Two Rivers Park Trail welcome relief from the ‘big city’
Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. Today, Deary takes readers on a journey to Two Rivers Park Trail.
Well, it looks like Ol’ Man Winter might have us in his grip for the next few months. However, we are fortunate in Arkansas, in the sense that we’ll still experience our fair share of beautiful sunny afternoons from time to time.
Although a nip might still be in the air on these sunny wintertime days, this is a great time to get out and enjoy a walk, especially since many have grown weary of being cooped up for practically a year, as a result of this pandemic.
Of course, we must bear in mind that even Mother Nature is not a destination where we can drop our guards, hence the reason that we should still be diligent in wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
But it has been proven that spending time in the great outdoors is noticeably safer than gathering with the masses in indoor settings. So I thought this might prove a good time to cover one of Arkansas’ many designated trails.
Many of the destinations I write about are situated far from the hustles and bustles of our cities. But today’s location will be along the outskirts of one of the state’s largest towns.
That’s right, I’m referring to Little Rock. I occasionally find it necessary to visit this location from time to time. And anybody who truly knows me would be quick to suggest that I am not a fan of crowds and busy streets. In fact, they make me a nervous wreck.
So what to do when beckoned to the “big city?” Of course, I first take care of whatever business I might have to address. And then, I often make a Bee-line back to an environment where I am far more comfortable. But I’m also not beyond making taking a retreat at Two Rivers Trail prior to heading home.
Now, I’ll be the first to agree that this designated path is also a very busy destination, especially during the spring, summer and fall seasons. But let’s bear in mind that the crowds obviously dwindle during the colder months of the year. And as a result, it is far easier to enjoy an outing without the worry of getting closer than folks feel comfortable during this pandemic.
Two Rivers Park is situated at the confluence of the Little Maumelle and Arkansas rivers, in close proximity of the I-430 bridge. There is more than one access point to the park, as it consumes in the neighborhood of 1,000 acres.
I suppose a lot of folks prefer the north access via Two Rivers Park Road. However, I usually just take Exit 9 off of 430, take a left onto Cantrell, travel a halfmile, take a right at the light and follow the road three-tenths of a mile to the parking area at the southernmost extremity of the park.
This spot is extremely close to where the Little Maumelle feeds into the Arkansas River. In turn, this also appears to be a popular access point for those who enjoy paddling and kayak fishing, as they can easily enjoy the smaller river, yet avoid the Arkansas. And I feel compelled to warn folks that the Arkansas River is not a destination that should be considered by small crafts.
OK, let’s get back to the designated walking path. This is actually where the Arkansas River and Two Rivers Trails converge, as well. One could head south from the parking area and follow the Arkansas River Trail all the way back to the Presidential Library near Interstate 30.
This, too, lends to a nice excursion, especially via bicycle. But we’ll cover this particular route at another time. So at present, we’ll simply turn left and strike out across the Two Rivers Bridge and enjoy a brisk walk along a 6.3-mile route making its way through a beautiful, wooded setting.
The bridge is very impressive and lends to incredible scenery. Peering to the left, one can see a distant Pinnacle Mountain overlooking the River Valley.
The view to the right is also impressive. However, it lends to a totally different scene, as the I-430 bridge is in close proximity and in plain view.
The trail makes a slight ascent until reaching the halfway point of the bridge, where it heads slightly downhill to where it ties in with land on the opposing side.
The climb is mild, to say the least. And I would not be surprised if this is the steepest climb during the entire journey, as much of the trail’s remainder meanders through a low-lying area.
The path makes its way to an intersection, on the right, shortly after crossing the bridge. This section of path makes a small loop to a point overlooking the Arkansas River prior to tying back into the main trail.
The main trail then veers to the left and begins a pleasant journey through a wooded area. It makes its way alongside the Arkansas River for a short distance. However, the wooded understory blocks one’s view from the waterway. A couple of huge cottonwoods tower into the sky along the right- hand side of the trail and a predominantly pine forest stands on the left. Although in close proximity of civilization, I would suspect native wildlife fares well in this environment. In fact, I have seen several mammal and bird species going about their everyday rituals within sight of the trail during previous excursions.
The path makes its way to yet another intersection, shortly there
after. The route to the left leads back to the main trail near the base of the aforementioned bridge. However, we will veer right and continue along the route, as it continues through a pleasant setting.
The trail continues, relatively straight, as it runs alongside the backwaters of the Arkansas River. That being said, the environment continues to provide the needed habitat for native critters to thrive. In fact, I would suspect that even more animals might gravitate toward this section of the trail, as it is farther from the roar of the interstate.
We’ve been sharing the same path with the Arkansas River Trail for a distance, However, the Two Rivers Trail eventually veers to the left to the northern access point of the facility.
But reaching the northern access point does not necessarily mean it’s time to backtrack to the starting point. In fact, one can take a left and continue their walk along a section leading to the banks of the Little Maumelle River.
The path makes its way to a point overlooking the water prior to running alongside the shoreline. It then veers to the right and meanders back to a road. Simply take a right and follow the road back to the trail, take a right and head back in the direction from where the journey began.
I’ll be the first to admit that I am drawn toward locations where folks are few and far between. But I’ll also be quick to admit that the Two Rivers Trail is a destination I have always enjoyed. And I suspect it’s a destination where I’ll return many times in the future.