Recreation

With so much natural beauty surrounding the Arkansas River Valley, Russellville is the perfect place for the whole family to enjoy the outdoors. Whether hiking to the waterfall on Petit Jean Mountain or boating at Lake Dardanelle State Park, an up-close and personal relationship with nature is never more than just a few steps away.

Russellville's 23 city parks and the Hughes Community Center offer the perfect place for activities with lighted tennis courts, lighted baseball and softball fields, a new soccer complex, an Olympic-size swimming pool, basketball courts, disc golf courses, and equipped playgrounds. The Russellville Aquatic Center has an 8-lane competition-sized pool that features basketball goals and a diving board. There is also a heated therapy pool where we have many classes, including Aqua Aerobics. You’ll also find a splash pad and an inflatable obstacle course for kids!

For our sports enthusiasts, local schools participate in football, basketball, swimming, baseball, track and field, golf, and volleyball. Arkansas Tech University competes in the NCAA Division II Great American Conference in football, basketball, volleyball, golf, tennis, and baseball. Also, two eighteen-hole golf courses are located just minutes from the downtown area.

Holla Bend Natural Wildlife Refuge, located to the south of Russellville, is one of the state's most outstanding areas for viewing and photographing wildlife. The Refuge, containing over 6,300 acres, provides a natural habitat for over 150 species of birds, including migrating waterfowl. Visitors can view the wildlife from several viewing stations provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The Ozark National Forest has many recreational areas for hunting, fishing, camping, floating, hiking, and perhaps the only bayou in the country featuring whitewater. The bustling of city streets can make anyone long for a gravel road in the mountains. In Russellville, off-road junkies are never very far from an ATV trail. An area that is primarily a horse trail, Moccasin Gap is a multiple-use trail open to off-road vehicles, mountain bikes, hikers, and high-clearance vehicles. Moccasin Gap Trails has four main ATV trails: Gap Hollow, Stave Mill Falls Loop, High Mountain Loop, & Black Oak Loop. The Big Piney Ranger District can be contacted at 479-284-3150 with questions about closures.

Recreational opportunities are available year-round throughout the Russellville area—hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, hiking and biking trails, water sports, youth and adult ball leagues, and golf. All of which make Russellville one of the most desirable places in the State of Arkansas to live and visit.

Where to Go in Russellville

Looking for the best spots to explore? There are plenty of things to do in Russellville, AR, for those interested in arts and culture, outdoor recreation, and fitness and sports. Check out these local attractions, galleries, parks, and activity centers to make the most of your time in the River Valley!