Pine Bluff
Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center
We are closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Please call 501-712-2947 for more information.
- Sunday: Closed
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Nature Center Offerings
Beginning August 6, the Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center will increase our outreach and community support, offering presentations and community events at locations away from the center every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The center will remain open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday to welcome visitors and school groups.
About Us
The Delta Rivers Nature Center teaches visitors the Delta’s heritage, wildlife and ecology in both indoor and outdoor settings. The center sits between Lake Saracen and Lake Langhofer. Native fish can be seen in our 22,000 gallon aquarium as well as native reptiles and some amazing birds of prey housed at the facility. While walking out on the trails, you can watch for a large variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects, as well as the many interesting and beautiful species of native plants. The Delta Rivers Nature Center is a little bit museum, aquarium, laboratory, nature store, hiking trail, bird-watching facility, wildlife photography location and environmental education facility all rolled into one location.
Admission to the nature center is free thanks to your support of the Amendment 75 Conservation Fund.
Helpful Links
Bring the Outdoors Into Your Community
Click here to request AGFC support for community events, education outreach in your school and more.
What’s Inside
The center features a colorful tile mosaic of the Delta and her rivers, highlighting many species of the area such as katydids, cicadas, tree frogs, skunks, bats or deer, as well as bass, paddlefish, gar and sturgeon that swim in her waters. Visitors can enjoy viewing many taxidermy species that can be found across the area.
There is a short film highlighting the Arkansas Delta from the sky of a crop-duster, complete with a pretend one that kids can enjoy sitting on, as well as wetlands wildlife and information on many recreational opportunities such as boating, duck hunting and fishing and an exhibit on the 1927 Arkansas River flood that nearly washed Pine Bluff away.
Grounds and Trails
The Delta Rivers Nature Center is located in 130 acres of a bottomland forest, surrounded by the Caney Bayou and Lake Langhofer. The nature center offers more than two miles of trails through the forest, giving ample opportunity to see geese, ducks, snakes, rabbits or even deer quietly feeding. Keep your eyes and ears open for signs of wildlife and don’t forget your binoculars and camera!
Trail Rules
- No ATVs bicycles, skates or skateboards allowed on the trail.
- No pets allowed on the trail.
- Please do not pick plants or flowers.
- Please do not litter.
Discovery Loop, 0.5 miles
This is the main trail that is paved and ADA accessible. This trail begins at the Birds of Prey Exhibit and wildflower prairie. This open area hosts a lot of native wildflowers and grasses and represents what is known as the Grand Prairie of Arkansas. Tallgrass prairies thrived in the Delta before land was cleared for rice production in the early 20th century. You will be able to see flowers blooming from early spring to late summer, and many insects and birds feeding from these plants.
Shortly after the wildflower prairie you will enter to a bottomland hardwood forest. This type of forest is found along the edge of the Mississippi River Delta, and is subject to frequent flooding. You will be able to spot a tall cottonwood tree among the oaks, sycamores, and pecan trees. You also can appreciate the wetland areas formed by the bayou and lakes.
Whitetail Trail, 0.25 miles
This loop is paved. You will explore more bottomland hardwood forest along of the Black Dog Lake. Look for robins and other song birds feeding along the forest floor.
Armadillo Trail, 0.25 miles
This short primitive trail is not paved. This trail will take you along Caney Bayou.
Blue Heron Trail, 0.75 mile
This is a primitive trail and is not paved. For the enthusiastic explores, you will discover the home of many wildlife. Keep your eyes and ears open, you never know what you will encounter.
Outdoor Animal Exhibits
Come out to view and observe live Birds of Prey native to Arkansas, including eagles, owls and hawks. From the back porch, you can see our two ponds which host an American Alligator and various Arkansas native turtles. In our outdoor Aquarium, you can meet the fishes and other aquatic animals found from the oxbows to the fast-flowing current areas of the Arkansas River System.
3D Archery Range
The 3D Archery Range offers archers a chance to practice shooting from various distances, tucked under a canopy of Cottonwood and Sugarberry trees. The range has 20 targets varying in sizes from small game to large game. Please check in and out at the front desk of the Nature Center.
Teacher Resources/Plan a Field Trip
The Delta Rivers Nature Center offers recreational and educational classes for people of all grade levels. Along with regular daily, weekly and monthly events, the center offers specialized activities suitable for any nature enthusiast.
Professional Development
Teachers and educators, click on the link below for a list of professional development classes or workshops currently scheduled around the state.
Professional Development Programming
With early scheduling, you onsite visit can include the following opportunities:
To schedule a class or group field trip at the Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, please review the program guide and submit the reservation form.
To schedule a class or group field trip at the Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, contact us at 501-712-2947 or email Trenton Powell at trenton.powell@agfc.ar.gov.
Onsite visit
Your onsite visit can include the following, as listed below, provided you have the time. Classes should be broken up into groups of approximately 25.
- Animal Programs
- Trail Tour
Nature Center Event Calendar
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Volunteer and Event Management System (VEMS) is your one-stop resource for volunteer opportunities and free events in hunting, fishing, trapping, safety, wildlife, marksmanship and more!
Volunteer Opportunities
The Delta Rivers Nature Center offers a volunteer training program for people interested in assisting or presenting educational programs to school groups. Come and enjoy working with children and teach them about nature.
Get in Touch
For more information regarding the Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, or to schedule a class or group field trip, give us a call at the phone number above, or send an email and we will contact you.