MERRISACH LAKE Campground

List of Campsites

Overview

Merrisach Lake Campground and Day Use Park is situated on the banks of Merrisach Lake and the Arkansas Post Canal in the lush bottomland forest of eastern Arkansas. The campground is described as off the beaten path, providing visitors with the peace and quiet to enjoy fishing, hunting, picnicking and boating.

Recreation

The campground and day use park offers visitors the perfect amount of seclusion to enjoy the outdoors. Visitors enjoy fishing for bass, crappie and catfish in Merrisach Lake and other tributaries of Pool 2. The tailwaters of Wilbur D. Mills Dam provide excellent opportunities to catch many species of gamefish, especially catfish. Visitors to this area also find great hunting, birding and boating opportunities. Merrisach sits on the famed Mississippi Flyway, where millions of songbirds, ducks, geese and butterflies pass during migration.

Facilities

Campsites are spacious, with a few backing right up to the lake. Most sites offer electric and water hookups. Additional amenities include hot showers, a playground, boat ramp and dump station. Two large group picnic shelters are available, and can accommodate up to 75 guests each.

Natural Features

The Arkansas Post Canal creates a waterway from the Arkansas River to the White River, and Merrisach Lake stems from the pool between the Wilbur D. Mills Dam and Lock Number 2. Wilbur D. Mills Pool boasts 96 miles of shoreline and 10,600 acres of water.

Nearby Attractions

The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for wildlife and migratory birds, and is one of the largest remaining bottomland hardwood forests in the Mississippi River Valley. The National Park Services's Arkansas Post National Memorial is also a great place to visit while camping in the area.

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PENDLETON BEND Campground

List of Campsites

Overview

Pendleton Bend Campground and Day Use Park is located on the bank of the Arkansas River. The campground offers 31 campsites, a two lane boatramp, a comfort station with hot showers and restrooms, playground, picnic sites, and a group shelter that can accomodate 75 users.

Recreation

Hiking, fishing, boating, birding, and hunting are all popular activities for visitors. World-class bass and crappie fishing is found in Pool 2, and the tailwaters of the dam provide excellent opportunities to catch a variety of gamefish, especially catfish. A boat ramp is available for access to the Arkansas River. Hiking and birding is available in the nearby Trusten Holder Wildlife Management Area. Many species of waterfowl frequent the lower Arkansas River and its adjacent wetlands making this area a destination for waterfowl hunters.

Facilities

Pendleton Bend offers 31 campsites with electric and water hookups, 25 of which may be reserved. Additional amenities include a boat ramp, comfort station with hot showers and flush toilets, group picnic shelter, and a playground with picnic sites.

Natural Features

Pendleton Bend Campground and Park is located in the lush Eastern Arkansas alluvial bottomland forest in Desha County. Pendleton Bend Campground and Park is approximately 3.5 miles upstream of the Wilbur D. Mills Dam and Arkansas Electric Coop Hydropower Dam. The Campground and Park sits along the track for migratory birds as they come and go from the Gulf of Mexico, making it a destination for birders. Many species of waterfowl frequent the Arkansas River and adjacent wetlands making it a destination for waterfowl hunters.

Nearby Attractions

Nearby, visitors can visit the Arkansas Post National Memorial. Here, Henri de Tonti established the first European village west of the Mississippi River in 1686. In 1819, Arkansas Post became the capital of the Arkansas Territory and remained so until the Civil War. The Dale Bumpers White River Refuge is nearby that offers 160,000 acres of excellent hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing opportunities as well.

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WILBUR D. MILLS Campground

List of Campsites

Overview

Wilbur D. Mills Campground is a small, quiet campground offering 21 campsites. The park is located just downstream of the Wilbur D. Mills Dam on the right descending bank of the Arkansas River.

Recreation

Hiking, fishing, hunting, birding, and boating are all popular pastimes in this area. The waters below Wilbur D. Mills Dam can be an excellent place to catch Blue, Channel and Flathead catfish as well as other species such as crappie, white bass, striped bass, and their hybrids. Many outdoor enthusiasts find the whitetail deer hunting to be excellent in the fertile soils of the bottomland hardwoods of the public lands adjacent to the area. Birders find many species to check off their lists as well. Hiking is permitted year round in the area, except during permit drawn hunts outside the park. Hikers are reminded to wear bright colors, such as fluorescent orange or yellow during hunting seasons as well.

Facilities

Electric and water hookups are available at each of the 21 campsites, 17 of which can be reserved. There is one designated Disabled Access site. Hot showers and a boat launch are also available.

Natural Features

The Wilbur D. Mills Campground is on the lower portion of the Arkansas River, just below the Wilbur D. Mills Dam. This non-commercially navigable portion of the Arkansas River meanders below Wilbur D. Mills Dam as it makes it's 26 mile journey to the confluence with the Mississippi River. Many species of shorebirds find the shallow water and sand bars great feeding and nesting habitat. Federally Endangered Least Terns (Sterna antillarum) can be seen feeding and nesting in this portion of the Arkansas River. Please exercise caution and avoid active nesting sandbars.

Nearby Attractions

The Arkansas Post National Memorial marks where the first European village west of the Mississippi River was built in 1686. Arkansas Post was also the capital of Arkansas up until the Civil War. Arkansas Post State Park is also close to WIlbur D. Mills Campground and is worth a visit. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Trusten Holder Wildlife Management Area is a state managed public land area offering many outdoor activities. The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge also offers many recreational activities on its 160,000 acres of public land.

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NOTREBES BEND PARK Campground

List of Campsites

Overview

This small, quiet campground contains 30 campsites and sits on the Arkansas River just below Wilbur D. Mills Dam. It is also along the Mississippi Flyway, the route millions of migratory birds take to get to and from the Gulf of Mexico.

Recreation

Fishing the tailwaters of Wilbur D. Mills Dam attracts anglers with an abundance of largemouth bass, crappie, bream and catfish, with catfish being a priority to many fishers. Boating, hunting, hiking and birding are also popular pastimes in this area.

Facilities

Notrebes Bend Campground offers 30 campsites with 50 amp electric hookups, drinking water and campfire rings. Twenty-four sites may be reserved. There is a comfort station located in the Campgound offering restrooms and hot showers for park users. There is also a boat ramp for visitors seeking access to the Arkansas River below Wilbur D. Mills Dam.

Natural Features

Notrebes Bend Campground is located on the Arkansas River just below Wilbur D. Mills Dam. The Arkansas River below Wilbur D. Mills meanders for 26 miles before it meets the Mississppi River. Just upriver of the Dam is Pool 2; which includes the Arkansas Post Canal which stretches east to connect with the White River, Merrisach Lake and Coal Pile Lake, a state designated waterfowl rest area.

Nearby Attractions

The Arkansas Post National Memorial marks the spot for the first European village built west of the Mississippi River in 1686. The Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge is also nearby, offering excellent fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing.

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