Mississippi River State Park, Delta Travel Guide

Mississippi River State Park, situated in eastern Arkansas within the St. Francis National Forest, is a captivating destination where the Mississippi River, Crowley's Ridge, and the Arkansas Delta converge. This 536-acre park provides access to the St. Francis National Forest and aims to foster connections with the river, delta, and Crowley's Ridge.The park's location on Crowley's Ridge, a geological formation rising 500 feet above the plains, has served as a refuge for humans for millennia. Native American tribes sought shelter here from high waters and hunted in the surrounding forests. The area also saw some of the earliest European explorers, as the Mississippi River was a major travel route. In 1815, the confluence of the St. Francis and Mississippi Rivers became the starting point for the land survey of the Louisiana Purchase.Today, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including fishing for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, and catfish, as well as hiking, birding, and wildlife watching. The park boasts four hiking trails, ranging from the barrier-free Trotting Fox Trail to the four-mile roundtrip Base Line Trail. Two National Scenic Byways, the Great River Road and Crowley's Ridge Parkway, also traverse the park.Mississippi River State Park offers several camping options, including the Beech Point Campground with full hookups, the primitive Lone Pine Campground, and the Maple Flats Group Campground. Visitors can also rent kayaks and paddleboards at Bear Creek and Storm Creek swim beaches. The park's visitor center features interactive exhibits that explore the Arkansas Delta, the Mississippi River, and Crowley's Ridge.