By Rusty Hubbard Children work on a sandcastle at Woolly Hollow State Park.

LITTLE ROCK — In the midst of summer in central Arkansas, "going to the lake" is the thing to do - but it can mean a lot of different things.

In nearly 30 years of living here, I've almost always heard it to mean Lake Ouachita, but certainly nearby lakes Hamilton and Catherine get their fair share of visitors, as do destinations like Greers Ferry, Dardanelle and Conway, depending on whether you're swimming, fishing or skiing.

But there are a few other, lesser-known water spots around the region that have something to offer. And they're a lot closer than you might think.

Lake Norrell

Built in the 1950s as a backup water supply for Benton, 280-acre Lake Norrell sits on the northwestern corner of Saline County. Replaced in its role as a water source by two reservoirs built since its construction, the lake is owned by the city and now operated as a public park.

Until about 10 years ago, the lake was only accessible by a gravel ramp that took a four-wheel drive vehicle to use, said Curtis McCormack, head of the Benton Parks Department. But thanks to a grant from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, a concrete ramp has since been built to make getting in and out easier.

But make no mistake, this lake is B.Y.O.B. - bring your own boat - and not having one will limit what you can do. Public swimming and fishing are allowed around the boat ramp area, but most of the shoreline is privately owned, and thus not open to the general public. Though the park doesn't close at night, no camping is allowed on site, and McCormack said thanks to a light that just won't stay on, it's "pretty user unfriendly" after dark.

With a boat, options open up - at least a little bit.

"It's mostly a fishing lake," said McCormack, who explained that while the city imposes no limits on motor or boat size, the lake is a little too cramped for skiing, especially with much traffic. He's seen it done before, though.

Probably one of the most interesting aspects of Lake Norrell is actually getting there. Whether coming down Lawson Road from Interstate 430 or up Congo Road from Benton, the two-lane roadway with trees growing up to the very edge slowly gives way to rolling hills and, yes, even valleys as you get closer to the lake. It's beautiful scenery even long-time residents of the county may not know is right their own backyard.

"I've rarely been that I didn't see deer or a turkey there," said McCormack. "Now I almost expect to see them."

Bennett Lake

About 50 miles from Little Rock, just northeast of Greenbrier, sits quiet Bennett Lake surrounded by scenic Woolly Hollow State Park. Driving up there may seem to take a while, but, if nothing else, the drive home will teach you how close it really is.

Brought into the state parks system in the 1970s, Woolly Hollow includes separate campsites for tents and RVs, a playground, basketball and volleyball courts and even a full-service snack bar and a 19th-century cabin on site. But the heart of the park is the 40-acre lake at its center.

A lifeguard on duty throughout the summer watches the swim beach, and the park also offers rentals of fishing boats (with or without motors), canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and hydro bikes. Prices range from $3 to $30, depending on what you want and how long you want it for. Boats can be taken out for a day or half day, the pedal boats and hydro bikes by the hour or half hour. There's no charge to launch your own boat or fish from the pier, but motors larger than a trolling motor aren't allowed.

While swimming here isn't free, even adults only pay $2.50 for unlimited all day access. The beach is open from noon to 7 p.m. in the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and all the time in off-season - though during those off months, with no lifeguard on duty, it's swim at your own risk.

Park Interpreter Kathryn Tidwell, who heads up programming from pedal boat tours to sandcastle building competitions, said during the summer months "on a Saturday afternoon, it's impossible to pull people away from the water ... so we won't even try to do something that's not on or about the water."

As a campground, the park doesn't close, but after 10 p.m. it's quiet hours. Traffic is discouraged, and loud or disorderly campers will be arrested (alcohol is not prohibited, though, except on the beach).

"We've got a nice, natural park, and we work hard to keep it that way," said Mark Roland, park superintendent.

Pinnacle Mountain

The state park isn't known for swimming, but the staff at Pinnacle said most visitors don't realize you can get out on the water within the park.

"We get about a half million visitors a year, but about 60 percent of those only go up the mountain. A good many of that 60 percent never realize there's more here than the picnic area," said Park Interpreter James Mullins.

In fact, Pinnacle itself is bounded by the Big Maumelle River to the north and the Little Maumelle River to the south. The park has launch ramps in each. The slower, wider Big Maumelle River is suited to power boating, and has access to the Arkansas River, explained Park Interpreter Susan Staffeld. The swift Little Maumelle River, which is more like a creek, is a great place for floating by canoe or kayak, said Mullins.

"It's a great way to get a sample of the wild right here in the city of Little Rock," he said.

While people worry about seeing alligators on the waterways, Mullins said in more than two decades along the Maumelles, he's never seen one - "and I've been looking for them." More common, he said, are snakes. But "the vast majority" are not venomous, and "if you don't bother them, they won't bother you."

Probably the biggest danger on the rivers, Mullins continued, is the water itself. As always in canoeing, there's the risk of getting stuck and taking on water. Park staff can offer tips, but aren't certified to teach safety, so visitors are encouraged to know the ropes themselves.

The park rents out canoes on the Little Maumelle River, with the only caveat that they have to be returned to the launch site - which means paddling upstream at some point. Also, the park closes an hour after sunset, so water use should be planned accordingly. A new fleet of park kayaks was recently taken out for a nature tour on the Big Maumelle River, and the park is still figuring out ways to work them into future programming, Staffeld said.

Though not part of the park, nearby Lake Maumelle is included in park programming. A park-owned party barge is used for stargazing and weekend day tours. The lake, owned by Central Arkansas Water, does not allow swimming but does allow boating on most of the water and is thought by many to be one of the best sailing spots in the state.