Cook's Landing:

Go north on I-430 from it's intersection with highway 10 and cross the Arkansas River. Pinnacle Mountain is visible to the west, in the distance. Take the first exit after crossing the river, the Maumelle exit, and turn right at the traffic light. Immediately turn right again and continue straight down the hill and you run into Cooks Landing, a Corp of Engineers Park on the banks of the Arkansas River. There is a sleepy backwater that is a good place to put in a boat, or to fish from the bank.

On entering the Park pull into the parking lot on the right and the backwater faces you. Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher are common. Winter brings a host of Ducks and Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Hooded Mergansers and Pied-billed Grebes. After scanning the backwater turn around and walk to the wooded area behind you. This is a good place to observe migrant warblers and sometimes an American Woodcock. In winter look for Fox, Field, Song and Swamp sparrows, Rufous-sided Towhee, Yellow-rumped Warbler and American Goldfinch. After the woods a short walk brings you down to the Murray Lock and Dam and the Arkansas River proper. Again, in the winter gulls are plentiful here, mostly Ring-billed gulls but a few Herring Gulls and other species do occur.