About Sulphur Creek Trail
The Sulphur Creek Trail system is the vision and product of The Greers Ferry Lake Trails Council (GFLTC) who operate under the mission statement of:
To plan, build, operate and maintain multi-use trails in the Greers Ferry Lake area which promote fitness and enhance transportation, the local economy and community relations.
The community has largely embraced the vision and contributed to the project. The initial focus was on building a multiuse trail system from Sugarloaf Mountain westward along the abandoned M&NA railroad and adjacent to Sulphur Creek for the most part. Other spur trails such as the Bridal Veil Falls Trail, the Sandy Beach Trail, the Colonial Loop and the Southridge Loop will be designed and built as funding becomes available. The masterplan includes over 9 miles of trail which will ultimately connect to the 6-mile trail system at Sugarloaf Mountain at mile zero.
The majority of the trail system will be asphalt. Other sections will utilize low-traffic backroads to connect sections and some trails will be chat surfaced. Easements and engineering were completed in 2023 and much of the funding for the trail itself is in place. A major street crossing at the Highway 25 bypass will be achieved by crossing below the existing traffic bridge when water levels permit. A pedestrian crossing on Sulphur Creek will be achieved by an existing 80 ft metal bridge that will be placed just to the east of the bypass.
An Adopt-a-Trail program is in place for trail advocates to adopt specific sections of the completed trail for constant inspection and minor clearing. This program also allows local citizens, businesses and other advocates to commit to promoting and supporting the trail monetarily.
The Heber Springs Parks & Recreation department also inspects the trail and repairs any major issues. And the Heber Springs Police Department are committed to patrolling and enforcing ordinances along the trail to ensure safety and security.
Grants and donations are being pursued to add other important amenities such as pavilions, signage and kiosks, access points, lighting, parking areas, additional connectors, outdoor classrooms, historical and nature interpretive signage.
The completed trail system will extend the local tourist season and draw businesses and development into the area. This, of course, increases the local tax base, improves quality of life, and perpetuates growth.
Dollar for dollar, the completed trail system will be the single best investment made in the area. - Dr. Micky Barnett
GFLTC History
The Greers Ferry Lake Trails Council (GFLTC) is a grassroots group of volunteers who are passionate about trails. After learning of several failed attempts to form a trail system along Sulphur Creek since the early 1960s—primarily using the abandoned M&NA RR right of way—Frank Wimberley, founder of the council, called a public meeting in September of 2009 to evaluate the renewed interest of such a project. After several subsequent meetings and an advisory visit by a professional trail-building group, Progressive Designs, the group organized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and formed by-laws, a board of directors, and a masterplan. The masterplan by the Crafton, Tull & Spaks engineering firm was funded by a donation from the Cleburne County Industrial Development Commision.
The first easement was given by the Micky Barnett family in 2010 to the City of Heber Springs along the RR ROW from Bittle Rd eastward about 3/8 of a mile and volunteers cleared the corridor. Donations were made and the Cleburne Co road department furnished labor to build a gravel-surfaced section with a final cost of about $1 per linear foot. Other donated easements quickly followed from the Garlinghouse Family, the Douglass Family, the Young Business Men’s Club, the Josh Combs family and First Security Bank. The first asphalt and ADA-compliant section was completed, with a 80/20 grant through the state highway department and a 20% match from the City of Heber Springs. This section extended from S 4th St to S Broadway, about ½ mile, at a cost of about $67 per linear foot. Although somewhat fragmented, the initial completed sections were all part of the masterplan and would eventually be tied together as opportunity permitted.
With the city and other trail advocates owning much of the land along the remaining trail corridor, easements were in place for most of the trail system. In March of 2020, the Heber Springs citizens voted to refinance an existing bond issue to lower the interest rate. $1.6m was appropriated to complete the trail surface.
GFLTC adopted the Sugarloaf Shredders in 2020, a 6th-12th grade kids competitive mountain bike team sanctioned by the national organization, NICA.
In addition to this website, the council has a presence on Facebook for posting photos, videos, milestones, and current events as well as comments and suggestions from the public.
Completion of the complete trail surface is anticipated in 2023. Other features such as signage, trailhead pavilions, kiosks, lighting etc will be completed as funds become available.
