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[title size=”2″]Bull Shoals White River State Park Trails[/title]

Big Bluff Trail is a 1.7-mile semi-loop dirt trail situated in Bull Shoals-White River State Park. This park is located in north-central Arkansas and it encompasses the lakeshore and riverside where the White River and Bull Shoals Lake meet at Bull Shoals dam. To get to the park from Mountain Home, travel six miles north on Arkansas State Highway 5, then go eight miles west on State Highway 178 to the park. The trailhead is on Powerhouse Road, a short distance past the campground, where there is also parking. White River State Park also features a campground with 102 campsites and a recently built visitor/education center that offers a wide range of programming and events for the community.

There are two parts to this trail; hence the two difficulty levels. The first part is a level path following the route of the old railroad tram that was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to transport materials during the construction of Bull Shoals Dam. This first leg of the trail is a moderate level, but it increases to difficult when the trail crosses the paved road and begins to climb up the hillside. There is a beautiful panoramic view of the Bull Shoals Dam, White River, and Ozark hill country from the top of this hillside. Visitors should use caution on this bluff while enjoying the view. The trail then proceeds through deciduous forests, across streams and into cedar glades. These areas are the perfect place for visitors to spot the Ozark’s colorful wildflowers during the spring months. The trail has an elevation increase of about 260 feet, and is thus quite strenuous.

Bluebird Trail is a nontraditional route through the Bull Shoals-White River State Park Campground that takes visitors to a collection of bluebird houses. The easy 2 mile walk is a must-see for birdwatchers and nature lovers come spring and summer when eastern bluebirds use the houses to raise their young. The path travels from house to house across the campground’s grassy lawn and provides visitors with a close-up view of the feeding and nesting behaviors of these bluebirds. Make sure to mark your calendar to catch the Bluebird Trail during the height of nesting season in the early summer months.

Lakeside Trail is an easy one-mile loop path located in Bull Shoals-White River State Park. This particular trail was originally constructed by the Young Adult Conservation Corps in 1979. Lakeside Trail traverses a diverse series of Ozark habitats overlooking the Bull Shoals Dam, including the natural formations of Eagle Point and Titmouse Alley. The dirt trail offers visitors glimpses of different wildlife depending on the season. Eagle Point is the perfect site to spot Bald Eagles, gulls and waterfowl during winter months, while more than 90 species of migrating birds and resident songbirds flock to the area in the spring, summer and fall. This trail is a must-see for serious birdwatchers, but would be a lovely hike for any outdoors enthusiast at any time of year.

Oakridge Mountain Bike Trail is the only multi-use trail within Bull Shoals-White River State Park, offering a relatively challenging course for hikers and mountain bikers alike. The trailhead for this route is situated off of Dam Overlook Lane (pick up a map from the visitor’s center to help you navigate). This three-mile unpaved loop trail provides access to remote locations in the park, taking hikers and bikers through open meadows, creek crossings, and oak-hickory upland forest. The course includes many long downhills and just as many difficult uphill climbs. Oakridge Mountain Bike Trail provides users with two routes offering two different levels of difficulty: a clockwise route (indicated by blue markers) that is moderatelydifficult because of strenuous uphill climbs; and a counter-clockwise route (indicated by green markers) that is moderately easy. Rental bikes are available at the park’s Camper Registration Center, and use of bicycle helmets is strongly recommended. Mountain bikers or serious hikers looking for a fun but challenging trail should make time for this route during their visit to Bull Shoals-White River State Park.

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Trail Location

[map address=”129 Bull Shoals Park Lakeview, AR 72642″ type=”roadmap” width=”100%” height=”300px” zoom=”14″ scrollwheel=”yes” scale=”yes” zoom_pancontrol=”yes” popup=”yes”][/map]

This park is located in north-central Arkansas and it encompasses the lakeshore and riverside where the White River and Bull Shoals Lake meet at Bull Shoals dam. To get to the park from Mountain Home, travel six miles north on Arkansas State Highway 5, then go eight miles west on State Highway 178 to the park.

Address: 129 Bull Shoals Park Lakeview, AR 72642
Activity type: Walking, hiking, biking (on Oakridge Mountain Bike Trail only)
Trail Length: 1 – 3 miles depending on trail • Dirt and gravel, easy to moderate.

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