Why have I never visited the White River National Wildlife Refuge before? I have deprived myself of…read morea great destination for far too long. Okay, the NWR is not for everyone as it lacks paved roads, developed camp sites, running water, electricity or even sanitation facilities (not even a porta-potty). But for those wanting a true outdoor experience, the NWR can't be beat and its free! Your tax dollars have paid for access and camping. I highly recommend the north side entrance on Highway 1 between Dewitt and Marvell. A short drive down the gravel road on the north side leads to several lakes and adjacent camping areas. Just ensure you're camped inside the white paint rings on the trees. All of the lakes feature gravel boat launches and you will need a boat, canoe or kayak to take full advantage of NWR waters. You do need to be fishing or hunting in the NWR in order to camp and rangers and game wardens were active the days we visited. Also you'll need a free NWR permit which you can download or pickup at the visitor center just off of Highway 1 on the Dewitt side of the White River bridge. While picking up your permit in person, take time to walk the Upland trail. Plan about 30 minutes for the circuit. Kids will also love the diorama in the visitor center. I plan to return several times each year to fish in the NWR and, no, I won't tell you my favorite lake and camping spot. You'll need to find your own.

This is an AWESOME place!!! The folks in the Visitor's Center are super nice and will help you get…read moreto where ever you want to go. Hike far, not so far - they'll give you the scoop. If you go in flood season, the boardwalk should be open and give you great views of wildlife during this time of year. We saw several different kinds of fish and snakes swimming in the water as well as brightly colored birds everywhere. We would like to return after flood season to compare, but we're sure it will be just as great. When you go down the road toward the visitors, don't pass it up. The building with the solar panels and flag is both the office AND visitor's center. We thought it was just the office and ended up on a narrow, deeply rutted dirt road leading to a couple lodges.

I have been here a few times and each time it keeps getting better. The rental RV is wonderful,…read moreand nicely equipped. Bicycles for rent, along with plenty of fishing. Looking forward to the next visit there. The staff is wonderful and very understanding when something goes wrong.

I visited Cane Creek State park in the Spring of 2010 for an overnight backpacking trip with my…read moredaughter. We hiked the Cane Creek Lake Trail six miles from the trailhead to the campground. We had the campground to ourselves on a Saturday night. The trail was fairly level with small dips into creeks. The swinging suspension bridges were fun to cross. The trail is well marked and signed and bridge numbers are used to identify locations in emergencies. Our trip coincided with a controlled burn and we enjoyed several trees still on fire and the contrast of the bright trail with the darker country side. Fortunately the burn extended only a mile or so into our hike. The lake features beaver and their structures. (Beware of "beaver fever" and treat all lake water carefully. There are kayak rentals for those wanting to tour the lake. naturalists also lead scheduled tours on the water or you can follow a self-guided water trail. The camping area was very nice and you can rent one of two trailers with decks if you want to try out camping or just don't want to encumber yourself. Star City is a just few miles away and the local stores provide groceries and other items you may have forgotten. Amateur radio operators should note there is a repeater in nearby Star City which can be linked to Little Rock using the 110.9 tone. Friends in Little Rock can reply using 146.940 with a similar 110.9 tone.

When I'm home in Pine Bluff visiting, 9 times out of 10 my running shoes are packed and ready to…read morehit the pavement if time prevails.That being said, my "go-to" spot to knock off some miles is at Lake Saracen Walking Trail. Not "thee" best trail of all time, but hey...it serves its purpose. I must say, I do enjoy running here when I get the chance. Mainly because the view of the lake along the route is so serene! Other than that, there is not much more scenery- just a wooded, field area adjacent to the lake. The distance of this paved trail is about 1.7 miles one way, so a round trip trail run (or walk) would get you about 3.4 miles total. What I dislike about this trail is that it does not have a loop. Once you reach the end of the trail, which stretches over towards University Drive, you simply have to turn around and run/walk back the same way you came. One would think they would have a full loop around the lake, but unfortunately that is not the case. My hope is that they will eventually do so, as it would add more mileage to the route and a continuous view of Lake Saracen. The good thing about this area is there are ways to get "creative" with getting more miles in outside of the trail in the event that the 3.4 round trip run is just not enough. Alongside the first half of the trail (to the right) there is a path that veers off towards a baseball stadium. The stadium's parking lot area has a loop. When I ran here recently, I ventured off the trail to run it, only because there was no one in the lot or anything going on at the stadium so "why not?" were my exact thoughts. My second thought was "if only there was a trail connecting from the lake all the way down to Harbor Oaks Golf Club- THAT would be genius!" Wishful thinking, I guess. But, I digress. Parking is easy breezy here, as there is plenty at the main entrance as well as the backside entrance on the other side of the trail, near University. The times I've come out here to run, I've seen people fishing so I'm assuming this may be a good place for that as well. Overall, Lake Saracen is a decent place to check out if you are looking for a nice outside trail to run (or walk) in Pine Bluff. It affords me the chance to get my miles in when I'm home and for that very reason, I'm a fan!

Love this place. We have been going camping & fishing here for as long as I can remember. Made a…read morelot of memories with my family & will continue to do so. Great fishing.

This is a pretty place to come with the kids, the dogs or just by yourself…read more Lake Willastein is a man-made lake/earthen dam created in 1942 which perhaps why there are several military-looking bunkers spread around. There's a jogging track, a few piers to fish from, a kids playground and hiking trails that lead back into the woods. There's 53 acres to explore and I have been told, an excellent 4th of July fireworks display held by the water.

Love this park, been coming here since I moved to little rock 5 years ago. It's quiet , clean and…read morealways very pretty! My nana & pawpa live nearby to so that's always a plus. Don't miss out! go to the park!!! run , walk or jog don't get fat ! After this great review everybody should be going to the park and working on their fitness!!!

A heartfelt thank you to Gabe Novak at Crooked Creek Outfitters for an unforgettable experience. My…read morenieces and I embarked on a float trip today on Crooked Creek, and it was truly a day of pure joy. The weather was flawless, and the creek's gentle flow perfectly complemented our adventure. Gabe's expertise and warm guidance made all the difference, as he walked us through the process and empowered the least experienced among us to grasp the basics. As we set off, laughter and excitement filled the air - a testament to the magic of Crooked Creek Outfitters. Given our busy lives, it's rare for the three of us to come together, but Crooked Creek Outfitters made this reunion seamless and effortless. All we had to focus on was soaking in the breathtaking beauty. Thank you, Gabriel Novak, for crafting memories that will last a lifetime. Also the cost was extremely reasonable. If you think you can't afford a float trip call Gabe his prices are shocking!

Gabe runs a tip top outfitter service. He is very trustworthy, dependable, and accommodating. We…read morehad an awesome July 4th weekend kayaking Crooked Creek. We highly recommend this awesome outfitter.

We had a blast fishing with Barton Outfitters. Aaron Barton is the man if you want to catch…read morecrappie. He worked hard to give us a wonderful day of fishing. Plan on seeing you again soon. Thank you!!!

This was my second year in a row with Barton Outfitters . Fished with Aaron and Brannon and both of…read morethem are excellent guides and a lot of fun to be with . I have some medical issues and they went far beyond what I expected to make you comfortable . They want you to have fun and catch Plenty of Fish and we did . I've never caught crappie that big anywhere . They both work very hard to make your trip enjoyable . Thanks for basically babysitting me . And as Arnold said I'll be back . Love The Compassion Aaron had for his dog . We'll miss all three of them Aaron , Brannon and Dub hope to see you next year .

This is a wonderful, shaded and pleasant place to let your furry friends freely fraternize. There…read moreis aren't any signs that I noticed that tell you where the Doggy Park is, so when you enter Murray Park, turn right and go over to the East end of the park. There is a one-way loop road around the dog park so be looking for that.

What a delightful, picturesque park tucked off in the corner of Little Rock. It has river views and…read morea few miles of walking/biking trails in front and through the park. A well kept little secret of LR.