WattensawWater Trail ribbon cutting April 30

[DeBo]

Several of us in the club have been working with AG&F Watchable Wildlife Coordinator Kirsten Bartlow on this new trail. Hoprfully this will be the first of many. If you are looking for a new spot to enjoy Arkansas's natural resources, this place is it. Wattensaw is an incredibly beautiful area which has been overlooked by paddlers. Only 45 minutes from Little Rock it puts you in a classic cypress swamp with hugh old trees and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities and maybe even a chance to see the illusive Ivory Billed Woodpecker. New blue and white trail signs will help keep you oriented.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will officially dedicate the Wattensaw Bayou Water Trail on Thursday, April 30 at 1:00pm. The 7.8-mile trail is on Mike Freeze Wattensaw Wildlife Management Area in Prairie County. Wattensaw Bayou flows east toward the White River.

See more here: http://www.agfc.com/news/arkansasoutdoo ... ent.aspx#4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The ceremony will be held at:

North/Wattensaw Auto Road Access:
GPS Coordinates:
UTM – 635096E, 3859113N
Latitude/Longitude -- 34°51’55”N, 91°31’19”W

Driving Directions:

From 1-40, take Exit 193 and go north on Ark. Highway 11 for 3.1 miles. Turn east on North/Wattensaw Auto Road. This road is not marked, but HW 249 South is on the west side of the road directly across from it.
Stay to left at mile 2.3. The launch is at mile 2.6.

[Fish]

Congrats on this great accomplishment, Debo! I can't wait to come down and see the trail sometime.

- Fish

[lbaker]

Thanks for the info Debo! Sounds like a great place; will have to check it out.
Leigh

[DeBo]

Thanks guys! I know that it will be difficult midweek but I hope that several can come to the ceremony. The press will be there and a float trip is planned.

[Cowper]

Question: Is this a seasonal or year-around trail?

Year round. What you get to do, and the nature of what you find, varies GREATLY by season. I've seen it when there was only water along what is now the marked trail; but I've also been there when it was like touring Noah's Flood and you could paddle amonst the trees in any direction. There's several things to paddle besides the Marked trail.

We've even found WW there on a few rare occassions, but in the vast majority of cases there is no WW at all and this is somewhere to go for wildlife and the scenery.

I call it the "Cadron Creek of Swamp Paddling" due to its proximity to Little Rock.