Buck Island

Bringing Tourism to the Lower Mississippi

Located a stone’s throw across the Lower Mississippi River from the historic delta town of Helena, Arkansas, Buck Island (formerly Prairie Point Towhead) contains 1,000 acres of hardwoods and a large sand bar where birds flock in abundance, including the endangered least tern. The 22,600-acre St. Francis National Forest is north of the island at the confluence of the St. Francis and Mississippi rivers. 

ALC completed a conservation easement through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in fall, 2010, protecting the island's native hardwood forests. In early 2011, ALC  secured a public access easement through the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, which opens the island to public use and creates the anchor point for a new Lower Mississippi River Water Trail. The island provides outstanding opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, paddling, and wildlife-watching.

See photos, videos, and much more on our Buck Island feature page! Watch a video from Canoe & Kayak Magazine on Buck Island, featuring our own Tim Richardson!