Run the Great Outdoors
These Central Arkansas trail runs deliver challenge, beauty.
Trail running takes one of the best forms of exercise and casts it in some pretty stunning environments. We asked former University of Arkansas All-America runner Gary Taylor for some of the best trail runs in Central Arkansas. Here’s what he had to say:
Monument Trails at Pinnacle Mountain Visitors Center
“Hilly and challenging but all-new trails and well-marked. Built mostly for mountain biking, but they are multiuse trails and great for running.”
The Ranch North Woods Preserve
“Flat, mowed grass loop with some wooded singletrack. Beautiful location and a break from the hilly, rocky trails of Arkansas.”
Rattlesnake Ridge
“New trails that are a vertical challenge, but what great views await at the top! Several various trails to choose from.”
Allsopp Park Trails
“A great ‘in town’ option only a few miles from downtown Little Rock. An urban park, but these trails have all the characteristics of trails in the wild: secluded, in dense woods, hilly, rocky and, again, some great views!”
The Ouachita Trail
“The queen of trails, this one starts at the Pinnacle Mountain Visitors Center and travels 232 miles into Oklahoma. There are many places to start and finish sections of this trail in Central Arkansas, each with its own personality.”
Whether you’re a tenderfoot, a mountain goat or water sports enthusiast, Arkansas Highway 10 delivers a little something for everyone. Come along as we point out some of the highlights along this easy-to-drive highway to adventure.
1. City Lights
Our tour of Arkansas Highway 10 starts on Cantrell Road in the heart of Little Rock’s River Market district. From here you can pick up the River Trail, a paved path that runs for miles along the Arkansas River, popular with runners and cyclists. For an even closer water view, visit Rock Town River Outfitters for kayak rentals and plenty of advice on paddling the river.
2. Cool Green
Not far out of downtown, find Allsopp Park, a green oasis hidden in the city. Trail runners love this little course, which can be easily accessed at the bottom of Cantrell Hill. Or, veer back to the north and continue to the Big Dam Bridge, where bikers, walkers and people watchers take in the view.
3. Pedal adventure
At the Interstate 430 North interchange at Cantrell Road, find your way to Two Rivers Park via the bike and pedestrian bridge in the shadow of River Mountain. Also accessible via bike directly from the Big Dam Bridge area, if you took our advice in Stop No. 2.
4. Towering peak
Making your way to west Little Rock, spend the day at Pinnacle Mountain, Little Rock’s favorite place to get some rock therapy. There are two ways to get to the top: a bouldering side to the east and a less-strenuous trail side on the west. Either one affords a gorgeous view from the top. Stay for a picnic after your climb or visit the nearby Arkansas Arboretum.
5. Keep on Roland
Just outside Pinnacle Mountain, the Arkansas River Trail runs toward Roland. The route runs between Lake Maumelle and the Arkansas River. Road bikers love this stretch, but be careful as you share the twisty, rolling route with vehicular traffic. The route is breathtaking in fall, especially from the back deck of BoBrook Farms Winery.
6. New sensation
Cantrell Road turns back into Arkansas Highway 10 beyond Pinnacle, right about the time you should start looking for Rattlesnake Ridge. This unspoiled stretch has drawn raves ever since it opened, and will challenge your hiking and trail running skills to the utmost. Turn right just beyond the Ferndale Cutoff.
7. Easy water views
Outside of Little Rock, find the Bufflehead Bay Trail on the shores of Lake Maumelle. This easy jaunt is scenic and suitable for all skill levels. Brought your boat? Check out Westrock Landing to get into the water. If you didn’t, they’ll rent you one.
8. Scenic Drive
From Bufflehead Bay Trail, it’s a scenic drive along Lake Maumelle that brings you to the eastern end of the Ouachita National Forest. Get out for a walk, or hang a hammock for a lazy afternoon in the lovely primeval forest.
9. Lake life
The last leg of our Highway 10 tour leads you north toward Harris Brake State Wildlife Management Area. Home to Harris Brake Lake, the state’s third largest, it’s popular with anglers chasing bluegills, redear sunfish, crappie, channel catfish and largemouth bass. The fish are plentiful thanks to the ample cover and habitat at the lake, such as brush, sunken logs and stumps. Those with the patience to navigate these impediments are sure to be rewarded. Check agfc.com for regulations on fishing and hunting the WMA.
