Photos Courtesy of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Division of Parks and Tourism
As the summer quickly approaches, many Arkansans will (should) be making plans to enjoy the best of what our “Natural” state has to offer. From fishing to hiking to birdwatching, there is something out there for everyone in the great outdoors of Arkansas. Here are a few of our favorites.
FISHING
Lake Columbia, Magnolia
Lake Columbia has been one of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s (AGFC) No. 1 producers in the entire state. The commission compiles stats on how long it takes tournament anglers to catch a 5-pound bass, and Lake Columbia consistently records the lowest number of hours required.
Major Sportfish: Largemouth bass, black crappie, channel catfish
FISHING
White River (Publisher’s Pick)
The famed White River is probably the premier trout fishing water in the state, some might even say the country. And while the fish can be found throughout the meandering river, the tailwaters below Bull Shoals Dam are known to produce some of the largest you’ll ever encounter.
Major Sportfish: Rainbow and brown trout, walleye
BACKPACKING
Eagle Rock Loop, Langley
The Eagle Rock Loop Trail is the No. 1 rated backpacking trail in Arkansas according to All Trails. It is a more difficult trail than many, at around 28 miles long with an elevation gain of more than 4,000 feet, but is extremely rewarding. The trail includes a waterfall and numerous places to fish and camp to make it a good multiple-day journey.
FISHING
Lake Erling, Taylor
Just north of the Louisiana state line, Lafayette County’s finest is probably one of the best crappie fishing lakes in Arkansas. And it’s no slouch for bass and catfish, either.
Major Sportfish: White crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish
BIRD WATCHING
Millwood Lake, Ashdown
Southwestern Arkansas’ Millwood Lake is a large reservoir that harbors a variety of bird species for watchers to scope out from a number of different vantage points. Given the lake’s location, it is a great place to spot waterfowl during the winter, including dabbling and diving ducks, pelicans and gulls. Watchers might also stumble upon rare surprises, such as magnificent frigatebirds, jaegers, little gulls and sooty terns.
BACKPACKING
Seven Hollows Trail, Morrilton (Editor’s Pick)
Located at Petit Jean State Park, the Seven Hollows Trail is one of our favorites to traverse. Rated at a moderate difficulty level, the trail is very accessible for families and laid-back trekking. It spans a 4.4-mile loop through a section of the park and includes a waterfall that flows into an approachable grotto which is well-known for its tadpole population in the summer.
FISHING
Bull Shoals Lake, Bull Shoals
If you haven’t been to Bull Shoals lately, you don’t know what you’re missing. According to AGFC, the lake has had a high-water year majority over the last decade, providing fish with a great habitat of flooded trees and bushes. Young sport fish have a high survival rate in these conditions, so the fishing of bass, crappie and walleye is booming.
Major Sportfish: Largemouth and smallmouth bass, black and white crappie, walleye, channel catfish
BIRD WATCHING
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Pottsville
No matter the season, Holla Bend is one of the best in the state for birdwatching. According to the National Audubon Society, more than 270 different species of birds have been sighted in the refuge. Some of the highlights for patient watchers include wood ducks, wild turkey, Bell’s vireo, greater roadrunners, golden eagles and various types of swan. In the winter, bald eagles and long-eared and short-eared owls are known to frequent the site.
BACKPACKING
Centerpoint to Goat Trail, Ponca
Located off the Buffalo National River, the Centerpoint to Goat Trail is another one that ranks very high but is also rated as a hard difficulty level. It’s a 5.9 mile out and back trail that begins near the river and ends at Big Bluff, a jaw-dropping scenic venue that overlooks the river.
