Outdoor Recreation Vision Master Plan: Maumelle Pinnacles

Your family has most likely hiked Pinnacle Mountain State Park and walked Two Rivers Bridge. But did you know there are more than 19 other destinations with unique amenities in the Maumelle Pinnacles Conservation Area (MPCA)? And did you know that Lake Maumelle, located west of Pinnacle Mountain, supplies 90% of Little Rock's fresh water supply?

Numerous hiking and mountain biking trails with varying levels of difficulty can be found at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Rattlesnake Ridge, Bufflehead Bay, Blue Mountain and beyond. But even more options for play, recreation, and relaxation are available:

1. Trail Running
2. Backpacking
3. Mountain Biking
4. Road Cycling
5. Camping
6. Rock Climbing
7. Bank & Boat Fishing
8. Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing & Paddleboarding
9. Birdwatching
10. Horseback Riding
11. Hunting

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

The primary goal of this plan is to provide a unified vision and direction for balancing conservation of the natural realm with the recreation needs of the residents of Central Arkansas.

In its early stages, this plan will explore the current and desired recreational amenities expressed by those who live and recreate in the region, as well as identify opportunities for investment in new types of recreation across the four goals related to the human realm:

1. Connected Infrastructure (via bicycling, walking, and water trails)
2. Equitable Access (providing opportunities for all ages and abilities)
3. Education & Engagement (within the natural and built environments)
4. Quality User Experience (providing comfortable and enjoyable options)

These expressed needs will be balanced with the four goals for the natural realm:

1. Environmental Conservation (avoiding overdevelopment or harmful human activities)
2. Drinking Water Protection (reducing impacts within the watershed)
3. Ecosystem Management (promoting forest management practices to maintain healthy ecosystems and wildlife)
4. Nature-Based Recreation (providing opportunities to interact and learn about the natural environment)

Outdoor recreation is vital to a human's wellbeing: reduced heartrate and blood pressure, improved sleep quality, and improved cognition and creativity are just a few examples of proven health benefits associated with time spent outside (Source: Frontiers, PubMed, Nature Sustainability).

The MPCA has a wide-ranging spectrum of recreation types, some resembling city parks in urbanized areas and others serving a more secluded and natural recreation role. This plan seeks to connect these many parks, conservation areas, and trailheads with an equally-diverse system of pathways. Mountain bike trails, paved bike and pedestrian trails, soft surface trails, and even the 223-mile long Ouachita Trail are all different types of recreation amenities, and even serve as connecting corridors between some destinations.

The various destinations in the MPCA can be described with one of four "transects": wilderness, rural, suburban, and urban. See the graphic below for more information.

Beloved destinations for running, cycling, walking and playing, River Mountain Park connects to Two Rivers Park with the Two Rivers Bridge. Potential opportunities include a farmer's market pavilion, new trails, and opportunities for food and beverage. Click the button or map below to indicate your level of support for each opportunity!

The Little Maumelle River Valley is home to Arkansas' most visited state park and the serene natural haven of Ranch North Woods. Potential opportunities include bike fix-it stations, rental lockers, natural playgrounds, and new dining with a view. Click the button or map below to indicate your level of support for each opportunity!

The peaks of Rattlesnake Ridge and Blue Mountain are the second and third of the three Maumelle Pinnacles. Current recreation amenities include varying difficulties of mountain biking and hiking trails, with opportunities for outdoor education, interpretive signage, and bottle fill stations. Click the button or map below to indicate your level of support for each opportunity!

Existing recreation opportunities along Lake Maumelle include hiking at Bufflehead Bay and Loon Point, boat access at WestRock Landing, and numerous fishing and birding locations. Proposed opportunities include parking upgrades, trail connections to Blue Mountain, new facilities and programming at the Jolly Rogers site, and soft surface trails further west to connect with the Ouachita Trail. Click the button or map below to indicate your level of support for each opportunity!

The west end of Lake Maumelle includes hidden gems such as hunting trails, canoe and kayak access, and the Ouachita Trail. Proposed opportunities include enhancements to the Ouachita Trail crossing along Highway 10, upgraded fishing trails and piers, and play equipment. Click the button or map below to indicate your level of support for each opportunity!

Office of Outdoor Recreation

Arkansas State Parks

Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission

Arkansas Parks & Recreation Foundation

Central Arkansas Water

The Nature Conservancy

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

Pulaski County

City of Little Rock

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