Summary
The area is managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and provides a habitat for a variety of wildlife, including deer, turkey, bobcat, and black bear.
Visitors to Cove Creek Natural Area can enjoy a range of outdoor recreational activities, such as hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The area features several trails, including the 4.5-mile Cove Creek Trail, which winds through hardwood forests and along the creek.
There are several points of interest within the Cove Creek Natural Area, including the historic Woolly Cabin, which was built in the 1830s. The cabin offers a glimpse into the life of early settlers in the area.
Interesting facts about the Cove Creek Natural Area include the presence of a rare, federally endangered plant species known as the running buffalo clover. The area also includes several ponds and wetlands, which provide habitat for a variety of waterfowl.
The best time of year to visit Cove Creek Natural Area is in the spring and fall when the weather is mild and wildlife is active. Visitors should take precautions during the summer months, as temperatures can be hot and humid, and ticks and other insects are prevalent.
Overall, Cove Creek Natural Area Wildlife Management Area is a beautiful and diverse nature preserve that offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Arkansas.
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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.
Related References