Mid-South Canoe and Kayak Guide
| DESTINATIONS - Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge | ||
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Big Lake actually consists of both the National Wildlife Refuge and the Wildlife Management Area adjacent to each other. I have only paddled at Big Lake once. We spent about an hour paddling around the southernmost lake located near Highway 18. This lake has a gravel parking area, small pier, and two boat ramps located to the north of Highway 18. If traveling west on 18, you should go over the bridge with the lake to your right and turn into the gravel lot immediately after the bridge. Part of this lake is typical of a cypress swamp with both cypress and water plants. Sections of this lake are also open, but all of it makes for a nice paddle. When we were there in October, there was not a way that we found to paddle out of this medium-sized lake to get to other bodies of water, despite the appearance on the google map.
After lunch, we drove less than 0.5 miles further west on 18 and made a right into the gravel drive for the NWR headquarters. Taking the left before the information kiosk, we drove approximately 3-4 miles north on the gravel road to a boat ramp on the right. This access is to the actual "Big Lake" that had more lilly pads than I have ever seen. In fact, there are so many that you can only paddle through the paths that are open between all the plant growth. We probably spent about 30 minutes paddling out to the middle of this lake before heading back to the car. Based on our limited exploration that day and the appearance on maps, there is likely much more paddling that could be done in this area. We have also driven down the gravel access road that begins in the southeast corner of the NWR on Hwy 18. This road provides access to the Big Lake Wildlife Management Area. After passing many ram-shackle trailers and an interesting bait shop on the right, you will come to a fork in the road at Mallard Lake. There is a small boat ramp and dock immediately in front of you at the fork providing access to Mallard Lake. This lake has some cypress but it is primarily open water. We have not explored this area any more than that, so far. Based upon the maps, it looks like there are still plenty of areas to check out on future trips. |
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| Accomodations | ||
| From what I can tell, there are no accomodations in Manila. Camping is supposedly allowed around Mallard Lake, but I don't know how great that would be. As far as I know, the only accomodations near Big Lake are likely to be in or near Blytheville. | ||
| Location | ||
| Big Lake is located in northeast Arkansas about 15 miles southwest of Blytheville on Highway 18 and Manila is about 3 miles northwest from Big Lake on Hwy 18. You can find it here on google maps. It is an approximately 1.5 hour drive from Memphis. | ||
| Links | ||
