Two Rivers Park has the best views in Little Rock that don’t require climbing! In fact, you would be hard pressed to find any elevation at all at Two Rivers Park.
This park is set on 1,000 acres of river bottom land so it is almost perfectly flat and is an amazing place for biking, jogging, walking, and stroller pushing!
It is absolutely my favorite park in Little Rock and, in my opinion, the best place to take a walk.
I go there several times a week to get a little exercise and to just enjoy the beauty of the scenery.
About Two Rivers Park in West Little Rock
Two Rivers is part of the Arkansas River Trail. The Arkansas RIver Trail is an expansive 88-mile loop through the Natural State, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Maumelle and Conway.
Two Rivers is one of 38 parks that are connected by the Arkansas River Trail and it is considered the most natural portion of the entire loop.
Sitting at the confluence of the Arkansas River and the Little Maumelle River, the park has 450 acres of mostly wooded wetlands and 550 acres of open fields.
A Quick History
This is a park with a past.
It was once the Pulaski County Penal Farm. At its height, the farm had 2000 prisoners growing corn and soybeans and raising cattle, pigs, and chickens. The penal farm was closed in 1974. The park was dedicated in 2011.
Parking
There are two main parking areas for the Two Rivers Park and they can get busy on the weekends.
Most people know about the main parking which is on the east side of the park near the pedestrian bridge. On this side of the park is the pedestrian bridge, a place to rent kayaks, picnic tables, walking and biking trails, views of the Arkansas River and the river bridge.
There is another area for parking that is further west off of Hwy 10. On this side of the park is the community garden, the NEW playground, wide expanses of fields. views of the Little Maumelle River, as well as walking and biking trails.
Hours
The gates open at 5:30AM and close at 9:00PM
Pedestrian Bridge
The park has a nice pedestrian bridge also known as Two Rivers Bridge that crosses the Little Maumelle River. It is located at the easternmost parking area. It is one of four pedestrian/biking bridges in Little Rock.
Be sure and check out the view of Pinnacle Mountain from the apex of the bridge, then turn around and check out the views of the I-430 freeway bridge! The pedestrian bridge is one of the best places in town to watch the sunset!
Playground
A new playground was added to Two Rivers Park in 2024. This is an inclusive playground so is accessible for children in wheelchairs or with mobility issues.
It is a great place for kids of all ages and abilities.
Trails
There are two main paved trails at the Park. These are wide enough to accommodate both bikes and pedestrians and also connect to one another.
Trail 1: This is a 3 mile “lollipop” trail with a long handle and a small loop on the end. You can access this trail from either parking lot.
From the eastern parking lot you will cross the Little Maumelle River on the pedestrian bridge and start walking on the loop section of the trail.
From the western parking you will follow the paved path in front of the public bathroom and into the woods.
There are a few benches along this trail and some picnic tables on the end of the little loop. You will pass through wooded areas, fields, and marsh land. It’s all pretty.
There are also some nice views toward the I-430 Bridge across the Arkansas River at the tip of the loop.
Trail 2: The second trail is accessed from the western parking lot.
This trail makes a big circle and much of it is through wide open fields. You will have amazing views across the little Maumelle river
My favorite view in the entire park is the vista across a wide open field out towards Pinnacle Mountain.
It is approximately 2.7 miles around.
It is on this trail that you will see the “Garden of Trees” project.
There are new groves growing in this section of the park. The purpose is to showcase native trees by transforming some of the fields into walkable gardens of trees.
You can hike both trails: The two trails are connected by a path so you can also walk, jog, or bike both sections together. The entire thing is about 6.3 miles.
Misc Trails: There are some unpaved trails that will take you along the river or through the trees. You will see access to them off of the main paved trails. Remember this is river bottom land so these off-pavement trails can be a bit muddy if it has been raining.
The entire park is exceptionally scenic.
Be considerate
This park can get busy with both foot and bike traffic. Bikers and walkers definitely need to be aware of one another while on the trails.
As a walker I know that I really appreciate it when a biker will call out “on your left” or something of the sort so that I am aware that they are approaching.
If you are walking with children or pets you will want to watch to make sure that they don’t dart out in front of a bike rider.
Safety
Because this is a well traveled park I have always felt safe at Two Rivers. As with anywhere be wise and use common sense. Lock your car and be aware of your surroundings.
Pets
Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash.
Wildlife
You will hardly feel like you are in the city while at Two Rivers Park.
Of course birds are plentiful and their songs are delightful. This is a great place for birdwatchers. You will spot a wide variety of the typical songbirds, and you will also see great blue herons and egrets.
You will also regularly catch sight of deer at Two Rivers, sometimes in groups of 6 or 7. You are most likely to see deer in the early morning or at dusk. You might even be lucky enough to see a fawn in the spring or summer.
Squirrels are abundant and very visible. The raccoons and possums are out there but harder to spot. You will see turtles and hear bullfrogs and…there are also snakes.
I’m not a fan of snakes, but the paths are wide enough to allow you to give them a wide berth. Just be aware!
Noise
All this talk of views and woods and fields and wildlife makes Two Rivers sound like some type of urban paradise. In many ways it is!
However, the one thing that might surprise you is that in some parts of the park you will hear quite a bit of highway noise.
The sound of the cars on the Interstate bridge carries across the river. It might look like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it doesn’t always sound like it!
Is Two Rivers Park a good place for children?
I think that Two Rivers is a great place to bring kids to play on the playground, to ride their bikes or scooters or just to run around in the wide open spaces.
There is another nice playground at nearby Pinnacle Mountain State Park!
We have another post about the best family friendly activities in Little Rock that you might want to check out.
Fishing
There are almost always people fishing at Two Rivers. You can fish off the banks into the Little Maumelle or use a fishing boat. People catch warm water fish here such as crappie, bream, bass, and catfish.
Kayaking and Canoeing and Boating
Kayaking, Canoeing and boating are popular activities at the park.
You can bring your own watercraft or you can rent single or dual kayaks or paddle boards from Rock Town River Outfitters. They even offer guided tours!
Gardens
The community gardens at Two Rivers offer county residents the ability to lease a plot for a nominal fee. The gardens are fenced to protect the plants from deer and other critters.
One of my favorite things is walking through the garden area in the spring and summer to see what all is growing!
Conclusion
Two Rivers Park is a special place for locals to enjoy and definitely a must see for visitors to Little Rock.
Another great location for beautiful river scenery is the William Kirsch Preserve which is near Two Rivers Park.
If you are interested in some views that do require a climb you will definitely want to check out nearby Pinnacle Mountain State Park!
We also have written a list of the best outdoor activities in Little Rock as well as a bucket list of things to do in Little Rock that includes museum, shopping, and restaurants.
If you are hungry after your visit to Two Rivers Park go try one of our favorite sandwiches or even grab some cheese dip!
Thanks for stopping by!
