David D Terry Lock and Dam, also known locally as Pool 6 is a cultural feature in Pulaski County under the management of the Corps of Engineers. The dam covers the eastern and western city limits of the quaint city of Little Rock and has tons to offer in the way of recreation activities. There’s hardly an outdoor sport that Terry Lock and Dam doesn’t offer.
This dam offers the most excellent angling opportunities, clear water for swimming, horse riding, kayaking, boating, waterskiing, camping, biking, picnicking, golfing, boating, and much more.
Terry Lock and Dam has five recreational areas at its front, all of them packed with activities to keep vacationers entertained. These five recreation areas are divided by the city of Little Rock, hence the spread of the recreation areas in the eastern and western ends of the city.
The floodwaters of Arkansas River also makes for some of the best duck hunts anywhere in the world.
The recreation areas that serve Terry Lock and Dam include Willow Beach, Burns Park, Dam Site 6 East, Dam Site 6 West, and Murray Park.
Arkansas River - Terry Lock and Dam is located 17 minutes away from Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport and nearly 2 hours away from Daisy State Park.
From the airport, get on the I-440 East and follow it towards the US-165 to Colonel Maynard road in North Little Rock. Continue down the same road for 5.3 miles to reach your destination.
The highlight of Little Rock, Burns Park is one of the most renowned golf places in all of Arkansas. It also offers a great campground with 38 campsites for RV camping, all-electric with 30-50 amp hookups. Heated showers, clean and dry restrooms, paved sites, are also provided to the happy campers that choose this busy campground as there base for golfing and other outdoor recreations.
Willow Beach and Burns Park are the two Army Corp campgrounds located in close proximity to Terry Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River.
About a 45-minute drive away from Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Willow Beach Campground is located near the David D. Terry Lock and Dam of the Arkansan River.
Willow Beach offers camping, picnicking, boating, and sightseeing opportunities to its guests.
The campground at Willow Beach houses 23 RV campsites with electric and water hookups. It also provides two picnic shelters that can be reserved online.
The campground comes with several amenities such as a playground, showers, dump station, and a boat ramp. Willow Beach Park is located in a forested area on one side, and riverfront at the other.
Horseback riders will love it here because the Arkansas River Trail System offers one of the most scenic and picturesque tracks to giddy-up and embark on an outdoor horse riding adventure. This long trail changes its landscape and allows the horse riders’ eyes to admire a different view every few miles. It changes from cityscapes to wooded brush and even dense woods.
Burns Park also offers horseback riding trails. The riders are requested to have their Coggins Papers on them at all times so that other horses can be protected. Riders should remain on the designated horse trail and should not wander towards the paved trail. Remain considerate of bicyclists and pedestrians.
Arkansas River Trail is a 17-mile loop of rail-trail between North Little Rock and Little Rock. The trail is accompanied by many pedestrian bridges from which hikers can stop and admire the beauty below. This trail runs past North Shore River Walk Park, Burns Park, Emerald Park, over the Big Dam Bridge and the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge. This trail is very easy and can be braved by hikers of any skill level. Dogs are also allowed to accompany their owners on this trail. It is also a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly trail.
Fishing is one of the most popular sports at David D. Terry Lake, where several anglers could be seen at any time of the day, sitting quietly on the docks, enjoying their peace and calm. Fishing here is also rewarding since the old river cutoff, the tailwaters, and the upstream of the Lock and Dam offer a variety of fish species to nibble at your line. Willow Beach Park also offers fish cleaning stations. Some of the most common fish species include catfish and largemouth bass.
The Arkansas River and the surrounding areas are home to many habitats. On your casual stroll in the Willow Beach Park, Two Rivers Park, and Burns Park, you might run into red fox, deer, and armadillo. You might also catch sight of many long-tailed scissortail flycatchers enjoying their flights, or groundhogs busying themselves with their usual splash of mud. Additionally, campers get to come face to face with raccoons, quail, skunks, turtles, egrets, mallard ducks, blue herons, possums, and egrets. You might also witness numerous species of waterfowl in the water, or somewhere along the shores.
Murray Park is situated very close to the Arkansas River and is one of the most active and happening places in the city. It is a pet-friendly park with three soccer fields, a boat dock, eight pavilions, and two playgrounds. It also offers fishing. If you are a pet owner, coming to this place and meeting new people is one of the best ways you can socialize and get your pets the exercise they need.
Located at the riverfront, Burns Park is Arkansas’ largest urban municipal park spread over nearly 1,700 acres. This park has pretty much everything an outdoor enthusiast could ever wish for. However, what it especially stands out for is its golf courses. The park offers 18-hole disc golf courses, 18-hole championship golf course, and an 18-hole tournament golf course. It also offers a driving range, a stocked golf shop, and a clubhouse.
