Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

When you arrive at the 10,000 square foot office and visitor center located off of Highway 1 in St. Charles, Arkansas, you will find an auditorium, environmental education classroom, and an interpretive exhibit hall. The foyer is home to a 28-foot tall replica of a bald cypress tree. In addition to the birds and other section of a bear den illustrating the unique denning habits of black bears on the refuge. The base of the tree is surrounded by an underwater diorama showcasing flora and fauna typical of the refuge’s oxbow lakes. The interpretive displays educate visitors about the human and ecological histories of the area, the hydrology of the White River, and the bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem.

Just behind the visitor center, the Bottomland Hardwood Trail takes you from the uplands, down the escarpment, and into the bottoms. This trail can be accessed during visitor center hours, when the gauge reading of the White River at St. Charles is 28 feet or lower.

You can also explore the Upland Trail across from the visitor center that is compliant with the American Disabilities Act.