The Ouachita River runs through the heart of Monroe, and the riverside trail along Riverside Drive offers the city's most accessible outdoor experience. The paved path follows the river for several miles through both Monroe and West Monroe, passing the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, and connecting to the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge further north.
The river is the practical centre of outdoor life in Monroe — fishing, boating, and kayaking are all common, with several launch points along the banks. In spring the water is high and the surrounding bottomland forest is lush; in summer the river drops to reveal sandbars. The Confederate Memorial Bridge connecting Monroe and West Monroe is a landmark on the route.