Mississippi River State Park a truly unique destination
Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-record. Today, Deary takes readers on a journey to Mississippi River State Park.
My wife, Dave Hoffman, Dianne Maynard and I recently struck out in an eastward direction, bright and early in the morning. Of course, to happen upon locations we had never visited would prove welcomed.
But I most anticipated getting better acquainted with a destination that I had previously visited a couple of times throughout the years. And with each visit, I have grown more aware that the Mississippi River State Park is truly a very unique location. In fact, it is quickly becoming one of my favorite state parks throughout Arkansas.
Located on the southern end of Crowley’s Ridge, the facility is situated in a landscape that is far different from what most folks automatically imagine when extreme eastern Arkansas is mentioned.
Unlike the flatlands of the Delta, Crowley’s Ridge is exactly what its name suggests. It is a ridge, beginning in southern Missouri and stretching 200 miles to Helena-west Helena. According to http://www.arkansas.com, the ridge reaches 250 feet in height and stretches 12 miles across at the widest point.
The park borders both the
St. Francis and Mississippi rivers, and operates within the 23,000-acre St. Francis National Forest, via a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service. Sections of the facility border the St. Francis River, while others border the Mississippi.
The ridge produces an optimal environment for a variety of interesting plant life to thrive. In fact, according to information posted on the aforementioned website, “Many of the trees that make up the forest on Crowley’s Ridge are similar to those found in the western Appalachian Mountains.”
Crowley’s Ridge has a rich history. And where better to learn tales of its southern extremities than the Mississippi River State Park Visitor Center? In fact, according to the park brochure, the ridge was utilized by Native Americans as hunting grounds and a refuge from high waters.
The brochure also says, “Some of the earliest European explorers were here since the Mississippi River was used as a major travel route. In 1815, the confluence of the St. Francis and Mississippi Rivers was the starting point for the land survey of the Louisiana Purchase.”
These are but a few of the interesting regional facts awaiting at the visitor center. And I would suspect that most folks would find the interactive exhibits most interesting.
But the fun extends far beyond the visitor center. Those who enjoy spending time in the midst of the wonderful outdoors will find more than enough to keep them occupied for several hours. In fact, I’ll step out on a limb and suggest that this is a location where one could actually enjoy an outing lasting multiple days.
Speaking of multiple days, three small reservoirs are situated within the perimeters of the park, two of which offer camping opportunities. Three different campgrounds are situated on Bear Creek Lake.
The Beech Point Campground sports 17 campsites, 14 of which are Class AAA, offering water, electric and sewer hookups. The remaining three are class D walk-in tent sites.
Fourteen primitive sites, with access to a vaulted toilet, are situated on the east side of the lake, at the Lone Pine Campground, while the Maple Flats Campground, which is also primitive, is designed with group camping in mind.
Storm Lake is nestled in a beautiful setting near the southern extremities of the park, and also offers camping opportunities, as well. However, only 12 designated sites are available at the recreation area, all of which are designed with primitive camping in mind. Vaulted toilets are also on site.
So now for the million-dollar question: How’s the fishing on these lakes? Well, as for Storm Lake, I truly can’t say one way or the other, as I’m hardly familiar with the body of water.
And although I have also never wet a hook in Bear Creek Lake, I did have the opportunity to chew the fat with a couple of anglers during our most recent visit, who had managed to boat a fairly nice stringer of largemouths just hours before. And judging from the number of boats I saw on the lake, I would suspect that the reservoir is a decent fishery.
But wait. One does not have to be a fishing enthusiast to appreciate the Mississippi River State Park. In fact, four designated Trails meander within the perimeters of the facility, as well.
Trotting Fox Trail begins at the Visitor Center and makes a 0.5-mile loop alongside a pond and through a wooded area prior to returning to the trailhead. The path is level and lends to an easy walk. Although the path is short, one should not be surprised if they happen upon a deer going about its everyday rituals.
I have walked this particular route a couple of times, and have seen Canada geese on the small reservoir. And although the whitetails went unseen, I did notice several fresh deer tracks along the way.
Bear Creek Lake Nature Trail Makes a 1-mile loop and lends to the opportunity to get better acquainted with a small section of the St. Francis National Forest. In fact, those hiking the route will be privy to unique flora and fauna of Crowley’s Ridge as they meander through stands of large native trees.
Horner Lake Trail is very short, however, it does traverse through an environment that is frequented by native wildlife. Although I have never walked this particular route, I would suspect that the hiker might see water-loving birds browsing near the shoreline, as well as various mammals that depend upon the small reservoir for a portion of their food sources.
I am not familiar with the Baseline Trail. However, I am aware that it is the longest designated path of the four found within the perimeters of the park. The route is accessible from County Road 217 and lends to a 4-mile round trip.
Now let’s talk about yet another means of exploring the national forest and state park. It just so happens that two scenic byways make their way through the facility. I have traveled along the Great River Road and the Crowley’s Ridge Parkway, both of which eventually lead into Helena/ West Helena.
Both routes make their way through a beautiful wooded setting and should be considered. However, I most enjoyed a jaunt along the Great River Road.
The confluence of the St. Francis and Mississippi Rivers can be accessed from the road, and was, by far, my favorite stop of the entire day. Nothing more than seeing the vastness of the Mississippi River, at this point, was well worth the drive. And the opportunity to watch on as a tug boat slowly navigated upstream was icing on the cake.
Mississippi River State Park is certainly one of those special places that I anticipate visiting again in the near future. In fact, it’s a destination where I would certainly consider spending an extended stay in the midst of the wonderful outdoors.
To get to Mississippi River State Park from Hot Springs, take Highway 70 east for approximately 17 miles and merge onto Interstate 30 east, toward Little Rock.
Travel 27 miles and merge right onto Interstate 440, toward Memphis. Drive 10 miles and take Exit 11A-B to merge onto Interstate 40, toward Memphis. Drive 0.2 miles and keep right to merge onto I-40 east, toward Memphis.
Travel 62 miles and take Exit 221 onto Highway 78, toward Marianna. Drive 0.2 miles and turn right onto Highway 78, toward Wheatley/marianna. Drive 15 miles and make a slight left onto Highway 79.
Go 11 miles and turn right onto East R Gaines Street. Drive 0.5 miles and take a left onto West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Go 2.9 miles, make a left-hand turn and travel 25 feet to the visitor center parking area.