Wells Lake Trail is a pleasant and easy .7-mile ADA-accessible trail at Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Barling (near Fort Smith, Sebastian County).
It makes a loop around Wells Lake, a popular fishing spot.
The nature center, operated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, encompasses 170 acres and features a number of short trails. It is on land that was formerly part of Fort Chaffee.
Getting to Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
To get to the nature center from Interstate 40, take Exit 7 to get onto I-540 heading south toward Fort Smith. After about 8 miles, take the Rogers Avenue (Exit 88) exit heading east.
After about 1.5 miles, turn right (south) onto Massard Road. After about 4 miles, take a left onto Wells Lake Road. The nature center will be on the left within a half-mile.
The nature center parking is accessible whenever the center is open. (See website for open hours.) If the center is not open, you usually can park over by the nearby picnic area.
The Wells Lake Trail
Most of the ADA-compliant trail is paved. It is just about 100 feet on the other side of the nature center building.
About a third of the trail is wooded. The rest has wide open views of the lake.
Most of the time there are Canada geese at the lake.
Be sure to visit the nature center building when you visit. It has a very nice exhibits about the living creatures that make their home in this area.
There is no charge to visit the nature center.
Photo Gallery
Click below for full-screen photo gallery.
Map
Janet Huckabee Center: Wells Lake Trail – 1 mi | |
|---|---|
| Location | Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, Sebastian County, Arkansas |
| Length/Type | .7 mile paved loop |
| Difficulty | Easy (1 of 5) |
| Gpx file (by Mike) | Link |
| Date Hiked | November 20, 2016 (and many other times) |
| Directions | Google Maps Directions to Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center |
| Official Info (Links) | (479)452-3993 Website Park Trail Flyer (pdf) |
Last revised: 8-22-2021.