Caney Creek National Game Refuge
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Caney Creek National Game Refuge is located in the state of Arkansas near the town of Holly Grove.
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Summary
The refuge is known for its diverse wildlife, which includes white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and waterfowl. It also boasts over 300 species of birds, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers.
Visitors can explore the refuge's 14,000 acres of wetlands, hardwood forests, and croplands through hiking and wildlife observation. The refuge also offers hunting and fishing opportunities during specified seasons.
One of the main attractions at Caney Creek National Game Refuge is the Cache River Natural Area, which is home to the bald cypress tree, a species that can live for over 1,000 years. Visitors can also see the White River National Wildlife Refuge, which is adjacent to the Caney Creek National Game Refuge.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the refuge was established in 1976 to protect and manage wetland habitats for migratory birds. It is also home to the endangered ivory-billed woodpecker, although no confirmed sightings have been made in recent years.
The best time of year to visit Caney Creek National Game Refuge is during the fall and winter seasons, when waterfowl hunting and birdwatching are popular activities. However, the refuge is open year-round and offers opportunities for outdoor recreation throughout the year.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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Caney Creek Wilderness
Caney Creek Wildlife Management Area
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