The hidden nature walks locals love but tourists miss

Locals in Little Rock have long favored unmarked paths through Allsopp Park and the Fourche Creek bottoms for morning runs and evening walks that avoid the main Arkansas River Trail crowds.

July brings peak heat and humidity that pushes residents toward shaded routes with steady tree cover rather than exposed boardwalks near downtown attractions. City data from the Parks and Recreation Department shows trail maintenance budgets rose to $1.2 million this fiscal year to handle increased use after the 2024 addition of new signage at popular spots.

Two routes that stay off visitor maps

Allsopp Park sits along Cantrell Road in the Heights neighborhood where a 1.8-mile loop winds past old-growth oaks and connects to unmarked spurs that reach Reservoir Road. Further south, the Fourche Creek bottoms near University Avenue offer a flat 2.4-mile stretch of dirt and gravel that runs behind industrial lots and ends at a small footbridge installed in 2019. Both areas sit within city limits and require no entry fee.

The Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department reported 142,000 visits to its trail network in 2025, with internal counts showing Allsopp and Fourche together accounting for roughly 31 percent of those visits despite receiving almost no mention in tourism brochures. A 2023 city survey found 68 percent of residents who exercise outdoors at least twice weekly use these two corridors.

How to reach the trails this week

Park at the Allsopp lot off Cantrell before 8 a.m. to beat both heat and any overflow from nearby school traffic. For the Fourche route, enter from the gravel pull-off on University Avenue south of 12th Street and follow the creek east toward the old railroad trestle. Wear light layers and carry water, since neither site has restrooms or vending. Residents who want updates on trail conditions can check the department’s weekly email list sent every Monday morning.