Arkansas River - Murray Lock and Dam, Arkansas

One of 17 locks and dams on the Arkansas River, Murray Lock and Dam includes six recreation areas. Several of them are amenable to boating or fishing, and for the trailblazers there’s a plethora of multipurpose trails that are only a quick drive from Little Rock proper. The Big Dam Bridge here is touted as the longest pedestrian bridge in the world, so you’ll definitely want to cross that, and under the bridge lies a secret 110-foot tunnel. While that isn’t open to the public, have an inside look here. If you follow the river west, make a pit spot in the small farming community of Natural Steps, named for a geological formation that seems meant to be.