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Stories in Arkansas

Revisiting Your Favorite Preserves

Have you visited a preserve lately? If not, you should plan to, because you’ve helped make many of the Conservancy’s places more accessible and fun.

Experience the Kings River Preserve

The Kings River Preserve in Carroll County spans some 10.5 miles on both sides of the Kings River. Incredibly scenic, the Kings River is lined with tall bluffs, gravel beds and forested banks. Its waters flow clear and clean. And the Kings River is known as one of the best destinations for prized game fish, notably the smallmouth bass. Belted kingfishers, egrets and herons are common sights, as are bald eagles during winter months.

Travel the Trails

Bluff overlooking the Archey Fork at Bluffton Preserve.

Many of you asked for better access to explore TNC preserves, and we listened. New and improved trails, trail maps, and signage are a few of the ways we’ve been working to improve your nature experience at the places you support.

  • Ranch North Woods Preserve in Little Rock has a new parking area with benches, maps of four trails and a kiosk where we keep you up to date on what’s happening there, and a canoe launch just a few yards from the parking area. Thanks to the Arkansas Canoe Club, a floating camping platform is now available for canoes and kayaks on the Little Maumelle River.
  • Smith Creek Preserve in Newton County’s Boxley Valley boasts new signage, trail markers and a lookout point from Highway 21 with interpretive signage.
  • The Rob and Melani Walton Nature Preserve in Garfield includes a new parking lot, signage and marked hiking and biking trails.
  • Bluffton Preserve outside of Clinton features a new lookout trail as you drive into the preserve—it’s a quick walk to an outcropping with a view of the whole valley. On the banks of the Archey Fork, there are picnic tables, campfire ring, ladder access to one of our favorite swimming holes and primitive trails leading to some of the prettiest spots on the preserve.
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Paddling at Ranch North Woods Preserve.

Special thanks to

  • Hank’s Fine Furniture and Rich Carlsen for helping with improvements to the Kings River Deck House.
  • Paul and Melanie Norris, Brandon Pack, Ozark Off Road Cyclists and all of the amazing volunteers who built the Deck House trail.
  • The Arkansas Canoe Club for making the Little Maumelle camping platform a reality.
  • The Roenfeldt family for supporting improvements at Smith Creek Preserve.
  • Watchful neighbors of the Conservancy’s preserves who help keep them clean and safe for everyone.