Miller County
Sulphur River WMA Birding Trails
Quick Facts
Maps
- Sulphur River WMA Map
- Canal Birding Trail Map
- Henry Moore III Waterfowl Rest Area Birding Trail Map
- River Road Birding Trail Map
Georeferenced Map Instructions
- Download the free Avenza Map app from the App Store on mobile device.
- Choose a trail and tap on the geo-referenced map.
- Tap on the map again and choose “Open in Avenza Maps” or choose “More” and tap on the Avenza Map icon.
- Map is saved in Avenza Map app.
- A blue dot marks your location on the map.
- The trail map uses the phone’s GPS. If cell reception is poor, put phone on airplane mode to conserve power.
- Download the free Avenza Map app from the App Store on mobile device.
- Choose a trail and tap on the geo-referenced map.
- Tap on the three dots in the upper-right corner.
- Choose “Send File” and tap the Avenza Map icon.
- Map is saved in Avenza Map app.
- A blue dot marks your location on the map.
- The trail map uses the phone’s GPS. If cell reception is poor, put phone on airplane mode to conserve power.
Trail Information
- Canal Birding Trail
- Enjoy a one-mile-out-and-back path along a levee to Mercer Bayou. The levee is mowed infrequently. Be prepared with bug spray and sturdy shoes.
- Be on the lookout for wading birds and waterfowl. Scan the skies for swallow-tailed kites along with a host of other birds of prey.
- Henry Moore III Waterfowl Rest Area Birding Trail
- Enjoy a one-and-a-half-mile-out-and-back hike along a gravel levee road.
- This waterfowl rest area and the trail are closed Nov. 1 – Feb. 15.
- Two moist-soil units (approximately 900 acres) are seasonally flooded to stimulate the growth of naturally occurring wetland plants for waterfowl food and habitat.
- These managed wetlands provide critical feeding and loafing habitat for migrating waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds. Colorful songbirds forage along the wetland’s edges – watch for indigo and painted buntings, prothonotary warblers, Acadian flycatchers and eastern kingbirds.
- River Road Birding Trail
- Enjoy an out-and-back hike on the River Road Birding Trail. It traverses northwesterly 6 miles. Conditions are wet much of the year and the trail is infrequently mowed. Be prepared with bug spray and knee boots.
- A variety of warblers, woodpeckers and other songbirds flock to River Road Birding Trail’s bottomland habitat. American and least bittern can be spotted in the road.
Emergency Numbers
Miller County EMS
911
Miller County Sheriff’s Office
870-774-3001
AGFC Perrytown Office
501-255-1496
Stop Poaching Hotline
501-255-3475
Birds flock to Sulphur River Wildlife Management Area. At 18,155 acres, it’s the largest tract of bottomland hardwood forest in the Red River valley. Watch for wetland birds — American bittern, tricolored heron, purple and common gallinules, anhingas, black-bellied whistling ducks and swallow-tailed kites. Beavers, otters, muskrats, deer and raccoons feed near the bayou.
Be sure to scan the sky April through August for swallow-tailed kites. Long wings and a deeply forked tail aid in identification. The first pair of swallow-tailed kites to successfully raise young in Arkansas since 1890 were documented on the WMA in August 2020.
Mercer Bayou provides excellent bass, crappie and bream fishing. Click here for fishing regulations.
Hunters pursue deer, waterfowl, turkey, alligator and small game on the area. Furbearer trapping is permissible on the WMA. Check the current Arkansas Hunting Guidebook for details, and wear hunter orange when appropriate. Leash pets for their safety
Primitive camping (no water, sewer or electricity) is permitted at designated campsites. All sites are first-come, first-served. A hunting or fishing license or AGFC Camping Permit is required to camp. Click here to learn more.
Check out the nearby 14-mile Mercer Bayou Water Trail that meanders through bottomland hardwood forests. About 4 miles south of the Canal Access, the upper mound – a large, forested sandstone formation – rises above Mercer Bayou. Scan the hillside for a variety of warblers and nesting bald eagles.