit parking lot are the 1.5-mile East Summit Trail, which also ascends Pinnacle Mountain, and the 2.5-mile Base Trail. The Base Trail loops completely around the base of Pinnacle Mountain and connects the East Summit trailhead to the West Summit trailhead. Trails that start at the visitor center are the 2-mile Rocky Valley Trail and the 1-mile East Quarry Trail, a spur of the Rocky Valley Trail. The 223-mile Ouachita Trail also starts at the visitor center, crosses Pinnacle Valley Road at the East Summit parking lot after 1.5 miles, and overlaps a 0.5-mile section of the Base Trail before continuing west towards Lake Maumelle. The 0.75-mile Arkansas Trail is located near the center of the Arkansas Arboretum, a 71-acre site exhibiting native Arkansas flora.
Camping
Camping is not allowed inside Pinnacle Mountain State Park, however, it is allowed at Maumelle Park, a nearby public campground operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
