Delta Heritage Trail State Park

Delta Heritage Trail State Park offers 754 acres of protected woodlands, providing a chance to see a few of the last remaining old growth trees on the Arkansas River. The trails here are second to none. There are over 14 miles of total routes here to explore, all of which are rich with local history. 

Originally a set of rail lines, these lengths of track were bought up by Arkansas State Parks in the early 1990s. The paved trails follow several parts of the Mississippi Delta and provide some of the most scenic areas in Helena County. By the end of 2019, the plan is to extend this network to more than 85 miles in length. 

Hikers should be warned that cyclists share these trails, so you should always keep an eye out for additional traffic. If you're determined to bring your dog along for the walk, just make sure that they're on a leash and you take care of any messes they drop on the ground.

Camping is offered here as well via 61 primitive sites that pepper the area. These sites are also open class D RVs but don't provide any dump stations or hookups. Every site comes standard with a picnic table and fire ring, in case you're looking to roast marshmallows in the evening. 

Coin operated showers are available just a short walk north of the campsites, as well as public restrooms and a camp store that offers firewood, sunblock, and other last-minute outdoor needs. If you'd like to have, your canine companion accompanies you on your overnight stay, make sure they stay in your tent or RV overnight, as no leash stakes are allowed. Campsites are first to come, first serve.

Also contained in Delta Heritage Trail State Park is the Lower Arkansas River Basin, which has been officially labeled by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission as a mega ecological site, which means that it contains are a large percentage of the ecosystems that have been destroyed on other parts of the river. Several indigenous tree species can now almost exclusively be found here.