Parks and the outdoors in Little Rock

20 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Little Rock.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

See
Big Dam Bridge
The centerpiece of the Arkansas River Trail is this 4,226 ft long pedestrian and bike bridge over the Murray Lock and Dam, linking Little Rock's Murray Park with North Little Rock's Cooks Landing Park. Absolutely not to be missed.
Eat
Brave New Restaurant
Good luck finding this place, hidden in an office building in the Riverdale area. Once you get there, though, you'll be in one of the top handful of restaurants in town, where chef Peter Brave offers a menu of fresh ingredients in a setting overlooking the Arkansas River.
Eat
Forbidden Garden
Is the second generation of the longtime Forbidden City Chinese restaurant once part of midtown's Park Plaza Mall.
See
Little Rock Audubon Center
Headquarters of the National Audubon Society's Arkansas chapter and a nature education center complete with a park.
See
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Scaling Pinnacle can be accomplished easily in an afternoon. The peak provides a great view of the Arkansas River and the surrounding country. No climbing experience necessary. West trail up the mountain is fairly easy; East trail is much steeper. Several miles of trails allow hikes of various lengths; there's also canoeing and fishing (an Arkansas fishing license is required) on the Little Maumelle and Big Maumelle rivers. Good birdwatching and wildflower-looking. The Ouachita National Recreation Trail starts here and goes all the way to Oklahoma.
See
Riverfront Park
This beautiful downtown park overlooking the Arkansas River is the site of La Petite Roche ("the little rock"), the rock formation for which the city is named. In addition, the park hosts the annual Riverfest celebration every Memorial Day weekend. An outdoor amphitheater for concerts is also located here.
See
Wildwood Park for the Arts
Is home to Little Rock's Unique Botanical Gardens. Wildwood Park has expanded its focus to include a full range of the arts, including the performing, literary, culinary, visual, healing and horticultural arts. A park, pavilions, gardens and 625-seat theatre complex make Wildwood one of the State's most valuable natural and cultural resources.
Do
Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts
Appreciate the art of live theater in the lush setting of a botanical garden.
See
William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Park
The eleventh Presidential Library of the National Archives and Records Administration, and the largest in the system, is dedicated to the Arkansan and the 42nd President. A huge collection of memorabilia from Clinton's two terms as President, including a replica of the Oval Office. Look also for the Clinton School of Public Service: it is housed in an old Rock Island station built in 1899.
See
Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center
Features an aquarium, a taxidermy collection, and part of the Arkansas River Trail.
Drink Not mapped
An Enchanting Evening Winery
Small winery featuring a deck that looks out over Pinnacle Mountain and Lake Maumelle.
Do Not mapped
Movies in the Park
On Wednesday nights in June and July, free movies under the stars at the Riverfest Amphitheatre.
Do Not mapped
Pinnacle Mountain Rendezvous
In October, step back in time at this reenactment of a 19th-century pioneer rendezvous, held in Pinnacle Mountain State Park.
Do Not mapped
Riverfest
Riverfest is Little Rock's premier cultural arts festival, held every Memorial Day weekend (the weekend that includes the last Monday in May) in Downtown's Riverfront Park. It is known for its art exhibitions and live entertainment, but don't miss the conclusion of the event which is a spectacular fireworks display over the Arkansas River.
See Not mapped
The River Market
There are more than a dozen permanent vendors, and Farmer's Markets May-Oct: Tu and Sa 7AM-3PM.
Mon-Sat 7AM-6PM, closed Sun
Do
Big Rock Mini Golf & Fun Park
Miniature golf, go-carts, bumper boats; perfect for kids.
Do
Jim Dailey Aquatic and Fitness Center
Located in War Memorial Park.
Buy
Park Plaza
An open-air mall with over 65 stores.
Buy
River Market District
Numerous retailers downtown.
Drink
The Flying Saucer
In the heart of the River Market area downtown.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Little Rock (CC BY-SA 4.0).