WHAT IF RURAL ARKANSAS WAS REIMAGINED?

“Building a future starts with connecting to the past. The historic and cultural assets, combined with the natural resources in our communities, tell the story of who we are.”

- Martin Smith, Founder

Revitalizing the Arkansas Delta through Outdoor Adventure

The Delta is a place of quiet wonder — where wide skies, rich soil, and deep musical roots come together in a culture unlike any other. Its people and landscapes tell a story of creativity, endurance, and beauty worth exploring — and worth investing in.

studioDRIFT helps Delta communities thrive by creating outdoor recreation experiences that connect people to place and strengthen local economies.

We focus on two simple, powerful strategies:

  • Gravel biking and paddle sports infrastructure that invite residents and visitors alike to explore, move, and belong.

Our flagship initiative, the Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail, is a 250-mile route linking 18 communities and 7 state parks across eastern Arkansas. With over $1 million in grants secured for construction, we’re raising the required matching funds in order to safe active transportation routes, expand recreation access, and catalyze economic revitalization in  an historic and beautiful but  under-resourced part of the world  with one of the highest poverty rates in the nation.  

Each year, our events in Birdeye and Helena bring this vision to life — blending biking, running, and kayaking with Delta food, music, and hospitality. Over 500 participants from 10 states have already joined us in the effort to put the Delta back on the map.

Come ride, run, or paddle with us — and experience the Delta for yourself.

Founded in 2020 by Kara and Martin Smith, a seventh-generation Delta family, studioDRIFT is proudly supported by Ecological Design Group, a landscape architecture and civil engineering firm with offices in Wynne, Little Rock, and Rogers.

JOIN AN EVENT
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BE PART OF THE DELTA’S NEXT CHAPTER

Featured Projects

  • Cyclists ride the Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail after some fall rain during Birdeye Gravel.

    Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail

    Rolling hills, rugged ravines, rich farmlands, spectacular hardwood forests & welcoming Delta culture

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  • Couple relaxes beside a converted school bus with bikes in the background on a curated adventure.

    Curated Adventures

    An exceptional way to experience the Arkansas Delta.

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  • Cyclists gather in downtown Helena Arkansas for Delta Grind while one rider rests with her bike on the curb.

    Rural Gravel

    A collection of “must do” routes for biking or long distance running highlighting the beautiful landscape of Eastern Arkansas.

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Upcoming Events

  • Cyclists and community members gather on the steps of studioDRIFT co-founder Martin Smith's farm house in Birdeye Arkansas.

    Birdeye Gravel: Nov. 7-9th 2025

    Spend a weekend exploring the Delta’s greatest trails this November in Birdeye, Arkansas.

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  • Live musicians perform live blues music at Birdeye Sessions with acoustic guitars

    Birdeye Sessions: November 8th 2025

    Enjoy a night under the stars listening to amazing music and eating delicious food. Check in often, this is a pop-up event series that always sells out.

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  • Canoes and kayaks glide through calm water in a cypress forest in the Arkansas Delta during Delta Drift.

    Delta Drift: 2026

    Barred owls, prothonotary warblers, and wintering bald eagles. Tupelos and cypress too. October on the Bayou!

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  • Cyclists gather in a downtown street in Helena Arkansas for Delta Grind.

    Delta Grind: April 2026

    One-of-a-kind experience in the Arkansas Delta. See you in Helena?

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Delta Grit
Delta Drift
DeValls Bluff
Birdeye Farms
St. Francis National Forest
Crowley's Ridge
Birdeye Farms
Delta Farming Heritage
Two men in cycling helmets smiling for a selfie outdoors in a small Arkansas Delta town, including a vintage-style building with a sign that reads 'CAFÉ MARIANNA,' American flags, and a group of people gathered around a table.
Delta Grit, Helena
Crowley's Ridge
Two women are gravel biking on the Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail, surrounded by trees with autumn foliage, under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Three people smiling at Delta Drift event, with trees and a street in the background. One man is on the left with arms crossed, another man is in the middle holding a red cup, and a woman with glasses and long dark hair is on the right facing them.
Five small white goats standing near a wooden fence gate on Birdeye Farms
A dirt road running through farmland with a tall lone pine tree on the right side and a cloudy sky overhead.
Two small old white buildings with one having a sign that reads W.M. Smith and Sons, and a picnic table outside. A power pole with a sign that says Birdeye Store, offering Friday fish and bait shop, is visible nearby. Green trees in the background.
An aerial view of a forest with tall green trees surrounding a muddy water pond where people are standing and walking.
A man riding a bicycle on a dirt path with greenhouses and a garden in the background at Birdeye Gravel Festival.
Musicians performing on an outdoor stage at night at Birdeye Sessions, decorated with string lights and hanging lamps, with the audience sitting at picnic tables.
People gathered outdoors at night, sitting at picnic tables and chairs, under string lights, enjoying the Birdeye Sessions.
A group of people sitting outdoors at night, watching a blues performance at Birdeye Sessions, with string lights illuminating the area, near a house with large windows and a staircase.
A small potted cactus with white stones on top, placed on a dark outdoor table, with outdoor chairs and a red pot in the background.
A young boy wearing a gray cap and apron making a pizza at a kitchen counter.
A person is removing a pizza from a brick oven using a pizza peel. The pizza has cheese, tomato sauce, and ground meat toppings.
Canoes and kayaks glide through calm water in a cypress forest in the Arkansas Delta during Delta Drift.