Fishing, camping, biking, hiking, grilling, or chilling, however you enjoy JFK Park on the Little Red River is sure to be a welcomed break from your normal routine. The first day of spring was Saturday, the weather was in the 70s, and the park was hopping with visitors from across the state. Spring breakers that didn’t want to travel far, found themselves enjoying the clean air and family fun.
JFK Park is located below Greers Ferry Dam off Hwy 25 North, just north of Heber Springs.
The Walker family from Romance spent four days this week camping, fishing, and loving the great outdoors. Dad Terry was helping the kids prepare fishing rods Wednesday morning for a little time on the Little Red looking for trout. “We’ve really enjoyed the visit. It’s calm and quiet.”
The Walker’s brought along two friends from Jacksonville and Idaho who also said they enjoyed the relaxing and quiet nature of JFK Park.
The Little Red is a great location for fly fishing or throwing out a bobber.
Michael Deckard and daughter Ansley, of Ida, were enjoying part of spring break at JFK by bicycling earlier this week. “This is the first time I’ve camped at JFK,” said Michael. “I’ve been here all my life. It’s a really nice area.”
Family and friends from McCrory departed their campsite Wednesday after six nights at the park. “This has been a nice time to get away and have a good, quiet time,” said Becky Hicks, Woodruff County Clerk. “We like JFK Park.”
If you don’t have the desire to camp, JFK Park is still a great location to take the family for a day away. A family, kids and all, can easily have a great day at the park.
Just before the entrance is the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery.
More than 50,000 people visit the hatchery on an annual basis to see the hundreds of thousands of Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout hatched on premises. The hatchery has been open since 1965. Tours are free. They are open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except Christmas. For inquires about school tours, call 501-362-3615.
JFK Park is also home to an annual kids fishing derby, usually held in June.
Collins Creek can be found trickling down to the Little Red. The creek is manmade and is named after former Brown Trout world record holder Howard “Rip” Collins who caught a 40 pound four ounce brown on the Little Red in 1992.
The creek is far from what you might think a creek would be. It offers a walking trail, scenic views, trout fishing for youths 16 and under, and a nearby playground. For the nature lover or nature photographer, Collins Creek is the place to visit.
There is an entrance to the creek before entering the park itself and another entrance close to the river inside the park.
If you’re worried about hot summer days and making a visit to JFK Park, you should know the Little Red stays in the 50s in areas near the dam. If there’s a breeze, the cool air makes the hot day feel better.
The Corps of Engineers is working to make JFK even a better place to visit. GFL Operations Manager Win Hargis said, “The old bathroom in C area has been replaced with a new facility and we are working on improving some of the campsites that were affected by erosion.”
For more information about JFK Park, or any other Corps property around Greers Ferry Lake, call 501-362-2416.
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Fishing, camping, biking, hiking, grilling, or chilling, however you enjoy JFK Park on the Little Red River is sure to be a welcomed break from your normal routine. The first day of spring was Saturday, the weather was in the 70s, and the park was hopping with visitors from across the state. Spring breakers that didn’t want to travel far, found themselves enjoying the clean air and family fun.
JFK Park is located below Greers Ferry Dam off Hwy 25 North, just north of Heber Springs.
The Walker family from Romance spent four days this week camping, fishing, and loving the great outdoors. Dad Terry was helping the kids prepare fishing rods Wednesday morning for a little time on the Little Red looking for trout. “We’ve really enjoyed the visit. It’s calm and quiet.”
The Walker’s brought along two friends from Jacksonville and Idaho who also said they enjoyed the relaxing and quiet nature of JFK Park.
The Little Red is a great location for fly fishing or throwing out a bobber.
Michael Deckard and daughter Ansley, of Ida, were enjoying part of spring break at JFK by bicycling earlier this week. “This is the first time I’ve camped at JFK,” said Michael. “I’ve been here all my life. It’s a really nice area.”
Family and friends from McCrory departed their campsite Wednesday after six nights at the park. “This has been a nice time to get away and have a good, quiet time,” said Becky Hicks, Woodruff County Clerk. “We like JFK Park.”
If you don’t have the desire to camp, JFK Park is still a great location to take the family for a day away. A family, kids and all, can easily have a great day at the park.
Just before the entrance is the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery.
More than 50,000 people visit the hatchery on an annual basis to see the hundreds of thousands of Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout hatched on premises. The hatchery has been open since 1965. Tours are free. They are open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except Christmas. For inquires about school tours, call 501-362-3615.
JFK Park is also home to an annual kids fishing derby, usually held in June.
Collins Creek can be found trickling down to the Little Red. The creek is manmade and is named after former Brown Trout world record holder Howard “Rip” Collins who caught a 40 pound four ounce brown on the Little Red in 1992.
The creek is far from what you might think a creek would be. It offers a walking trail, scenic views, trout fishing for youths 16 and under, and a nearby playground. For the nature lover or nature photographer, Collins Creek is the place to visit.
There is an entrance to the creek before entering the park itself and another entrance close to the river inside the park.
If you’re worried about hot summer days and making a visit to JFK Park, you should know the Little Red stays in the 50s in areas near the dam. If there’s a breeze, the cool air makes the hot day feel better.
The Corps of Engineers is working to make JFK even a better place to visit. GFL Operations Manager Win Hargis said, “The old bathroom in C area has been replaced with a new facility and we are working on improving some of the campsites that were affected by erosion.”
For more information about JFK Park, or any other Corps property around Greers Ferry Lake, call 501-362-2416.
