Lake Norwood is a small lake at 33 acres. Its shoreline is less crowded, and there are nice forests along its shore. It is one of the deepest lakes in Bella Vista, at 79 feet, and offers great fishing. It’s a no-wake lake with a boat ramp and 2 boat/fishing docks, along a levee that affords a nice view.
Lake Norwood was one of the first lakes I kayaked after I moved to Bella Vista, and we purchased our own Kayaks. I love the levee and its views of the lake on one side and of the west side of Bella Vista across HWY 71 on the other. The levee is a great walking spot for locals who regularly exercise their dogs and themselves along that path. I can no longer walk the levee myself (I’m now in a wheelchair), but it’s still nice to drive along it and take in the views of the lake and the golf course on the west side of Bella Vista across the highway. My husband, Mel, still walks the levee almost every day with our small “rescue” dog on his way to the Cooper Memorial Chapel trail.
One of my favorite things about Lake Norwood is how different it looks throughout the year. Early morning fog can transform the lake into something magical, while spring and fall bring completely different colors and moods.
What You Might See at Lake Norwood
- Many kinds of birds (including ducks and geese and songbirds)
- Turtles
- Deer can be seen on ocassion
- Beautiful reflections on calm mornings
- Seasonal wildflowers
The Lake Norwood Falls
One of the most beautiful waterfalls to be found in Bella Vista is the Falls created from the Lake Norwood spillway. This spillway creates a beautiful cascade of waterfalls, especially after a good rain. Many people enjoy visiting the falls and capturing photos of the cascading water.
I’m fortunate that the falls are accessible right from my backyard in Norwood Courts on the cliffs above Lake Norwood. Sometimes we can even hear the water flowing from our deck on the cliffs.
You can get a view of the falls by walking through the parking area behind Harps at Town Center where there is a parking area with bathroom and access to the levee. At the end of the levee, there are steps that lead to a path and a walking bridge over the spillway.
The levee is popular for walkers, and the lake is enjoyable for canoeing and kayaking and has a picnic table so you can take your lunch and enjoy the view of the lake.
Photography by Dave Melear
Many of the photographs featured on Bella Vista Outdoors are provided by photographer Dave Melear (a former resident and my neighbor), whose images capture the beauty of Bella Vista and Northwest Arkansas throughout the seasons. See “Our Photographer” Page.
Unique Journals
Our Bella Vista Outdoors Shop features Lake Norwood on the “Fishing Tales Journal” for those who enjoy the Lake and love fishing and paddling. This journal is great for recording your catches, memories, and Adventures on the Waters of Lake Norwood and when visiting the beautiful cascading falls. There are large rocks along the levee with a great view of the lake where you can sit and day dream and record your thoughts.
The BV Outdoors shop also offers “Chasing Light – A Photographer’s Journal” for Photographers, featuring a lovely early-morning image of Lake Norwood by Dave Melear. Many residents and visitors enjoy recording their adventures and how they captured their images. Bella Vista and northwest Arkansas have so many beautiful places to visit and photograph. Your stories and memories are worth recording
Comments
I enjoy receiving comments and questions from site visitors, you can leave your below – Shirley
I really loved how you described Lake Norwood; it sounds like such a peaceful and beautiful spot. As someone who loves the outdoors and exploring nature, I can imagine how magical those early morning fogs must look over the water, and how the changing seasons bring a whole new character to the lake each time. The idea of walking along the levee or sitting by the rocks to take it all in feels like the kind of simple joy that makes nature so special.
If you had to recommend just one season for someone visiting Lake Norwood for the first time, which would you say captures its beauty best and leaves the strongest impression?
Alysanna, thanks for looking over my blog site and your kind comments. Yes Lake Norwood is beautiful in all seasons, but I’m not a winter person myself. I really love the Spring and especially the fall season in Bella Vista. The fall colors are beautiful with the lake reflecting the beautiful reds, oranges and golds. You can check for when the Ozarks best foliage colors will appear each year. early spring is nice too with the many dogwoods blooming. Thanks again. -Shirley