Delta Heritage Trail South End: Rohwer to Watson

Rohwer Trailhead marks the start of the “rails-to-trails” portion of the Delta Heritage Trail. The trail is finely crushed gravel that follows a former rail line. From here, it is 9.4 miles to the Watson Trailhead. Rohwer Trailhead has a large parking area with full-service single-use restroom and water fountains, as well as a bike repair station, numerous picnic tables, and a covered seating area designed to look like an early twentieth century rail depot. Interpretive panels in the seating area inform visitors about the general history of the area as well as the existence of a Japanese-American internment camp located nearby during World War II, known as the Rohwer Heritage Site. 

The Rohwer Heritage Site is located just off the trail to the west at the first road crossing (roughly 0.5 mi) north of Rohwer Trailhead. Park guests may wish to also visit the WWII Japanese-American Internment Museum in nearby McGehee, AR, about 20 minutes by car south on AR-4, to learn more about the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Watson Trailhead is located in the middle of the small town of Watson, Arkansas. Watson was formerly the home of Watson Station and the railroad had many facilities scattered around this tiny town. This trailhead has two small parking areas as well as a full-service restroom and water fountains, trash cans, a bike repair station, and numerous picnic tables. There is also a covered seating area just like Rohwer’s that interprets the history of the Watson area and its role in rail operations.