Arkansas River Trail offers pleasant ride through scenic area
Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-record. Today, Deary takes readers on a journey to the Arkansas River Trail.
There was a time when I preferred riding mountain bikes in the midst of the forest. But with age, my preferences have certainly changed. In fact, my mountain bike would hardly see the light of day, if not for occasional rides along rails to trails systems and gravel roads.
That is not an indication, however, that I have given up cycling altogether. It’s simply a matter of focusing more on hard-surfaced routes that are less technical and easier to navigate.
So why the transition from a mountain bike to a road bike? To be perfectly honest, my reflexes and eyesight are not as keen as they were in my younger days. Let alone the fact that I am far less likely to return home with bumps and bruises.
Don’t get me wrong. There are dangers that lurk in road cycling, as well. In fact, one must be aware that they are often sharing the road with vehicles. Regardless of who has the right of way, the cyclist will always come up on the short end of the stick, in the event of a collision with an automobile.
One must also be prepared for occasional encounters with dogs. And it is not out of the question that a whitetail might suddenly bound from the cover of the forest and in front of a cyclist, in the blink of an eye. Heck, I suppose even an indecisive squirrel could prove a danger at high rates of speed.
That all being said, cycling is no different from practically any other sport in the sense that there are inherent dangers. Hence the reason that it is of utmost importance that riders religiously don their helmets prior to mounting their bikes. Head and flashing taillights are also essential in being noticed by those at the helm of automobiles.
Although sharing the road is simply a part of road cycling, I am far more comfortable on routes where traffic is minimal. In fact, I most enjoy hard-surfaced trails where automobiles are not permitted. Hence the reason, I often gravitate to a particular section of the Arkansas River Trail.
Located near Little Rock, the loop consists of 15.7 miles along both sides of the river. I have ridden the entire route on more than one occasion. However, I prefer the section of trail on the north side of the river, as one hardly has to deal with traffic.
The route on the south side of the river, however, is far more chaotic. In turn, I simply begin my ride at Cook’s Landing Park, on the north side of the Big Dam Bridge and ride to the Clinton Library. I then backtrack to my rig, lending to a pleasant 15.5mile ride.
I’ll be the first to admit that this particular ride is not physically challenging, as there is very little elevation gain. But worry not. A couple of climbs will lurk in the section of the connecting trail we will cover next week.
But as of right now, let’s focus on the section of the Arkansas River Trail meandering along the north shoreline of the waterway. From the parking area, the trail heads east. Eventually running alongside a pavilion, the path veers to the left, crosses a short bridge and leaves sight of the waterway.
Although it remains straight at the intersection of a lesser trail to the left, remember this spot, as we might just make a short detour at this point during our return back to the vehicle.
Anyway, back to the main trail for now. The path runs alongside a large field on the left and a smaller clearing on the right at about 1.5 miles into the ride. One might consider taking in their surroundings at this particular spot, as deer often frequent the fields.
It is not uncommon to see herds of 15 or 20 browsing within sight of the trail. In fact, this might prove the perfect spot to stop and get a few photos.
The trail continues straight, back within sight of the shoreline and alongside Burns Park, shortly thereafter. It then veers back to the left at 2.5 miles, crosses a bridge and heads sharply to the right into a wooded area.
The trail makes a fairly sharp ascent for a short distance, prior to making a hard right and running alongside and crossing a road at the edge of a golf course.
The route then makes its way down a steep hill just before making a hard turn to the left and crossing yet another bridge. It then makes a winding journey through a wooded area and embarks upon a fairly steep ascent prior to entering an open area atop the hill at 4.2 miles.
Judging from the distant bluff on the left hand side of the trail and the remnants of concrete pillars on the right, one might think that they are in the midst of where materials were once mined and loaded onto barges.
From the hilltop, the trail continues straight for a distance, prior to veering back to the right, alongside a park and back into a forested area. It eventually returns to the edge of and parallels a road for a short distance, before making its way between a row of houses and the river’s edge, as a distant skyline of downtown Little Rock comes into view.
The route makes a mild descent and goes under a railroad trestle just before making its way between a few more structures and the river. It makes its way under an overpass, and within sight of the Dickey Stephens Park, 6.5 miles into the ride.
It then makes its way under the Main Street overpass to the point where the rider must detour onto the road during the construction of a new bridge that will eventually span the Arkansas River.
The trail will share the road for a short distance prior to making a hard right and making an ascent to atop the bridge to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.
OK, the ride is halfway over, and it’s time to head back in the direction from where we came. Of course, much of the route will appear familiar. But let’s not forget that intersection that was mentioned early on in the article.
In fact, let’s make a righthand turn at this spot and experience yet a little more real estate prior to calling it a day. The paved trail will make a short jaunt alongside a field, to yet another intersection, where we will turn left, cross a bridge and immediately take yet another right.
The path will meander alongside a slough, on the right, for a distance, prior to veering to the left and making a slight ascent to a road. We’ll make a left-hand turn and follow the road to the parking area where we will end a pleasant ride through a scenic setting.
And if you are like me, you’ll already be anticipating your next excursion along the Arkansas River Trail.
To get to Cooks Landing, from Hot Springs, take Highway 70 east for approximately 18 miles and take Interstate 30 east toward Little Rock. Travel 18 miles and take Exit 129 to merge onto Interstate 430 north, toward Fort Smith.
Drive 12 miles and take Exit 12 onto Maumelle Boulevard toward Crystal Hill Road. Go 0.4 miles and take a right onto Crystal Hill Road. Travel 600 feet and turn right onto Northshore Drive. Go 400 feet and take yet another right onto Cook’s Landing Road. Drive 1 mile and the parking area will be on the right.