Coldwater River Nature Trails

Stream along the trail

Below Arkabutla Dam are a series of trails through the mostly bottomland hardwood forest along the Coldwater River developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Much of these trails overlap, and they form 1, 2, 3, and 5-mile loops.


Hiking counterclockwise, the trails begin by the Arkabutla Dam outlet and follow a drainage ditch before soon arriving at a "beaver pond" (I saw no evidence of any beaver activity). The trail continues along the drainage ditch until crossing state highway 301. The five-mile loop continues up a small hill before returning back down and joining the three-mile loop.

Beaver pond

After crossing a small bridge, the trail continues on what looks likes a small stagnant stream before returning the the trailhead. On a cool, but very nice morning on November 20, 2016, most of the trees still had leaves, and some had just begun to change color.

See my track here on All Trails or more photos here.

Trail through the forest

Coldwater River

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