Winter in Rogers, Arkansas has a different pace. The crowds thin out, the lake gets quiet, and the trails are yours. Here are four ways to spend a cold day outside, from a morning on the water to a parade at night.

Fish Beaver Lake for striped bass

Beaver Lake covers 28,370 acres in the Ozark Mountains. The main channel runs about 60 to 65 feet deep, with flats of 10 to 30 feet along the edges. Striped bass fishing is popular here, and local guides can take you out if you don’t know the lake.

On Beaver Lake, the daily limit is 3 striped and hybrid striped bass combined, and striped bass must be 20 inches or longer to keep. Limits per the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 2026-27 Fishing Guidebook, effective July 1, 2026. Check agfc.com for updates before you go.

Take a slower walk or a fast ride at Lake Atalanta

Lake Atalanta is the easy option for a cold afternoon in Rogers. There is a two mile paved loop with a boardwalk and 10 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. The mountain biking trails are split into 5 zones with beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails for folks of all skill levels. Parking is free, so access is easy. Lake Atalanta was built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration as part of FDR’s New Deal. The lake is named for Atalanta Gregory, the wife of O.L. Gregory. The Gregory’s donated most of the land that now forms Lake Atalanta Park.

Hike, paddle, or ride in War Eagle Valley

Head to War Eagle Mill store and restaurant to get good food and local produce. From there, War Eagle Creek is a quiet spot for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. The valley’s rolling hills suit casual riding and mountain biking, and the trails work for beginners and experienced hikers.

Hobbs State Park is a go to hiking option nearby with 54 miles of multiuse trails with views of Beaver Lake, the bluffs, and War Eagle Creek.

December and January are my favorite months to hike at Hobbs State Park. The air is brisk, so you stay comfortable instead of sweating, and no bugs are biting. Look for whitetail deer in the morning and, with luck, bald eagles fishing the unfrozen water. Fewer people are on the trails, so it feels like the woods are yours. For a view of War Eagle Creek and a bit of a challenge, hike the 9.5 mile War Eagle Valley Loop.-Staff tip from Luke

Watch the Downtown Rogers Christmas Parade

The Rogers Christmas Parade is December 4 on the streets of downtown Rogers, with floats and school bands starting at 6:30pm. Arrive around 5pm to browse the Christmas Village vendor market and take photos with Santa and the Grinch at Frisco Plaza.

Make a weekend of it: Sips on the Bricks: Holiday Edition follows on December 5 from 4 to 8:30pm in downtown Rogers, with a holiday costume contest, poker run, and shopping.

Park anywhere south of Poplar St or at City hall would be the easiest to get in and out of. The two lots I would look at are on the SE corner of 3rd and Poplar or by the Frisco Caboose on 1st and Cherry (1st street is closed so enter through Cypress St.)-Staff Tip Sam

Find other must-do winter activities in Rogers, AR here!

Can you fish Beaver Lake in winter

Yes. Striped bass fishing is popular on Beaver Lake. The daily limit is 3 striped and hybrid striped bass combined, and striped bass must be 20 inches or longer to keep (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 2026-27 guidebook).

Where can I hike near Rogers in winter?

Hobbs State Park has 54 miles of multiuse trails, including the 9.5 mile War Eagle Valley Loop. Lake Atalanta has a two mile paved loop with a boardwalk and 10 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, and parking is free.

What time does the Rogers Christmas parade start?

The Rogers Christmas Parade is December 4 and starts at 6:30pm. Arrive around 5pm for the Christmas Village vendor market and photos with Santa and the Grinch at Frisco Plaza.