Hike This Island Trail For An Unexpected Adventure In Arkansas
By Carol Ann Carson|Published August 14, 2019
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
Island adventures may not be the first thing that come to mind when thinking about Arkansas but our land-locked state has quite a few to offer. Electric Island has a fairly new trail that’s the perfect little getaway during your trip to Lake Hamilton. Let’s paddle over and take this beautiful island hike.
Boating, swimming, or cruising on the Belle of Hot Springs are all excellent activities to enjoy on Lake Hamilton. However, there's another little adventure you need to take.
The Ouachita River's 7,200-acre reservoir has endless opportunities for anyone taking a vacation around Hot Springs. If you'd like to play at the lake but want to avoid the crowds we have the perfect island escape.
Electric Island, formally known as Big Goat Island, was recently revamped with a family-friendly walking trail.
The island originally belonged to the Arkansas Power and Light (which is where the name comes from) but was donated to the Nature Conservancy of Arkansas in 1981. The 188-acre island was kept as a wildlife management area for decades but a new trail was added in 2018.
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The Electric Island Trail has created a whole new level of accessibility to the island.
The trail is a 2-mile loop around the rim of the island. The hike is easy going and quite family friendly. In addition to wildlife viewing, remnants of two homesteads can also be seen during your hike.
Keep in mind that no camping nor hunting is allowed on the island. Fishing is okay though.
You'll have to paddle to reach the island but groups like the Ouachita Kayak Tours routinely offer guided tours. You can find out information for them by visiting their Facebook Page.
The trail may be secluded but it's certainly not deserted.
A herd of deer swim back and forth between the island and the shores of Lake Hamilton so you may be able to watch them during your trek. Bald eagles, hawks, owls, and all sorts of waterfowl frequent the island as well.
It's easy to feel like you're a thousand miles away from civilization when you're in the middle of the island.
But peeping through the trees will remind you how close the shores of Lake Hamilton are. During your hike you'll be able to look out and see Garvan Woodland Gardens.
This unexpected island trail is just one of the many adventures to take in Arkansas.
If you'd like to read more about the trail you can visit the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission website right here.
Did you know about this island trail in Arkansas? Have you hiked it before? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and feel free to share your island adventure photos in our Facebook Group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
