| Thanks to a new book by Johnnie Chamberlin,
outdoor enthusiasts in Greater Little Rock can find ways to pursue
their interests virtually in their own backyards. Trails of Little
Rock, published by Parkhurst Brothers, Inc., Publishers includes
dozens of trails that will help people find places to hike, bike
and kayak in and around the entire city.
With 40 maps included, Trails of Little Rock is designed
to get you out of the house and off on an adventure. This comprehensive
guide, the first of its kind, contains descriptions of dozens
of trails, both paved and unpaved, as well as water routes.
“I wrote this book for lots of different people,”
said Chamberlin, who works as assistant director of conservation
at Audubon Arkansas. “ I included hiking, biking and floating
trails and covered a wide range of difficulties, lengths and locations.”
Trails of Little Rock will be useful for families with
small children, mountain bikers, joggers, road bikers, cyclists,
hikers, paddlers, and anyone who enjoys casual strolls in scenic
settings. “ I hope this book will be used by people living
in and around Little Rock, as well as by people who are just visiting
the area.”
As an advocate for the great outdoors, Chamberlin says he first
became interested in the trails project when he went to work for
Audubon Arkansas more than three years ago and began to study
Fourche Creek, which drains excess water from Little Rock into
the Arkansas River. Chamberlain believes the Fourche Bottoms area
eventually might be an access point to over ten miles of floating
and provide an alternative, scenic route for people to bike to
downtown jobs from the southwest and central parts of the city.
“I spent many days floating and hiking along creeks in
the city conducting research, searching for rare plants, and planting
trees,” Chamberlin explained. “On the job, I came across
several trails that I’d never heard about and most people
I told about them had never heard of them either.” Now, Chamberlin’s
book is helping to change all that.
Trails of Little Rock is easy to use and features a detailed
trail description, along with ratings for trail difficulty as
well as scenery. Each map is marked with the trail name and location,
along with roads and contours, and also distinguishes between
paved and unpaved roads. The book also features the Top 10 Most
Scenic Trails and a Top 10 for children’s trails.
While Trails of Little Rock will get more people into
Little Rock’s outdoor scene, Chamberlin says he will continue
to work toward improving trails and greenspace in the area so
they become more readily accessible to more people all over the
city.
|
