El Dorado Visitor Guide 2023 - 40

he rolling hills of loblolly pines with hardwoods
of oak, hickory, and pecan, set next to expansive
wetlands create an unspoiled backdrop for outdoor
adventure in Union County. Arkansas' largest county
covers 1055 square miles of territory containing
an abundant range of sporting destinations. Likened to the
adjacent Louisiana parishes, Union County, Arkansas, resembles
the topography of the Bayou State identified as a sportsman's
paradise.
T
Calion Lake, created in 1938, is a 478-acre body of water
managed by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. Located
11 miles north of El Dorado, just off the Ouachita River, the
lake is well-known for containing a variety of large-mouth bass,
bream, perch, and catfish. This area's historical significance
dates back to 1542 and serves as the location where Hernando
de Soto and his cadre of Spanish explorers spent the winter near
Champagnolle Hills.
The Ouachita River is a 605-mile-long water course with
headwaters in the Ouachita Mountains, emptying in Louisiana
into the Black and eventually the Red Rivers. The section of
the river flowing through Union County is known for premiere
fishing as well as duck hunting on its backwaters and oxbow
lakes. The open expanses of calm water also prove popular for
pleasure boating and water skiing in the summer. Arkansas
Game & Fish Fisheries Management Biologist for the region,
Tyler Thomsen, says, " Near Calion on the Ouachita River are
several boat launches including Charles Thomas Upper and
Lower accesses, Old #8 Upper and Lower accesses, Pigeon Hill,
and Careyville access. If you're looking to go on the river, you
can also access a number of duck and fish-rich waters such as
Little and Clear Lakes located inside the AGFC Beryl Anthony
Lower Ouachita Wildlife Management Area. " WMAs such as
Beryl Anthony have several free, primitive campsites available to
the public for up to two weeks at a time.
Moro Bay State Park is located approximately 30 minutes
east of El Dorado, near the Ouachita River. " It's a really beautiful
park, " says Jennifer Gammon, park interpreter. " Whether the
river is low or high, it's just awesome. Because we're located
where Moro Creek empties into the Ouachita River with the
old river channel forming nearby Round Lake, we have a lot of
big cypress with deer, waterfowl, and the occasional alligator. "
The park has five of the best cabins in the state and 23 AAA
campsites with water, sewer, and electricity. Located at the
intersection of two major waterways, Moro Bay was a hub of
activity well before highways existed. River traffic came all the
way up from New Orleans and it was a major river port used
for early settlement. There's still occasional barge traffic on the
river. With the oil industry in El Dorado, large equipment too
big for the roads travels up and down stream.
There was a ferry crossing here for many years before the
high-rise bridges were built, and the old ferry is on display to
remind our children of how the river was crossed before the
bridge was built. Boat rentals - flat bottoms with outboards
and kayaks - are available at the marina. Weekends during the
spring, summer, and fall, free party-barge tours are available
that take up to 12 people out on the river. Moro Bay is also an
exceptional location for biking, hiking, duck hunting, and bird
watching.
Travel along U.S. Highway 82 east from El Dorado and you
will enter the 76,000-acre Felsenthal National Wildlife
Refuge (FNWR), established by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
in 1975. As a federally governed property, there are a number of
regulations that must be followed to ensure a memorable visit.
Regulations can be found online or in brochures available at
the various entrances to the refuge. Reference " Hunting Season
Information Felsenthal NWR " online. " Felsenthal has long
been known as a premiere duck hunting destination, " Thomsen
Photograph by Ryan Hill
40 El Dorado Insider
El Dorado Visitor Guide 2023

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