Bufflehead Bay Trail

Informational sign at the trailhead

I found this trail by looking around the Little Rock area on AllTrails. I chose it for my first “training” hike for the fall hiking season. Summer is way too hot for me to be hiking! This was the perfect trail to start with: not too short, not too easy, not too tough. At about 2.5 miles, it was definitely worth the 20-minute drive. I took it slow and it took me about an hour and twenty minutes.

The first third is paved and follows the shore of Lake Maumelle providing lovely views of the marina and lake. There are several benches, interpretive signs, and even a bird watching platform. The next third is a gentle uphill climb that was enough to get my heart rate up, but will be easy for me after a few more weeks of regular hikes. The back third consists of a short flat jaunt before heading back downhill to the parking lot. I was on the trail from about 7:45 AM to almost 9:00 AM on a Sunday and there were only two other people on the trail with their dogs. The back half was a bit overgrown with grass as it is the end of the hot season, but the trail itself was clear and well marked.

Central Arkansas Water, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and The Nature Conservancy have worked hard to make this wonderful little trail for everyone to enjoy.