Page 7 - Life On Greers Ferry Lake

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River Valley & Ozark and Three Rivers Editions of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Life on Greers Ferry Lake • Sunday, May 24, 2015 • 7
NINA HAYES/CAPTURE ARKANSAS
Tubing
Many water sports require a bit of skill, but tubing is an activity for the whole family. Simply attach a rope
and tube to the back of a ski boat, and hold on to enjoy a thrilling ride. Slow it down a bit for the little ones, and be sure to be water safe and wear a life jacket.
EILISH PALMER/CAPTURE ARKANSAS
Swimming
Arkansas Summers are hot and one way to stay cool is to take a swim. There are a number of beaches sec-
tioned off specifically for swimmers. So slather on some sunscreen, put on your water shoes, and blow up your floats to enjoy a dip in the refreshing waters of Greers Ferry Lake.
Scuba diving
In the space that Greers Ferry Lake now occupies, the city of Higden once flourished before it was flooded when the lake was formed by the Greers Ferry Dam. Remnants of the town offer inter- esting underwater sights, including houses, an airplane, an aircraft hangar, silos and more. Divers in the area al- so enjoy spearfishing at the lake.The Heber Springs Marina offers a scuba center for certified divers to get air fills, as well as staff members who are knowledgeable about lake diving.
Paddling
Greers Ferry Lake has more than 30,000 acres of water surface to explore.
Tour the calm waters at a leisurely pace to take in the sights, and still get a great upper-body workout on a kayak, canoe or paddle board. If you don’t own one of these, you can rent personal or tan- dem kayaks, canoes and paddle boards at various marinas on the lake.
TERRY MAJEWSKI/CAPTURE ARKANSAS
Touring the hatchery
Established in 1965, the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery stocks about 1 million rainbow trout per year in the Little Red River and other waters in Arkansas and surrounding states.Visitors can take a free self-guided tour of the hatchery and see exhibits in the visitor center featuring the history of the hatchery and the life cycle of trout.The hatchery is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. For more information, contact the hatchery office at 501-362-3615.
KURT JONES/CAPTURE ARKANSAS
Cliff jumping
For carefree adrenaline seek- ers, Greers Ferry Lake offers a great place to take a flying
leap. Deep waters along The Dam Site, with bluffs ranging from just a few feet to more than 40, make it a popular place for adventurous swim- mers to cannonball, dive, flip or flop into the lake. But do so at your own risk.
on the lake rent personal watercraft.
KENNY NATIONS/CAPTURE ARKANSAS
Birding
More than 400 species of birds have been documented in Ar- kansas, according to the Arkansas
Audubon Society. Grab a pair of binoculars and a guide book to help you spot flyers over Greers Ferry Lake. Birdwatchers are often at- tracted to the area to catch sight of majestic bald eagles, which can be found at the lake in the winter. For more information or to print a field checklist, visit www.arbirds.org.
JANE DRUFF/CAPTURE ARKANSAS
Riding a personal watercraft
Have a need for speed?Vast stretches of deep, clean water make Greers Ferry Lake ideal for zipping along on a personal watercraft. For those who don’t get on the water often or want to avoid the expense of owning a watercraft, several marinas