Meet at the new visitor’s center at 8:00 a.m. Matthew Friant, park interpreter, will be our guide for the field trip. First, he’ll give us a tour of the new visitor center and its unique and innovative architecture, and the indoor and outdoor exhibits.
We’ll then exit out the back of the visitor center to walk part of the base trail (dirt) to the Kingfisher Trail [paved]. We’ll bird along the way, looking for migrating fall warblers. As we walk, he’ll identify plants, flowers, insects, and trees. A highlight of the Kingfisher trail are the huge, 500–600 year-old Bald Cypress trees along the banks of the Little Maumelle River. We’ll loop back to the visitor center.
If time permits, we’ll also walk the Arkansas Arboretum trail. That trail is a 3/4 mile paved, mostly level trail with interpretive exhibits along the walk. It features native trees and shrubs from all regions of Arkansas. A water fountain and benches are along the trail.
Be advised, the new visitor center is located at a different site from the previous visitor center. The entrance driveway to the new visitor center is on a blind curve, making it a little challenging to spot. Go to the Pinnacle Mountain State Park’s website for more information and a trail map.
Directions: Take Exit 9 off 1-430 to Hwy. 10, then west 7 miles to Hwy. 300, turn right and go 2 miles north to the park. Or, you can take Pinnacle Valley Road north off Hwy. 10, just 3 miles west of 1-430. The address is 9600 Hwy. 300, Roland, AR. GPS: 34.8424, -92.4940.