Walk it off
Greers Ferry Lake area offers opportunity to get moving
The 40,000-acre Greers Ferry Lake offers plenty of recreation on the water, but the lake’s shores provide an abundance of opportunities to explore the area by foot. Not only is walking good for your health, but it’s a fun, and free, activity that the whole family can enjoy. Whether watching wildlife or just getting some fresh air, the natural surroundings of Greers Ferry Lake offer a variety of places to explore. Here are just a few trails available nearby.
BUCKEYE NATIONAL NATURE TRAIL
Adjacent to the William Carl Garner Visitor Center in Heber Springs, this half-mile trail offers a smooth surface and is easy to walk. Downstream from the Greers Ferry dam, this trail meanders along a bluff overlooking the Little Red River and fish hatchery. The trail is mostly level, except at each end, where mossy bluffs are crossed by flights of stairs.The trail provides excellent views from an overlook shelter of the Greers Ferry dam and lake, in addition to the river valley.The Buckeye Trail was constructed in conjunction with the Mossy Bluff Trail to provide a quality trail experience for people who are not physically able to negotiate the more difficult areas. Displays are provided alongside these trails for interpretation of interesting natural features.
COLLINS CREEK TRAIL
This trail runs alongside the stream and is a little more than half-a-mile long. Located in the Collins Creek recreational area at John F. Kennedy Park in Heber Springs, the trail features a cold-water pipeline from the dam, rock riffles to form pools for trout, public access and interpretive trails. The trail is a project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to restore habitat for brook trout. The trail offers catch-and-release fishing for children 16 and younger.
INDIAN ROCK CAVE TRAIL
Located at the Indian Hills Golf Course in Fairfield Bay, this trail leads to the Indian Rock House, where Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto visited in 1542 while seeking the fountain of youth. The 3/4-mile trail begins on the left side of the historic Old Log Cabin and runs alongside the golf course. The family-friendly trail offers history and beautiful views of rock formations and bluffs.
INDIAN FALLS TRAIL
This trail near Wild Horse Canyon in Fairfield Bay offers a serene hike through rock formations and two waterfalls. Just less than a mile in length, the trail is located off West Cliff Spur and has adequate parking.
JOSH PARK MEMORIAL TRAIL
Located within the boundary of Dam Site Park just north of Heber Springs, this multipurpose trail is utilized by campers, hikers, runners, walkers, bicyclists and nature enthusiasts. It is even the site for a multischool cross-country track meet every fall.The trailhead offers a restroom facility, drinking water, a picnic area and an outdoor fitness station.
MOSSY BLUFF NATIONAL
NATURE TRAIL
This 1.6-mile trail, which can be accessed just outside the William Carl Garner Visitor Center in Heber Springs, follows a bluff overlooking the Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam.The easy-to-moderate trail offers a view of natural occurrences, such as two trees that
have grown together as one and a balanced rock caused by weathering. The end of the trail features 96 steps that lead hikers to a spectacular overlook above the Little Red River and the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery, serving as a nice rest stop before they venture back to the visitor center.
SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN NATURE TRAIL
Located on an island in Greers Ferry Lake, this 2-mile trail is only accessible by boat from Arkansas 337 at the Sugarloaf Recreation Area on the south and from Arkansas 330 at Fairfield Bay Park on the north.The summit, 540 feet above the lake, offers panoramic views of Greers Ferry Lake and the surrounding area.The Sugarloaf Mountain Nature Trail breaks into two paths: the Terrace Trail and the Mule Trail. The Terrace Trail follows the circumference of the mountain and is a moderate hike, while the Mule Trail climbs straight to the mountaintop and is a more strenuous hike.
SULPHUR CREEK TRAIL
Maintained by the Heber Springs Parks and Recreation Department, this paved trail is located a few blocks south of Main Street and is about half-a-mile long. Par t of a larger trail plan for the city, the Sulphur Creek Trail offers a beautiful view of nature, including a crossing over the creek.