North Little Rock punches well above its weight when it comes to outdoor recreation. Between Burns Park’s sprawling 1,500 acres, the Arkansas River Trail system that connects the city to Little Rock across the Big Dam Bridge, and the quieter greenways tucked into residential neighborhoods, residents have more options than most mid-sized Arkansas cities can claim. This guide covers the parks and trails worth knowing — whether you’re new to the city or have lived here for years and still haven’t explored all of it.
Burns Park: The Heart of North Little Rock Outdoor Life
Burns Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Arkansas and anchors outdoor recreation in North Little Rock. At 1,500 acres, it sits primarily in the northwest part of the city near the I-40 and I-430 interchange, and it encompasses enough variety that you could spend a full day there and not cover everything.
The park’s recreational offerings include:
- Tennis courts — Multiple hard courts that host both recreational and competitive play
- Golf course — The Burns Park Golf Course is a public 18-hole course with a reasonable green fee structure that makes it accessible for regular play
- Disc golf — A well-maintained course that draws a regular community of players
- Soccer and baseball/softball fields — Multiple fields supporting youth leagues and adult recreational play throughout the spring and fall seasons
- Miniature golf — A family-friendly option for younger kids
- Trails and walking paths — Paved and unpaved paths wind through the park’s wooded sections
The park’s wooded interior provides one of the best canopy walking experiences in Pulaski County. On summer mornings before the heat settles in, the shaded trails through Burns Park offer a genuinely pleasant environment that the open greenways along the river can’t match.
The Arkansas River Trail and Big Dam Bridge
The Arkansas River Trail is one of the signature outdoor assets in Central Arkansas, and North Little Rock anchors its north shore section. The trail stretches more than 15 miles along both sides of the Arkansas River, connecting North Little Rock and Little Rock in a continuous loop that’s become a destination for cyclists, runners, and walkers from across the region.
The centerpiece is the Big Dam Bridge — the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in North America. Spanning the Arkansas River adjacent to the Murray Lock and Dam, the bridge connects the trail systems on both riverbanks and provides views of the river and downtown Little Rock that are difficult to match anywhere else in the state.
The North Shore Riverwalk section of the trail runs parallel to the Arkansas River from the vicinity of the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum eastward, offering a lighted, well-maintained path for evening walks and early morning runs. The river views along this stretch, particularly at sunrise and sunset, are worth the trip on their own.
Trail access points on the North Little Rock side include:
- Riverview Park — Near the junction of Riverfront Drive and the museum district
- Big Dam Bridge parking area — Dedicated parking on the North Little Rock side of the bridge
- Multiple street-level access points along the North Shore Riverwalk
T.R. Pugh Memorial Park and the Old Mill
T.R. Pugh Memorial Park sits in the residential area near Fairway Avenue and Lakeshore Drive, and it’s home to one of the most photographed landmarks in North Little Rock: the Old Mill. This historic re-creation of an 1830s water-powered grist mill was featured in the opening credits of “Gone with the Wind” in 1939, and it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The park itself is compact but beautiful. The faux bois (false wood concrete) sculptures throughout the grounds — including the mill structure, bridges, and decorative elements — were created by Mexican sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez, whose distinctive style is represented here in one of its most intact collections anywhere. Whether or not you have any connection to the film, the craftsmanship is extraordinary up close.
The surrounding Lakeshore area is pleasant for a short walk. The park draws a steady stream of visitors year-round, particularly in spring when the grounds are at their greenest.
Boyle Park and Smaller Neighborhood Greenways
Beyond the major parks, North Little Rock has a network of neighborhood parks and greenway connections that reward local exploration. The Lakewood neighborhood area has access to walking paths near Lakeshore Drive that provide a quieter alternative to the busier river trail. Shady Grove’s proximity to Burns Park means residents in that area can access the park’s trail system with a short walk from most streets.
The city’s greenway infrastructure has expanded significantly over the past decade, with trail connections and sidewalk improvements linking residential neighborhoods to parks and the river trail system. If you haven’t explored your immediate neighborhood’s connections to the larger trail network, it’s worth checking the city’s parks and recreation maps.
The Arkansas River Trail Connection to Little Rock
One of the underappreciated aspects of the trail system is how it connects North Little Rock to the broader Little Rock outdoor recreation network. The Big Dam Bridge loop alone is a 10-mile ride or run that takes you across the river twice. Cyclists regularly complete this loop as a standard workout; it’s accessible enough for intermediate riders and scenic enough that it doesn’t feel like exercise.
The trail connects on the Little Rock side to the Two Rivers Park area, which adds another substantial greenspace with its own trails and river access. From North Little Rock, you can cover significant miles on paved trails without repeating the same scenery — a rare quality in an urban trail network.
Planning Your Visit
A few practical notes for making the most of North Little Rock’s outdoor spaces:
- Morning timing — Summer heat in Central Arkansas is intense by 10 a.m. Trail use is most comfortable before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. in July and August
- Parking — Burns Park has ample free parking distributed across multiple lots. River trail parking on the North Little Rock side is limited but generally available on weekday mornings
- Amenities — Burns Park has restrooms, water fountains, and concessions at various points. The river trail has restrooms and water at several access points but is less developed than the park
- Dogs — Most parks are dog-friendly with leash requirements. The river trail sees heavy dog traffic on weekends, particularly on the Big Dam Bridge approach
Written by the Lifetime Construction Builders team, proudly serving North Little Rock and Central Arkansas since 2009.