Delta Heritage Trail Transforms Abandoned Railroad Into 960-Acre State Park

Where freight trains once hauled goods across the Arkansas Delta, hikers and cyclists now follow crushed gravel paths through 887 acres of lowland wilderness, crossing 58 bridges that span the White and Arkansas rivers. The Delta Heritage Trail State Park, a rails-to-trails conversion threading through Phillips, Desha, and Arkansas counties, has spent more than two decades growing from a single 14-mile stretch into one of the most ambitious recreational projects in the region's history.

The trail sits on the route of the Delta Eagle, the Missouri Pacific passenger train that once connected Delta communities before the line was abandoned. The state of Arkansas acquired the Union Pacific Railroad property in December 1992, enabled by the National Trail Systems Act, which allowed states to reclaim abandoned rail corridors for public use. A formal plan was approved in 1997, and the park officially opened October 25, 2002, with its first hiking and biking segment running from Helena Junction, near Lexa, south to Barton along Arkansas 85.

Progress has been measured in phases and funding cycles. By 2014, 21 miles of trail were developed for use. Completed sections as reported by state sources now include a 20.6-mile crushed gravel stretch between Lexa and Elaine, a 14.4-mile roadway between Rohwer and Arkansas City, and a 9.4-mile gravel section between Rohwer and Watson. A separate 36.4-mile middle section, funded by a federal RAISE grant awarded in 2021, was targeted for completion by 2025. Trailheads are established at Lexa, Barton, Lick Creek, Lake View, Elaine, Watson, Rohwer, and Arkansas City.

Two major funding announcements accelerated the project. In January 2020, the state received a $20 million matching grant from the Walton Family Foundation designated to complete the trail from Lexa to Arkansas City. A $20.5 million federal grant followed in November 2021. Together, those dollars are funding bridge infrastructure over rivers and wetlands and pushing the trail toward its planned full length, which sources place at between 73 and 85 miles depending on the measurement methodology.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson framed the project as an economic engine for southeast Arkansas, estimating it would generate roughly 600 jobs and bring sustained tourism dollars to communities along the corridor. Becky Flynn, deputy director of the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation, described the trail's broader purpose during a Rails-to-Trails Conservancy webinar. "We're connecting communities through some of the most remote and beautiful parts of our state," Flynn said. "This trail celebrates the Delta's unique wildlife, music, food, and heritage, while generating economic opportunity."

The park's design reflects that heritage commitment. Staff matched paint colors, architecture, and interpretive signage to the original railroad era, and restored train depots serve as cultural landmarks along the route. Plans also call for an excursion train to operate along the middle section of the old rail line, while the northern and southern ends remain reserved for non-motorized trail use.

Access to the trail begins near the U.S. 49 overpass in Phillips County, where the park visitor center is located. Rest benches line the limestone pathway, and parking lots with bike racks are available at multiple trailheads. The trail is open during daylight hours only.