Black Bass Lake
Black Bass Lake
Black Bass City Park is one of Eureka Springs’ most treasured recreational destinations. The 3-mile trail system offers a surprising amount of variety for its size, ranging from rocky, bluff and moss-lined trails to easy strolls along the scenic shoreline. Each of the five trails contains a number of interesting geologic and historic features, such as Standing Rock (Standing Rock Trail), Roosevelt Rock, (Oil Springs Trail), and of course, the limestone-faced dam, which dates back to 1894, making it one of the oldest dams in the Ozarks. In addition to trails, the ‘no motor’ lake offers great fishing, and a number of hike-in or drive-in picnic sites are available.
Cover photo courtesy of Edward C. Robison III
Black Bass Lake Trail system
Standing Rock Trail
Built upon a former pump house road bed, this trail begins just past the dam spillway and before the non-motorized boat ramp. It passes by Standing Rock and leads to a small picnic area an the two wooden bridges crossing both the Wet Weather Creek and the headwaters of West Leatherwood Creek. The trail mostly level, wide, and multi-use trail.
Bluff Trail
Spurring off from and running above Sycamore Spring Trail, this rugged trail hugs the St. Joe limestone outcropping that rims the valley. The trail is steep at begging and end, but mostly level, though narrow and rocky. This trail, featuring great views of the lake and valley, is favored by local mountain bike riders.
Sycamore Spring Trail
This trail begins on the opposite side of the dam and runs along the shoreline of the lake, crossing Sycamore Spring and heads to the wooden bridge crossing the head waters of West Leatherwood Creek. Abundant wild-flowers line this trail in spring and summer. The trail is narrow, level for the most part, and follows an old fishing path.
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