El Dorado Visitor Guide 2023 - 19

WELCOME TO
THE NATURAL
STATE
Connect with nature at
El Dorado's nearby State
Parks
Text by: Arkansas Department of
Parks, Heritage, and Tourism
Photography by: Dero Sanford
T
here are many Arkansas Department of Parks,
Heritage, and Tourism facilities to visit in and near
El Dorado including Moro Bay State Park, the South
Arkansas Arboretum, and the El Dorado Welcome
Center.
Moro Bay State Park is the only Arkansas State Park on
the lower Ouachita River and is located at the union of three
waterways: Raymond Lake, Moro Bay, and the Ouachita River.
You can explore Moro Bay in many ways including hiking,
kayaking, or boating, and the park has year-round fishing
and birding. Visitors can rent boats, boat slips, or kayaks
at the marina and from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the
park offers regular weekend programs and boat tours on the
Ouachita River. For those with their own boat, Moro Bay has
the only marina on the Ouachita River in Arkansas with gas and
boat slips for rent. The park has five cabins on stilts that also
offer beautiful views over Moro Bay. The campground is all 50
amp with sewer and water and all sites are 60 feet long, with
most located on the water.
This state park also is steeped in history. Before modern
highways and bridges, this was an ideal place to cross the river
in this area. From 1882 all the way up until 1992, it was the spot
where the Moro Bay Ferry transported people across the river.
The Moro Bay Ferry is now an exhibit at the park, highlighting
the ferry's role in Arkansas history. Moro Bay State Park is
located about 20 miles northeast of El Dorado on U.S. 63. For
more details visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/morobay-state-park.
The
South Arkansas Arboretum is an Arkansas State
Park located in El Dorado. It is the state's only natural state
park located within a city and is operated by South Arkansas
Community College. Paved walking trails throughout the 12acre
wooded arboretum highlight plants of Arkansas's West
Gulf Coastal Plain. There are also benches along the route
to take in the sights and sounds of nature. Take a stroll in this
quaint park at 1506 Mount Holly Road. For more information
visit wwww.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/south-arkansasarboretum.
The
El Dorado Welcome Center, housed at 3315 Junction
City Highway, is among the 13 Arkansas Welcome Centers in
the state. These centers are both a source of information for
travelers and a chance to recharge and refresh from the road.
Arkansas Welcome Centers are open seven days a week from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centers are closed on major holidays including
New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and
Christmas Day. For more information visit www.arkansas.com/
arkansas-welcome-centers. p
www.GoElDorado.com 19

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/moro-bay-state-park http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/moro-bay-state-park http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/south-arkansas-arboretum http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/south-arkansas-arboretum http://www.arkansas.com/arkansas-welcome-centers http://www.arkansas.com/arkansas-welcome-centers http://www.GoElDorado.com

El Dorado Visitor Guide 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of El Dorado Visitor Guide 2023