Category: Arkansas Federal

Buffalo National River
There are a lot of trails in this 95,000 acre park surrounding the Buffalo river.  Some sound easy and quite a few are accessible.  The Buffalo National River flows freely for 135 miles and is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48 states.  The park is divided into three districts, Upper, Tyler Bend (Middle) and Buffalo Point Area (Lower).  The main phone number at Tyler Bend 870-439-2502  Here is the website.   Map  Hiking Trails
BuffaloRiver.org  has links to trail descriptions including difficulty for the upper and middle districts.
Quite a few of these trails sound as if they might be easy, although not suitable for wheelchairs.  Call the visitor centers to learn more.
Brochure of Upper District Trails  Pruitt Visitor Center phone 870-446-5373
Lost Valley  2.3 miles one way has views of the river from the bluffs.

Erble-Cedar Grove 4.3 mile one way to a historic cemetery

Ponds Trail 0.4 mile with a viewing deck on the South Pond.

Koen Interpretive Trail  0.4 mile with identified trees.
Link goes to blog called “Exploring Northwest Arkansas” by  btoellner. It contains a description and photographs of this trail.

Brochure of Middle District Trails  Tyler Bend Visitor Center 870-439-2502

Collier Homestead  0.6 mile to historic site.

Know more about Buffalo National River?
Have you visited this location and know of more accessible or easy trails?  Is any of the information given here incorrect?  If so, please contact me using the form to the left and let me know what should be changed or added so I can update this post.

Ouachita National Forest
The Ouachita National Forest covers 1.8 million acres in central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. Headquarters are in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Here is the Forest website.
Lake Sylvia Recreational Area in the Ouachita National Forest
Lake Slyvia is an 18 acre lake with two interpretive trails, one of them wheelchair accessible.  Lake Sylvia is 38 miles west of Little Rock, Arkansas.  opportunities for fishing and swimming.  Here is their website.   Brochure  phone 501-321-5202 Call first to be sure the area is open.
Trees of the Forest  0.4 miles  “The Trees of the Forest interpretive trail is an accessible trail for the physically disabled visitors. Each interpretive sign features information on the variety of tree species found in the area. Each sign also offers the text in Braille format.”

Know more about Ouachita National Forest?
Have you visited this location and know of more accessible or easy trails?  Is any of the information given here incorrect?  If so, please contact me using the form to the left and let me know what should be changed or added so I can update this post.

Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge
The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge has a paved loop handicap accessible trail and other short trails which sound as though they may be easy.   Call 870-282-8200 to learn more.
The refuge is one of the most important areas for wintering waterfowl in North America and is also home to the only population of native black bear in the State of Arkansas.  It lies mostly in the floodplain of the White River, near where it meets the Mississippi River.  The refuge is one of the largest remaining bottomland hardwood forests in the Mississippi River Valley, with fertile forests and some three hundred lakes, interlaced with streams, sloughs, and bayous. The result is a haven for a myriad of native wildlife and migratory birds.  Here is the park website and a description of trails.
Upland Trail is a paved one mile loop with interpretive panels and benches.

Know more about Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge?
Have you visited this location and know of more accessible or easy trails?  Is any of the information given here incorrect?  If so, please contact me using the form to the left and let me know what should be changed or added so I can update this post.

Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
“The Ozark National Forest covers 1.2 million acres, mostly in the Ozark mountains of northern Arkansas.”  It encompasses the tallest mountain in the State, Mount Magazine, and the Blanchard Springs Caverns.
“The St. Francis National Forest covers 22,600 acres in eastern Arkansas, one of the smallest and most diverse forests in the country.”
There are “recreational opportunities for camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, hunting, boating, scenic drives, picnics sites, and opportunities for wildlife viewing.”

Henry Koen Experimental Forest  
The 720 acre Henry R. Koen Experimental Forest (Koen) is covered mostly in oak-hickory upland hardwood forest and oak-pine stands.
Henry Koen Nature Trail  0.5 mile interpretive trail

Hammerschmidt Falls Trail  1.2 miles “good for all skill levels”

The Experimental  Forest is within the Ozark National forest so you might call the Jasper Ranger District office for information 870-446-5122.
Forest Headquarters phone  479-964-7200