Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area and Grassy Lake Water Trail
Kayaking on the Grassy Lake Water Trail in Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area...
Keep a trail marker in sight while navigating the water trail....
Grassy Lake Water Trail interpretation sign...
What to know
Bell Slough WMA consists of 2,366 acres of woodlands and wetlands nestled between Little Rock and Conway in central Arkansas. The area is home to Kenny Vernon Nature Trail and Bell Slough Water Trail. These trails offer excellent bird-watching and the hiking trail boasts an observation area with mounted binoculars near Palarm Creek Waterfowl Rest Area.
The Kenny Vernon Nature Trail is 2.25-miles in length, with interpretive signs, observation blinds and lookouts for wildlife watching. There are approximately 35 resident bird species in the WMA and about 75 species have been counted during summers. Fall and winter are best for waterfowl on Grassy Lake. Many blooming wildflowers can be seen from February and March until November.
The Grassy Lake Water Trail's main loop is 3.3 miles total, with the Bell Slough Spur adding an additional 1 mile out-and-back. Expect to travel 1-2 miles per hour, depending on water level and rate of paddling. Cypress-tupelo lakes and sloughs provide excellent opportunities to see wildlife. Watch for nesting herons in spring – along with migrating songbirds – and listen for gobbling wild turkeys. This area is rich in reptile and amphibian life, from cottonmouths to harmless water snakes. Listen for booming calls of bullfrogs and the high-pitched chorus of spring peepers, while beavers sun atop lodges. Migrating waterfowl such as mallards, northern shovelers and gadwalls stop during their travels as well.
The Kenny Vernon Nature Trail is 2.25-miles in length, with interpretive signs, observation blinds and lookouts for wildlife watching. There are approximately 35 resident bird species in the WMA and about 75 species have been counted during summers. Fall and winter are best for waterfowl on Grassy Lake. Many blooming wildflowers can be seen from February and March until November.
The Grassy Lake Water Trail's main loop is 3.3 miles total, with the Bell Slough Spur adding an additional 1 mile out-and-back. Expect to travel 1-2 miles per hour, depending on water level and rate of paddling. Cypress-tupelo lakes and sloughs provide excellent opportunities to see wildlife. Watch for nesting herons in spring – along with migrating songbirds – and listen for gobbling wild turkeys. This area is rich in reptile and amphibian life, from cottonmouths to harmless water snakes. Listen for booming calls of bullfrogs and the high-pitched chorus of spring peepers, while beavers sun atop lodges. Migrating waterfowl such as mallards, northern shovelers and gadwalls stop during their travels as well.
