Dreaming of an Arkansas Spring

It’s not too early to be “dreaming of spring!” In Arkansas, you can experience the true beauty of nature during springtime, when the season’s flora and fauna paint a lush palette across The Natural State’s landscape. The stunning colors create a chromatic diorama not soon to be forgotten. In late February and March, dogwoods, jonquils and redbuds begin opening, tinting the state with their pinks, whites and yellows.

Head to Arkansas’s Lower Delta and explore the Delta Heritage Trail State Park near Helena-West Helena. The park offers a great way to see the natural beauty of the Arkansas Delta, whether you’re biking, hiking or just looking for a leisurely stroll.

At the park’s visitor center, located at the Barton trailhead, you’ll find 24-hour access restrooms (no showers), five primitive campsites with tent pads, picnic tables, standing grills, and a community water spigot. The visitor center also has a gift shop. Bikes are available to rent and interpretive programming is offered.

One of the best ways to see and explore the Delta Heritage Trail State Park is through the Pedal & Paddle Tour. It’s a bike ride from Barton to Lakeview (about 12 miles one way), then kayaking on Old Town Lake, and then a bike ride back to Barton. You can contact the park directly to plan an excursion.

There are currently nearly 45 completed miles of trail. This includes a 20.6-mile compacted crush gravel section between Lexa and Elaine, a 14.4-mile shared-use roadway on the Mississippi River levee between Rohwer and Arkansas City, and another 9.4-mile compacted crush gravel section between Rohwer and Watson. Portions of this project are former railroad lines that are converted to bike/pedestrian routes.  The compacted, crushed rock trail leads visitors through a variety of natural settings. From the shaded canopy of native hardwoods to the vast open skies alongside agricultural fields, guests can enjoy the diverse robust beauty of the Arkansas Delta. Ultimately, this trail will be 84.5 miles when completed and will be one of the longest dedicated pedestrian and bicycle routes in Arkansas.

To learn more, visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/delta-heritage-trail-state-park.

Media Contact
Leah DiPietro, Deputy Director, Division of Tourism, [email protected]
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