Southwest Trail Update: Where Things Stand from Little Rock to Hot Springs

The vision of a 65-mile trail connecting downtown Little Rock and Hot Springs National Park is becoming reality, one segment at a time.

What began as a planning effort nearly a decade ago is now visible on the ground. Cyclists, runners, and walkers can already enjoy nearly six miles of completed trail stretching across the Pulaski-Saline county line, while additional sections are advancing through construction, engineering, and right-of-way acquisition.

Following the recent opening of Saline County’s first completed segment, interest in the Southwest Trail has surged. With projects moving forward simultaneously in Pulaski, Saline, and Garland counties, now is a good time to look at where the trail stands and what users can expect in the coming years.

The Southwest Trail Vision

The Southwest Trail traces its roots to a Federal Lands Access Program grant secured by Pulaski, Saline, and Garland counties in 2017. The program supports transportation projects that improve access to federal destinations, making the proposed connection between Little Rock’s Central High School National Historic Site and Hot Springs National Park an ideal candidate.

The original grant funded approximately $3.26 million in planning and engineering work. When complete, the Southwest Trail will create a 65-mile shared-use corridor linking communities, parks, neighborhoods, and destinations across Central Arkansas.

Beyond recreation, the trail is designed to provide transportation opportunities, improve quality of life, and support economic development throughout the region.

Pulaski County: Setting the Pace

Pulaski County remains the furthest along in development and construction.

The first completed segment opened in April 2025, creating a 4.3-mile paved trail extending from the Saline County line north to Hilaro Springs Road. Built along the former Rock Island railroad corridor, the route offers a relatively flat ride through wooded areas and wetlands while providing a safe, off-street experience for cyclists and pedestrians.

Additional segments are progressing rapidly:

• Hilaro Springs Road to Baseline Road is engineered and expected to be bid soon. A major bridge for this section has already been constructed and is awaiting installation.
• Baseline Road to 65th Street is expected to begin construction during 2026.
• Central High School to the Arkansas State Fairgrounds is also scheduled to begin construction during 2026.
• The segment connecting 65th Street and the Fairgrounds remains in design, with construction anticipated in 2027.

If current schedules hold, Pulaski County could complete its entire portion of the Southwest Trail by 2028.

Saline County: Building Connections

Saline County contains the longest planned section of the trail, with more than 26 miles proposed through Alexander, Shannon Hills, Bryant, Bauxite, and Benton.

The county celebrated a major milestone this year with the completion of Segment S8A, a roughly two-mile section extending from the Pulaski County line to Germania Road near Alexander. Combined with the Pulaski County segment, trail users now have nearly six continuous miles of paved trail available.

The project has not been without challenges. In 2025, construction equipment was heavily damaged in a vandalism incident that delayed progress and caused significant losses. Despite the setback, construction continued and the segment was ultimately completed.

Looking ahead, Saline County is advancing engineering and design work on multiple segments while addressing several major infrastructure challenges. Among them is a future crossing of Highway 67, where planners are evaluating options that could include grade-separated crossings similar to those found on Northwest Arkansas’ Razorback Greenway.

One of the trail’s future signature features will be the historic Old River Bridge in Benton. Restored and reopened in 2025 after being closed for more than 50 years, the bridge is expected to become a centerpiece of the trail once surrounding connections are completed.

Cities along the route are also beginning to develop local connections. Bryant has secured funding for a trail spur linking its park system to the Southwest Trail, and additional connector projects are expected as the corridor expands.

Garland County: Looking Toward Hot Springs

While Garland County remains several years away from construction, significant planning work continues.

The City of Hot Springs will oversee construction within city limits, while Garland County is responsible for the corridor extending east toward Saline County.

Current plans envision the trail entering downtown Hot Springs near the historic transportation depot and Convention Boulevard before connecting to Bathhouse Row and Hot Springs National Park.

The first trail construction within Hot Springs is currently anticipated around 2028.

Garland County has already secured funding for a segment extending east from the city limits toward the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway area. Design work is complete, and right-of-way acquisition is underway. Additional funding is expected to help move future sections toward the Saline County line.

Several local trail projects, including the Hot Springs Creek Greenway and Stokes Creek Greenway, will eventually connect to the Southwest Trail and create a larger regional network for residents and visitors.

Parking and Trail Access

As more sections of the Southwest Trail open, users now have convenient access points at the southwest end and middle of the completed corridor.

Vimy Ridge Missionary Baptist Church

The southern access point is located at Vimy Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Alexander. Parking is available and provides direct access to Saline County’s Segment S8A and the connection into Pulaski County.

Iron Horse Church of Little Rock

The middle access point is located at Iron Horse Church of Little Rock in Mabelvale. From this location, users can access the Pulaski County section of the trail and ride south toward Alexander or north toward Hilaro Springs Road.

Please Be Respectful

Both churches have generously provided parking access for trail users. Visitors should remember these are active places of worship and community gathering spaces.

Please be respectful of church leadership, members, facilities, and grounds. Park only in designated areas, avoid interfering with church activities, and help keep the properties clean so these access points remain available for future trail users.

Where You Can Ride Today

At present, the Southwest Trail offers over six continuous miles of completed paved trail.

The route includes Pulaski County’s 4.3-mile section between the Saline County line and Hilaro Springs Road, along with Saline County’s 2.5-mile Segment S8A extending to Germania Road near Alexander.

Together, these connected sections provide one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of off-street trail in Central Arkansas and offer a glimpse of what the completed Southwest Trail will eventually become.

The Road Ahead

The Southwest Trail remains one of Arkansas’ most ambitious active transportation and recreation projects.

What makes the project particularly encouraging is that progress is occurring simultaneously across all three counties. Funding is secured for major portions of the route, engineering continues to advance, and new construction projects are moving toward reality each year.

When completed, the Southwest Trail will create something Arkansas has never had before: a continuous off-street connection between Little Rock and Hot Springs. It will link communities, provide new transportation options, encourage healthy lifestyles, attract visitors, and create economic opportunities throughout Central Arkansas.

For now, the trail remains a work in progress. But with pavement already on the ground and additional sections moving forward, the vision is closer than ever to becoming reality.

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This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!