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Carol Ann Cross Park
2 reviews
3 of 5
First off, this is a great park for a picnic with the family or if your spouse and children want to tag along, there is a big playground and a paved walkway around the lake.
Second, these trails are more freeride and adventure type trails.
Assuming you are parked on the East side of the park, head North along the sidewalk until you reach the big pile of dirt. (( You will also see a sign that says No motorized vehicles past this point. )) Head right and you are greeted with a nice incline of slate, loose rock, and ruts. At the midpoint of the ascend, there are 5 trails back down, not including the way you came up. At the top of the hill, you can either go right, across the gravel road or go left around the top of the hill. I would suggest riding the declines that lead to the midpoint of the hill first, rather than the ones that go all the way back down to the base of the hill, as it gets very tiring traveling back up to the top many times over. Do a lot of exploration on both sides of the hill, as there are many fun trails to ride.
Bring water and tools. You may also need an extra tube or so. Most of the good declines are almost straight down, but are short. I have tacoed 1 wheel and I have seen a few flats. There is a fair amount of glass in the area.
Watch for hikers and an occasional person that is meditating at the midpoint.
If coming from the Fayetteville area, Take 540 to Fort Smith. Exit at Grand Ave, it is also the UA Fort Smith exit. Follow the off-ramp to the intersection, about 40'. Turn Left on Grand Ave; go about 25' to the next intersection and turn right on 67th street. (( It is the first road you will see after the North bound off ramp. )) Follow 67th street until you reach the Free Ferry 4-way stop. Turn left on Free Ferry and follow it around the bend (74th street,) until you reach the park on your left side about 5 miles.
If you are coming from South of Fort Smith, take 71 to 540 and exit at Rogers Ave. Turn right on Rogers Ave and follow until you reach the 74th street intersection and turn left. (( You will see St. Edwards Hospital on your left and Stonewood Village on your right. )) Follow 74th street about 3.5 miles until you reach the park on your right side at the base of the hill.
It is best to park on the East side of the park between the two pavilions on either hill, since you cannot ride on the sidewalk and it is the shortest route to the trail.
Summary: I read the reviews printed here and knew I was going to be spending Christmas in Arkansas so I thought I would try as many trails as possible. Spent more time trying to find the park and fighting traffic then I did on the bike. Good aerobic workout coming back up from the old car. The trail across the top of the ridge is a lot of fun. Some of the downhills off of the ridge are really eroded and may need some help soon. Watch out for the one on the north side that is so full of leaves that you don't know where the bottom of the trail is until you are body surfing down it.
Recommended Route: Follow the earlier recomendation of going past the dirt pile.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Both the Homestead and Bluff trails at the Lee Creek Reservoir. Springhill Park in Barling.
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Review Date April 3, 2003
Overall Rating 3 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: Cliff, Ben
, from Fort Smith, AR
Summary: on my account, i have never seen anyone medaiting anywhere, but i have ridden it a lot, i go there almost every day really, theres a car on one of the trails after the AOG pipeline thingy, its pretty cool, the car looks to be an older model porshe, it is striped of everything pretty much. i went to the watertower and had a lot of fun trying to find my way back on the paved roads after the barbed wire fence. i g2g now, seeya lata
Recommended Route: CLR (Chicken Leg Rutts)
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