The Mississippi River Delta area of Arkansas is a collection of landscapes, towns, cultures and history influenced by the Mississippi River. Swamps, bottomland forests, prairies, farmland and the alluvial flood plain make up the landscape of the area. The best way to experience the area is by taking a drive along the area's national scenic byways.
One of these routes, the Great River Road, follows the Mississippi River. River overlooks and ports are dispersed along the byway. The route covers historic areas including the Arkansas Post National Memorial, the site of an early French settlement and first capital of the Arkansas territory.
Crowley's Ridge Parkway, a 200-mile national scenic byway, follows a hilly highland area in the northern delta. Golfing, fishing, hiking, and camping are outdoor diversions along this route. Along both routes museums and other venues document Native American life, the Civil War, plantation life, African-American culture and delta music.
Additional outdoor activities include bird watching, hunting and fishing. The delta area is a bird watching mecca. More than 200 different species of birds can be seen. Guided bird watching tours are offered at Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, the White River National Wildlife Refuge near Brinkley and other locations. Guides and outfitters also serve mallard hunters. Fishing in lakes, bayous, swamps and rivers across the delta region yields bass, crappie and panfish.
The Mississippi River Delta area is the eastern section of Arkansas. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi to the east and Louisiana to the south. The area is easily accessible on Interstate Highway 40 and US Highway 67 out of Little Rock and Memphis, Tennessee. National chains, local establishments, and bed and breakfasts are available throughout the region.
