With an elevation 1,011 feet, Pinnacle Mountain rises over 750 feet above the nearby Arkansas River. The mountain’s cone-shaped peak has long been a central Arkansas landmark and attraction for outdoor enthusiasts. We saw hordes of picnickers, cyclists, and hikers. Two of the park’s hiking trails lead hikers to the mountain’s summit. We climbed using the West Summit Trail and descended using the East Summit Trail.
The view from the summit is awesome. Click on the our picture at the summit to see a panoramic video from the summit. Both trails are rugged, but the East Summit Trail is a lot more like rock climbing than hiking and is a rough climb up or down. We hiked back to the parking lot on the Base Trail that circles the base of the mountain.
After climbing the mountain we drove to the Visitor Center for some great views of the river and learned about the history of the area, the Corps of Engineers flood damage reduction dam, and its impact. We also drove through the Corps of Engineer Maumelle Park campground. This is one of the nicest Corps campgrounds I have seen. If we return to the area again, I would certainly consider staying here instead of Camp Robinson.
A couple of days later we rode the Arkansas River Trail.
This bicycle trail extends 34 miles from the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. We rode from Clinton Park to the Two Rivers Park Bridge. With the exception of a couple of small sections that were closed due to construction projects, the trail was an easy, paved path along the Arkansas River. It was a beautiful day and we rode along the north side of the river to the Big Dam Bridge. The Big Dam Bridge spans 4,226 feet over the Murray Lock and Dam and is the largest bridge in the country built specifically for cyclists.
After we crossed the Big Dam Bridge to the south side of the river, we rode to the Two Rivers Bridge. We crossed to the Two Rivers Park and rested on the point where we could see the river and the Murray Lock and Dam while we had lunch.
It was a great way to spend an afternoon and we ended our ride in front of the William Clinton Presidential Library.
On Wednesday, March 30th, we left Little Rock for Branson, MO.
Michigan Traveler 
We took your lead and stopped at the Clinton museum today, Bob! We thought it was very well done. While we were on the second floor, the place was crawling with Secret Service agents. A woman who appeared to be a curator was leading an important looking gentleman around on a tour. Not sure who it was, but there is no doubt our every move was being watched. 🙂