Lake Leatherwood – Beacham Trail 2010-06-07

Beacham Trail - Lake Leatherwood Dam

Lake Leatherwood Park in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is a cool place for hiking with a variety of trail types. One of the easier trails is the Beacham Trail which makes a loop around the lake without much up-and-downhill climbing.

Interactive Beacham Trail GPX Map

2010-06-27-leatherwood-beacham gpx file

The beginning of the trail (if, like me, you start heading north from the main trailhead by the playground) is not that exciting. This section is just a pretty flat old road without any good views of the lake.

But then, before you finish the first mile, you hit the lake dam. The Beacham Trail then follows the pedestrian crossing along the 600-or-so-foot length of the dam.  Crossing the dam is really cool with awesome views of the lake on one side and an amazing view of spillway waterfalls on the other.

View of Lake Leatherwood from Dam (Beacham Trail)

On the east and south sides of the lake, the trail is more interesting than on the west side as it winds through an old quarry (used to build the dam), cuts through forested areas with some nice views of the lake, and traverses some scenic wetlands as well.

There is parking at the main trailhead by the playground. The full loop is about 3.4 miles (a little less if you stop at the south trailhead).

As usual, I have posted a gpx trail map and an elevation chart made from my gps and some photos I took.

Dam Quarry - Beacham Trail

Beacham Trail - Lake Leatherwood Park