MISSISSIPPI RIVER STATE PARK
Mississippi River State Park exists to provide
quality access to the St. Francis National Forest
and to inspire personal connections
with the River, Delta, and Crowley’s Ridge.
Mississippi River State Park is located on the southern
end of Crowley's Ridge and borders the Mississippi
River. Operating through a special use permit from the
U.S. Forest Service within the 23,000-acre St. Francis
National Forest, the state park encompasses 536 acres
in six recreation areas. The visitor center and Bear
Creek Lake Recreation Area are in Lee County, while
the confluence of the St. Francis and Mississippi rivers,
St. Francis River access, Hornor Neck Lake access,
and Storm Creek Lake Recreation Area are in
Phillips County.
Park visitors enjoy fishing for largemouth bass, bream,
crappie, and catfish as well as hiking, birding, and
wildlife watching.
The park is located on two National Scenic byways, the
Great River Road and the Crowley's Ridge Parkway. The
Great River Road is a 10-state byway stretching along
both sides of the Mississippi River from Canada to the
Gulf of Mexico. Crowley's Ridge Parkway features the
dramatic and beautiful scenery of eastern Arkansas,
especially the unique hardwood forest and steep hills
of the ridge. Portions of both byways are gravel.
OUR STORY
This region has been home to humans for millennia.
American Indians used Crowley's Ridge as a refuge
from high water and hunted its forests. Some of the
earliest European explorers were here since the
Mississippi River was used as a major travel route. In
1815, the confluence of the St. Francis and Mississippi
rivers was the starting point for the land survey of the
Louisiana Purchase. By the early 1900s, much of this
was cleared for agriculture and grazing.
In the 1930s, the area came into public ownership under the Resettlement Administration when the federal
government bought the land from private owners. In
1938, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built
Bear Creek Lake, Storm Creek Lake, and the ridge road,
during the Great Depression. The area was managed by
the Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service
until 1960, when the St. Francis National Forest was
established.
Mississippi River State Park was authorized by
state legislation in 1973, but it took several decades to
secure funding and implement plans. Arkansas State
Parks began management of Bear Creek Lake on
May 1, 2009. Park development will continue in
phases over several years.
In partnership, the recreation resources are managed
by Arkansas State Parks, while the forest resources
are managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Pavilion ◆ Storm Creek Lake Recreation Area offers
a small pavilion (rental fee applies) for group gatherings.
FACILITIES
Visitor Center ◆ Observe, study, and explore the
Arkansas Delta, the Mississippi River, and Crowley’s
Ridge. Interactive exhibits connect visitors to the park.
Camping ◆ Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area
offers three camping areas: Beech Point Campground
is on a wooded peninsula. Campsites feature views
of the lake and are surrounded by prime wildlife and
birding habitat. Two courtesy docks provide additional
lake access. The campground features 17 campsites
[14 Class AAA with water/electric/sewer hookups and
three Class D Walk-in Tent Sites]. Each paved site
includes picnic table, grill, lantern hanger, and tent
pad. A barrier-free bathhouse is centrally located. On
the east side of the lake, Lone Pine Campground
offers 14 primitive sites (no hookups) and vault toilets.
For group camping, Maple Flats Campground
(no hookups) includes a vault toilet.
Storm Creek Lake Recreation Area offers one
campground with 12 primitive sites (no hookups) and
vault toilets.
Camping fees at Beech Point campground and Maple
Flats group campground are paid at the visitor center.
Camping at Lone Pine or Storm Creek is paid at the
visitor center or the self-pay station in the
campgrounds. Reservations can be made for Beech
Point campsites and Maple Flats Group Campground
by calling the park office: (870) 295-4040.
Arkansas State Parks camping rules and regulations
apply to all campsites.
Picnicking ◆ There are picnic tables near the visitor
center (no grills). Day-use picnic areas with tables and
grills are also along the entrance road to Beech Point
and adjacent to the swim beach. Beaver Point Picnic
Area on the east side of Bear Creek Lake has picnic
tables and grills as well as a vault toilet. Storm Creek
Lake Recreation Area has picnic tables and grills by
the bath house.
Swimming ◆ Swim beaches are available on both
Bear Creek Lake and Storm Creek Lake. Open
Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Boat Ramps ◆ On Bear Creek Lake, Storm Creek
Lake, Hornor Neck Lake, and the access to the
St. Francis River. Free for use for all park visitors.
Trails ◆ Trotting Fox Trail is a 1/2-mile, barrier free
path. Bear Creek Lake Nature Trail is a one-mile
loop. Hornor Neck Lake is a short wildlife
viewing trail. Base Line Trail is four-miles roundtrip.
Hunting ◆ No hunting is allowed within the state
park areas. Contact Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission for hunting regulations on St. Francis
National Forest.
Mississippi
River
State Park
LOCATION
From Marianna, follow Ark. 1B to Ark. 44 (Great
River Road/Crowley's Ridge Parkway) and go three
miles southeast to the visitor center or six miles to
Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area.
For further information on park hours and fees,
contact:
Mississippi River State Park
2955 Arkansas 44
Marianna, AR 72360
(870) 295-4040
[email protected]
For further information on Arkansas’s other state
parks, contact:
Arkansas State Parks
1 Capitol Mall, 4A-900
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 682-1191
ArkansasStateParks.com
As a part of its conservation mission,
Arkansas State Parks has printed this
brochure on recycled paper. All park services are provided on
a nondiscriminatory basis. Arkansas State Parks is an Equal
Opportunity Employer
Arkansas State Parks 2017
Arkansas
Department of Parks & Tourism
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Explore the Beauty & History of Arkansas!
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Bear Creek Lake
Day Use Area
Bear Creek Nature Trail
Swimming Beach
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Maple Flats Campground
Lee 225
State Park & National
Forest Visitor Center
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Horn Tower
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Base Line Trail
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St Francis
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Delta Heritage Trail
State Park
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Marianna
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NOTICE: To preserve scenic beauty
and ecology, fences and warning signs
have not been installed in some park
locations. Caution and supervision
of your children are required while
visiting these areas.
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