If you’ve not read part two of our travels following the Arkansas River, follow this link.
My wife and I recently took a trip following the Arkansas River. The plan was to follow much of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, stopping at various Corps of Engineers parks along the way. The navigation waterway is a 445-mile route from the Port of Catoosa near Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the Mississippi River. The system contains a total of 17 locks and dams along the Verdigris, Arkansas, and White Rivers.
Day three of our trip along the Arkansas River would take us to several Corps of Engineers parks and the Arkansas Post National Memorial. Our first stop was the Corps of Engineers office near Emmett Sanders Lock & Dam #4 where I obtained some information about projects in the area. There didn’t appear to be any public access to the lock and dam for viewing barge traffic so we continued onward. Crossing over the Arkansas River on US Highway 63, you can see the lock and dam just to the south. On the other side of the river is Sheppard Island, a recreation area with picnic facilities and boat access to the river.
Shortly after crossing the river, we turned off the highway to follow State Highway 88 toward Raydell. I chose to bypass Joe Hardin Lock & Dam #3, assuming there would not be any public access to watch barge traffic. Raydell is a wide spot in the road, consisting of a few homes and a Baptist church. From here the road headed northeasterly toward DeWitt and US Highway 165.
After following US Highway 165 south a bit and one left turn onto State Highway 44, we would soon be entering the Merrisach Lake Recreation Area. But first, I stopped at the nearby Corps of Engineers office for some information. To the east down Wild Goose Lane was access to Norrell Lock & Dam #1 on the Arkansas Post Canal. A nearby boat ramp provided access to the White River. This would be the closest we would come to the Mississippi River and the beginning of the McClellan Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.
Lock 2 is located near the Corps of Engineers office but there is no public access for viewing river traffic. A bridge crosses over the lock providing access to the east side of Wilbur D. Mills Dam and Notrebes Bend Recreation Area, which has a 30-site campground. I was told the access road at the time was rough so I opted to not check out the park. Instead, Debbie and I headed west a short drive into Merrisach Lake Recreation Area.
Merrisach Lake Recreation Area is a nice park situated on the Arkansas Post Canal. I was told it is most popular in spring and fall; summer is hot, humid and thick with mosquitoes. Some event was taking place over the upcoming weekend and the campground was expected to be full. After exploring the park and taking several photographs, we moved on to our next destination for the day.
Our next stop for the day was Arkansas Post National Memorial. We walked the grounds of the old townsite, reading historical markers along the way. It was a beautiful mid-October day. The engine noise of a barge towboat could be heard in the distance. We continued walking toward the Arkansas River Overlook to see if we could watch the source of the engine noise, but it was out of sight. We enjoyed a picnic lunch before continuing our journey.
Back on US Highway 165, we headed south a few miles to our next destination, the Corps of Engineers park Pendleton Bend Recreation Area. This park on the Arkansas River features 32 campsites with a few directly overlooking the river. It’s a nice park, one I look forward to returning to for a longer stay.
Wilbur D. Mills Park, another Corps of Engineers park, is farther on down the road a bit. This quiet park on the Arkansas River has 21 sites for RV and tent campers. A boat ramp provides access to the river. We seriously considered ending our day here and setting up camp for the night. The weather forecast called for cold temperatures overnight; we would be tent camping and were not prepared for the cold temps.
We continued on, following State Highway 212 west to its intersection with US Highway 65 where we would turn northward. Rising Star Park was the last Corps of Engineers park on my itinerary for the day’s journey. We were unable to explore the park or take photos because it was closed due to flooding. Disappointed, we turned around and headed back to US-65 and followed that to Pine Bluff and the hotel we stayed the previous night. It had been an enjoyable day exploring the various parks.