Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located in Pope and Yell County along the Arkansas River, five miles downstream from the city of Dardanelle, Arkansas. The refuge is bounded by an old oxbow that was created in the early 1950s when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cut a channel through the bend in the river to promote navigation and flood control.
An image of a solar eclipse taken on August 21, 2017.
Solar Eclipse Viewing: Need to Know

Holla Bend NWR will experience 100% coverage of the sun during the April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse event. The Refuge will not supply viewing glasses, please bring your own.

In order to ensure visitor and wildlife/habitat safety and well-being, please note the following:

  • You are welcome on the refuge at 7:00am until 8:30pm on April 8, 2024.
  • Please do not park/stay/camp overnight; the refuge is closed overnight.
  • Vehicles are restricted to passenger vehicles, no travel trailers, RV’s, ATV’s, UTV’s or bicycles.
  • All vehicles are restricted to travel and park along the Wildlife Drive for eclipse viewing. Blocking gates and roadways with any vehicle is prohibited. All travel direction will be one-way.
  •  All fishing, boating, biking, pedestrian activities and the observation tower will be closed April 8.
  • The Youth (Modern Gun) Turkey Hunt will occur refuge-wide on April 6-7, 2024. It is recommended that all Refuge users wear applicable hunter orange while on the Refuge during the gun hunts.

Our Public Use Regulations Brochure provides a comprehensive list of Refuge regulations.

View other nearby events https://www.arkansas.com/natural-state/eclipse
 

Visit Us

National wildlife refuges offer us a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. The spring and summer months are a good time to view nesting songbirds, wildflowers, turkey poults, and amphibians. The fall and winter months are for good viewing white-tail deer and migratory birds such as waterfowl. The refuge is also known to have Bald Eagle sightings year-round, but they are more frequent during the winter and early spring.

Fees:

Fee Schedule for Holla Bend NWR
Type of Fee Amount 
Entrance Fee 

$4.00/vehicle/day or $15.00/bus/day

Holla Bend NWR Annual Pass $12.50/vehicle/year
Archery Deer Hunt $12.50/person
Archery Turkey Hunt $12.50/person
America the Beautiful Senior Pass $20.00 Annual - $80.00 Lifetime
America the Beautiful Annual Pass $80.00
Federal Duck Stamp $25.00

 

Hunting Information

Location and Contact Information

      Tours

      Visitors can take a self-guided auto tour around the refuge to view wildlife and habitats, take photographs, and hunt and fish during the respective seasons. Along the auto tour route, visitors will find two hiking trails, numerous walk-in access trails, an observation tower, informational panels, and kiosks.

      Our Library

      Publications, Brochures, Plans, and more...