One more place to enjoy near Jonesboro in Arkansas
Nestled at the southern edge of Jonesboro, the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center offers an immersive introduction to the unique geology of Crowley’s Ridge, a rare loess soil formation that rises dramatically above the surrounding Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Operated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, this free attraction features a state-of-the-art exhibit hall with three floors of interactive displays, including a simulated thunderstorm and live native animal exhibits. Guests can climb the three-story observation tower for sweeping views of the forested ridge, making this an ideal first stop for anyone wanting to understand the natural beauty of northeastern Arkansas.
The nature center is named for Forrest L. Wood, an Arkansas native and founder of Ranger Boats who became a legendary figure in sportfishing and conservation. Crowley’s Ridge itself is a geological oddity, formed over thousands of years by wind-blown dust and sediment that settled along an ancient riverbed, creating a narrow band of hills that stretches 200 miles from southeastern Missouri to Helena, Arkansas. This distinct landscape fostered a unique ecosystem and influenced settlement patterns, with early communities like Jonesboro developing along the ridge to avoid the swampy lowlands of the Delta. The nature center was established to preserve and interpret this special environment, opening its doors in 2004 as part of a network of four nature centers across the state.
Begin your visit in the main exhibit hall, where you can watch an introductory film about Crowley’s Ridge and browse displays on the area’s wildlife, geology, and human history. Kids will enjoy the hands-on discovery room with touchable specimens and scavenger hunt activities. Outside, take a stroll along the paved nature trail that winds through a restored tallgrass prairie and into the oak-hickory forest characteristic of the ridge. The staff regularly host guided nature walks, bird watching outings, and educational workshops, so be sure to check the events calendar before your visit. For a quiet afternoon, bring a book and relax by the catch-and-release fishing pond or enjoy a picnic at one of the shaded tables near the trailhead.
The center’s live animal exhibits are a highlight, featuring species native to Crowley’s Ridge such as alligator snapping turtles, venomous snakes safely housed behind glass, and seasonal displays of birds of prey. The atrium is dominated by a massive cross-section of a 300-year-old white oak that tells the story of the forest through its growth rings. From the observation tower, you can spot wildlife moving through the canopy and take in panoramic views of the ridge and surrounding farmland. The native plant garden outside the entrance blooms with wildflowers throughout spring and summer, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds that create a lively scene for photographers.
The nature center serves as a gateway to the Walmart Trail, an accessible paved path that connects directly to the larger Craighead Forest Park trail system. Cyclists and joggers can use the trail to extend their outing into the adjacent 692-acre park, which offers mountain biking, disc golf, and a stocked fishing lake. Birders will find excellent opportunities here, as the ridge acts as a migratory corridor for neotropical songbirds passing through in spring and fall. Just a short drive away, Lake Frierson State Park offers boating, kayaking, and additional hiking trails among the wooded hills of the ridge, making the nature center an ideal basecamp for a full day of outdoor exploration.
The nature center is open year-round, but spring and fall offer the most pleasant weather for enjoying the outdoor trails and observation tower. April and May bring spectacular wildflower blooms and the peak of spring bird migration, when warblers and tanagers pass through the canopy in vibrant numbers. October delivers mild temperatures and brilliant autumn foliage as the hardwood forest turns shades of gold and crimson. Summer visits can be rewarding for families, though the afternoons are best spent indoors in the air-conditioned exhibit hall. The center hosts special events during National Hunting and Fishing Day in September and seasonal nature festivals that draw visitors from across the region.