Hot Springs National Park has partnered with CHI St. Vincent, a regional health network serving central and southwest Arkansas, to introduce a seasonal health promotion program series called “Hike to Health.” The first event of this series is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Whittington Park. (374 Whittington Ave. Hot Springs, AR 71901) Join park rangers and physicians from CHI St. Vincent to learn about the health benefits of outdoor physical activity and the unique public health history of Hot Springs National Park. The event will begin with a brief interpre ..read more

A Celebration of Watersports and Community Spirit The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) announced that the official opening event for the WOKA Whitewater Park will be on April 26th, Friday, at 10 AM. WOKA is a new whitewater destination located near Watts, Oklahoma, along the Illinois River. The facility is situated on a beautiful 30-acre site in the Ozark foothills. The highlight of the venue is a 1,200-foot long and 100-foot-wide whitewater course, which is located separately from the main river channel. This feature makes WOKA an ideal location for whitewater enthusiasts to test their skill ..read more

The Arkansas Outside Team loves a unique outdoor experience and this past weekend we enjoyed a classic Arkansas gravel bike ride with a twist. Phat Tire Bike Shop’s Double Barrel Gravel Ride offers a chance to conquer challenging gravel roads, test your skills with some skeet shooting, and refuel with a delicious jambalaya and crawfish boil – all for a good cause. Most of the AO group pre-ride.Gravel Riding Adventure The cycling event was held on Saturday, April 20, with registration beginning at 6:30 am. Participants had the option to choose from three routes: a challenging 71-mile course, a ..read more

Craighead Forest Park in Jonesboro, AR, is set to unveil a new network of trails next week. These trails have been crafted by Rock Solid Trail Contractors and are expected to add fresh new energy to the local cycling scene. This addition will cater to a wider range of riders and will expand the park’s existing offerings. The newly added section comprises over 13 miles of trails, including 9 miles of beginner/intermediate Green trails, and just over 4 miles of Blue and Black trails. The Rock Solid Trail Contractors, renowned for their exceptional expertise in creating sustainable and exhilara ..read more

Andrew Blann, a climber from Fayetteville, Arkansas, has been acknowledged by the Access Fund, a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving climbing areas and access for climbers, for his outstanding contributions to local bolt replacement and leadership. Blann has been awarded the 2023 Climbing Advocate Award, a prestigious honor that recognizes climbers who have made exceptional efforts to protect climbing areas for future generations. Blann developed his love for climbing as a young man while visiting Sam’s Throne Recreation Area in the Ozark Mountains near Mount Judea, durin ..read more

The Ozark-St. Francis National Forests have recently completed improvements to several recreation areas across the Forests totaling over $300,000. The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) has funded improvement projects addressing critical deferred maintenance issues. This legislation, passed in August 2020, is responsible for funding the deferred maintenance needs of all types of Forest Service infrastructure, including bridges, roads, trails, and recreation facilities. These investments in Forest Service infrastructure, recreation facilities, and public land access demonstrate the agency’s co ..read more

From this Thursday, April 18, visitors will notice some changes in Centennial Park as the park is preparing to host the much-awaited 2024 Ragnar Trail Arkansas, a trail-running relay race. During the race that will take place from Friday, April 19, to Saturday, April 20, teams will be competing on three unique single-track trails, which will see them run up and around the trails of Centennial Park, as well as through the forest of Kessler Mountain, offering participants an unforgettable racing experience. To ensure the safety of all participants, some trails within the park will be closed to ..read more

More than two years ago, a new trail project was initiated in Mena, Arkansas, to create a mountain bike trail system that would connect Mena to Queen Wilhelmina State Park situated at the top of Rich Mountain, the second-highest peak in Arkansas. The project was undertaken as a partnership between the Arkansas State Park, the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation, the US Forest Service, the Walton Family Foundation, and the City of Mena. This ambitious project may eventually include lift-assisted trails on the west side of the ridge between the two destinations. Recently, social media post ..read more

The legislation will have a significant impact on the outdoor community of Arkansas (camping, cycling, rock climbing, etc.) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Act (EXPLORE), bipartisan legislation sponsored by Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) to expand outdoor recreation access nationwide. “Ever since the Forest Service suspended overnight camping at Albert Pike Recreation Area, I’ve heard from countless constituents who are disappointed with the decision and frustrated with the mismanagement of the site since the suspen ..read more

The long-awaited mountain bike and pedestrian bridge on NE A Street is now open for public use. The completion of the multi-modal elevated bridge project has resulted in improved access to the Razorback Greenway and All-American trails near the future Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art expansion for residents and visitors of Bentonville. The trail features a unique two-lane bike/pedestrian bridge that extends over NE A Street, with two designated sides – one for the Razorback Greenway multi-use trail and the other for the All-American Mountain Bike Trail – that safely separates each user ..read more