The Big River Levee Trail is Open

On October 1, 2018, the St. Francis Levee Board announced that the levee trail will be open during the month of October 2018 and beginning again next March. The agreement authorizes bicycle use of the entire levee (73 miles) from the Big River Crossing in West Memphis to Marianna, Arkansas. Levee Board Chairman, Steve Higginbotham, said, “The Board is pleased to be able to open the BRT levee trail to bicyclists during the good weather times of the year.”

Big River Strategic Initiative (BRSI) is also proud to announce two other exciting projects that will be connected by the newly opened levee trail.  These are: a) the now developing Big River Park with seven miles of already completed trail offering spectacularly scenic views of the Mississippi River and the Memphis skyline; and b) the enhanced trail amenities through the magnificent St. Francis National Forest. 

BRSI is working on improvements to an additional 42-mile section of trail from Marianna through the St. Francis National Forest and Helena-West Helena.  The new section of trail will connect to the Arkansas Delta Heritage Trail west of the city, and is funded, in part, by a $1.186 million dollar grant from the Walton Family Foundation.  When complete, the Big River Trail will stretch 115 miles from the emerging Big River Park in West Memphis to the Arkansas Delta Heritage Trail (DHT).

The DHT extends another 30 miles south with plans in place to complete additional sections that will total over 100+ miles when completed.  Together, the BRT and the DHT will offer more than 215 miles of continuous trail. 

Contact: Terry Eastin, Executive Director (479) 236-0938