Baxter County's lakes and rivers offer fishing, boating and a wide variety of water sports for the enjoyment of both residents and tourists. The County features the clear, clean waters of Norfork Lake and part of Bull Shoals Lake, the North Fork and the White River. In addition, Southwest Baxter County is bordered by the Buffalo National River. The natural beauty of the area offers a variety of recreational opportunities, from fishing, sailing, skiing, and scuba diving to hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, camping and hunting. Baxter County has it all! Visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site for more information on Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes, details on park facilities, available hunting, fishing and other activities.

Our lakes offer calm waters of coves for skiing and swimming, a breezy playground for sailors and year-round fishing. Our many parks feature playgrounds, pavilions, swimming areas, boat-launching ramps and campsites. There are fees for some park facilities. Marinas provide boat rentals, fuel and other supplies. Norfork Lake offers 22,000 acres and approximately 550 miles of shoreline and features catfish, bass, walleye, crappie, bream and a variety of other species of fish. The lake also draws fishermen from around the world for major fishing tournaments.

The Norfork National Fish Hatchery is located below the dam and is administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It was established in 1957 to produce trout for restocking the cold waters below Norfork, Bull Shoals and other dams and some reservoirs. Fishing is allowed in Dry Run Creek, which is located on the hatchery grounds along with a handicap-accessible ramp, paved walk and picnic tables. It is a catch-and-release program for properly licensed disabled individuals and those under 16 years of age. Hatchery hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Special group tours can be arranged with the Hatchery Manager; for additional information contact Hatchery Manager, Norfork National Fish Hatchery, Route 3, Box 349, Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870-499-5255).

Floating the clear, cool waters of the White River, below Bull Shoals Dam, and the North Fork River, flowing below the Norfork Dam, offers world class Rainbow and Brown trout fishing and beautiful scenery. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission keeps the rivers stocked every year. Purchase of an Arkansas Trout Stamp is necessary when fishing for trout in Arkansas.

Fishing tips for Baxter County are available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers web site. For more information on fishing on the White and North Fork Rivers, see "Arkansas Trout Fishing Offers World-Class Action", an article published by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

The Corps of Engineer land around Lake Norfork and the U.S. Forestry land of southern Baxter County provides hunters with a chance at a variety of prey, including white tailed deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, quail and even black bear as well as various waterfowl. Complete fishing and hunting information is available from the Arkansas Game and Fish web site at www.agfc.com. To sign up to receive Arkansas Outdoors, the weekly Fishing Report and the Waterfowl Report free via e-mail from Arkansas Game and Fish, click here.

The Ozark National Forest covers about the southern third of the county. The Ozark Mountains, actually eroded plateaus, feature deep valleys, swift-running streams and rivers and steep bluffs of limestone and sandstone. Many caves can also be found. Spring brings the colors of blooming Redbuds and Dogwoods, followed by lush greens and then reds, oranges and yellows the Fall's changing leaves.

The Robinson Point National Recreation Trail and the Norfork section of the Ozark Highland Trail along Norfork Lake offer the opportunity to view wildlife and the spectacular scenery of the Ozark Mountains. These two trails are part of the proposed 84-mile trail around the lake that will someday be connected with other trails to form a 1,000-mile Trans-Ozark Trail system through Arkansas and Missouri. The Sylamore Ranger District of the Ozark National Forest in southern Baxter County is the location of the proposed Ozark Highland Trail Extension and Proposed Sylamore Creek Hiking Trail Extension. And the Dogwood Nature Trail at Lakeview gives hikers a spectacular view of Bull Shoals Lake.

Robinson Point Trail - 3.3 Miles Round-trip
Norfork Lake Trail - 13.5 Miles One-way
Dogwood Nature Trail - 3.0 Miles Round-Trip

Extension of the Ozark Highlands Trail

The Ozark Highlands Trial is part of the Trans-Ozark Trail, which will eventually extend from Fort Smith, Arkansas to St. Louis, Missouri. Construction of the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas began in 1977 by the Ozark National Forest. Volunteers from the Ozark Highlands Trail Association took over the construction efforts in 1981, according to association literature. Construction of the Sylamore Section began in the fall of 2001 and will eventually connect to the Norfork Section and the Buffalo National River Section. Click here to see a map of the proposed trail extensions. These trails will exist on public lands, including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property along Lake Norfork and U.S. Forestry land in the Ozark National Forest. Also a 1/8th-mile stretch will be located along a state highway. The Trans-Ozark Trail is a cooperative effort between land-managing agencies and volunteers from user groups. Long stretches of the trail are complete and have been in use for twenty years. Yet there is a great deal of work still to be done and most of that work will be completed by volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, visit the Ozark Highlands Trail Association web site or contact the Corps of Engineers Mountain Home Project Office, (870-425-2700).

Whether exploring the forests, fly-fishing on the rivers or just laying in the sun, Baxter County has something for everyone to enjoy!

Fireworks over the Arkansas State University-Mountain Home Campus during the 2001 Independence Day celebration. Click on the pictures for a larger view.
- Photos by Bashan Bradbury

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