Overflow National Wildlife Refuge is located in Ashley County, Arkansas. The 13,000-acre wetland comprises bottomland hardwood forests, impoundments, and agricultural land. It provides habitat for mallards, wood ducks, and other waterfowl. Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge covers a different area: 76,000 acres, about eight miles west of Crossett. Rivers, streams, swamps, and lakes run through the refuge, supporting a diverse range of native wildlife and plant life.
Wetlands and Waterways
Sport fishing, crawfishing, and frog hunting are possible at Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge. Visitor facilities also include several developed boat ramps and fishing piers. Those who prefer to get out on the water will find three self-guided paddling trails through the waters of the Felsenthal Basin. The Bayou Bartholomew Water Trail specifies a route length: it runs 4.5 miles downstream from the Little Bayou Wildlife Management Area access point to the access point at Arkansas Highway 82. This offers a contrast between self-guided trails in the Felsenthal Basin and a route with a stated distance and endpoint.
The landscapes also differ considerably. Longview Saline Natural Area is a mosaic of saline barrens, upland forests, pine-hardwood flatwoods, and bottomland hardwood forests. Little Bayou WMA is characterized mainly by bottomland and upland hardwoods, along with shortleaf pines. An access ramp there leads to Bayou Bartholomew.
Forest Areas and Camping
Casey Jones WMA has pine and hardwood forests in upland and flood-prone areas, as well as mixed stands of both tree types. The area is accessible via highways and county roads; local road conditions can change. Designated campsites are also available, but they have no electricity or running water. Little Bayou WMA has a campground with RV sites, but no electrical or water hookups. Seasonally flooded bottomland hardwood forests define Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA, along with some pine ridges and remnants of prairie.
When camping, it’s worth checking the facilities at each site: Little Bayou specifically lists RV sites, while Casey Jones has designated campsites. At Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA, two designated primitive campsites lie along the access road on the west side of the river. The Ouachita River, along with its oxbows and tributaries, offers fishing opportunities there. Camping facilities may change; check the latest information before your visit.
Crossett and the Region’s History
A 2.8-mile loop trail with interactive signs about the park’s natural features runs around Lucas Pond. Crossett City Park at Lucas Pond has picnic tables, pavilions, and a playground; reservations are not required. Since facilities may change, it’s worth checking before your visit. In Crossett, Wiggins Cabin also recalls a structure dating to the 1830s: the present-day version is an exact replica. The Wiggins Cabin Festival is held on the grounds every year. The program includes a 5K race, a pageant, a concert, and vendor booths.
An annual festival also features on Hamburg’s event calendar: the city hosts the World Famous Armadillo Festival. Event dates and programs for both the Wiggins Cabin Festival and the Hamburg festival may vary if you’re planning your visit around them. The Ashley County Museum offers another way to learn about local history. It features local history exhibits in the David E. Watson Home, built in the Neoclassical Revival style in 1918 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hamburg Commercial Historic District in Ashley County was added to the same register on March 23, 2009.
Other historical connections reach back to the timber industry. The Crossett Experimental Forest in Ashley County was established in 1934 to study new forestry practices for stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines. The Yale Camp Historic District is of local significance in Ashley County because of its ties to the timber industry and forest management. To get a taste of local produce, visit the Crossett Farmer’s Market on Main Street, where farmers sell their products. Market operations may change, so check the latest information before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Crossett, Parkdale, Randolph County, Columbia County, Grant County, Conway County, Lonoke County, Baxter County.
For the broader travel overview: Arkansas.
