Getting out in nature doesn’t have to be difficult. Sometimes there are little gems to be found right in town. Tanyard Creek is one of those gems in NW Arkansas.
Tanyard Creek is a nice nature park inside the city limits of Bella Vista, Arkansas. It features paved walking paths, dirt hiking trails, a waterfall, and more. All of this is within minutes of downtown Bentonville. Read on to learn more.
Hiking at Tanyard Creek
Hiking is probably the biggest draw to Tanyard Creek. Being so accessible from town, it’s a tough place to beat when you want easy access to some trails. All of the hiking trails are pretty easygoing. They also have some nice features that are unique to the park.
Aside from the views, which we’ll get to later, there’s some cool stuff to do as well. There’s a suspension bridge over the creek, which is sure to excite the youngsters and the young at heart. In addition to that, there are nice trail markers all over the place explaining the plant life, history, and other useful information about the park.
The downside to hiking at Tanyard Creek is that it’s a smaller park. If you hike every trail there and hit the paved paths, you’ll get roughly 4-5 miles of hiking in. If you’re after mileage without retreading ground, this won’t be your best bet. However, if you don’t mind getting out in the woods and away from the park, you can connect to the Little Sugar trail system and pound out the miles.
Water features galore
All of the water features are the next biggest draw to Tanyard Creek. The waterfall coming from Lake Windsor is the most popular feature of the park. This waterfall results from the runoff of the lake and it can vary drastically in flow over the seasons. It’s certainly worth a visit, however. Pro-tip, if you’re looking to photograph the falls, go early or when it’s cold! Otherwise, it’s likely to literally be full of people.
Aside from the falls, many people visit to take a dip in the creek and keep cool in the hot summer temps. There are several spots in the creek that make good swimming holes, and people certainly take advantage of that. As mentioned above, it’s also not uncommon to find people lounging in the water around the waterfall as well.
At the edge of Tanyard Creek park is the dam to Lake Windsor. You can access this part of the lake from the hiking trails in the park. This is one of the larger lakes in Bella Vista and offers many of the opportunities you’d expect from a city lake. However, do keep in mind that fishing and boating require special permissions/permits from the Bella Vista POA.
Tanyard Creek, four seasons of fun
NW Arkansas is a great place to enjoy outside of summer as well. Spring and Fall are absolutely wonderful, with Fall being particularly colorful. Our winters are typically tolerable as well. This makes Tanyard Creek a year-round option for outdoor activity.
Snow isn’t something we see terribly often and when we do, it’s usually not significant. Late last Winter we got just enough to make Tanyard Creek look beautiful, so I set out with some black and white film and captured these photos. Seeing the park with a blanket of snow was absolutely worth the trip out.
Birding at Tanyard Creek
Tanyard Creek is one of my favorite places close to town to go birding, as well. I’ve seen a lot of species there. From Downy Woodpeckers to Great Blue Herons, Cardinals to Crows, there’s a good variety of birds who enjoy a stay in the area.
Between the nearby Lake Windsor and the creek itself, there’s plentiful water around for the birds. The city has also put up a number of Bluebird houses around the park. It’s not uncommon to see some Eastern Bluebirds out and about while on a walk around Tanyard Creek. Between the woods, water, and nearby golf course, the area is well suited for birders looking to enjoy some time out of town.
Small nature photo ops
Tanyard Creek is also an excellent park to visit for the small things. Sometimes when I’m feeling in a rut with my photography, I’ll head out to the trails and work on being observant of the details. The ecosystem in the park lends itself well to finding butterflies, bees, and other small wildlife.
Getting out to Tanyard Creek for an evening hike with the camera and looking closely at what’s around is a great exercise for photography. I’ve been there a hundred times, but I always end up finding something new. Remember to keep an eye out while you’re there, and you may find yourself enjoying the small things as well!
Summing it up
If you’re wanting a quick trip to get into nature in the Bentonville area, Tanyard Creek is your spot. It’s close to town, home to wildlife, water features, and great light hiking opportunities. If you’re looking to hone your nature photography, I highly recommend visiting at least once!
If you’ve enjoyed this blog post, check out my similar post about another NW Arkansas gem, Lake Leatherwood. Also, if you liked any of my photos, consider buying a print. Some of the photos featured in this article may be currently for sale at the above link. If not, let me know what you’d like and I’ll do my best to accommodate!