Located along the ridge of Sugarloaf Mountain is an outcrop of novaculite, now known as Balanced Rock Overlook. At the top of Hot Springs Mountain is the 10 story Hot Springs Tower with an observation deck at the top. Print/PDF map. Arkansas: With an ascent of 6,797 m, Arkansas Highway 7 Scenic Byway has the most elevation gain of all of the scenic driving trails in the area. Immensely loved by travelers, Pig Trail was featured on USA Todays list of top 10 motorcycling routes. 2. in the U.S. Near The website features a bloom calendar. The panoramic view of the valley below is one you'll never forget. Buckle up and explore north-central Arkansas through Sylamore Scenic Byway. Please be forewarned that you will have the occasional person who's going 15 miles an hour under the speed limit. You can start your journey down the Sylamore Scenic Byway by visiting the Blanchard Springs Caverns, then starting up your engine and traveling this 26.5-mile stretch through North-Central Arkansas. This 38-mile long drive (61 kilometers) will take you to the topmost point of Ozark Mountain. Ouachita National Forest (Hot Springs) - Tripadvisor There is an abundance of wildlife to see throughout the year, but during the winter months, you can see a lovely variety of migratory birds, river otters, and more. Drive Scenic Byway 7 in Arkansas, the state's first state-designated scenic byway, and travel through four of the state's varied geographical regions. Both of these byways start near my neck of the woods, in Alma, and run up to Fayetteville. The Route 187 Scenic Loop Drive 3 Scenic Drives By 68kevanj The loop starts in downtown Eureka Springs, goes out past Beaver Lake and Beaver Dam, then goes up through the little. You will pass Wilhelmina State Park with the possibility for something to eat. We recently took 2 full days to drive up Scenic Byway 7, in central Arkansas. Right before the bridge is a ranger station and you can park and go down to the river edge and be in awe of the rock wall and the beautiful river. As you approach Pig Trail Falls, you will also find many suitable spots for hiking, camping, and picture-taking here. UP and UP you go, lots of curves, and the scenery is wonderful.. We recently took 2 full days to drive up Scenic Byway 7, in central Arkansas. One of eight historic buildings that make up Bathhouse Row, The Fordyce was restored in 1989. Arkansas State Highway 7 from the Louisiana border to Harrison, Arkansas. Hot Springs Hop Scavenger Hunt. There are plenty of spots to throw on your hazards and hop out to snap some photos or just take in your surroundings. We'd like to explore the NW area and as far south as Hot Springs to take in the Ouachita Mtns. The Ouachita Mountains are unique in that they are the only mountain range in the United States whose ridges and valleys are oriented west to east. Your first stop is South Arkansas Arboretum, a wonderfully maintained botanical garden. Interstate 49 and U.S. 71, which are often referred to as two scenic byways of Arkansas, form Boston Mountains Scenic Loop. brick storefronts that line the Harrison square, which with a few adjacent Send to Phone. The boyhood town of President Bill Clinton, Hot Springs features splendid Victorian architecture, and a downtown lined with historic buildings. Scenic Highway 7 is one of the most scenic and longest drives in Arkansas due to its 290-mile stretch (466 kilometers). Roll down your windows to appreciate the refreshing views while passing through Ouachita National Forest and Ozark National Forest. There is a fee but many awesome specimens have been found here. Leaving the valley, Scenic 7 ascends into the Ozark Mountains, famous for fall foliage, and the Ozark National Forest, and passes through the mountain town of Jasper along the Buffalo National River on its way to Harrison. Not recommended for young children. It was a lovely, relaxing drive. Enjoy the drive. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The Springtime Jonquil Festival In Arkansas Thats Unlike Any Other, Spend A Magical Evening Savoring This Wine And Fondue Experience In Arkansas, Arkansas Oldest Drive-In Theater Is Hiding In A Small Town And Youll Want To Visit, Dine At The Historic Spot In Arkansas Where The Legendary Gangster Al Capone Drank Whiskey, This Amazing Mimosa Brunch Spot In Arkansas Will Make Your Morning Epic, Escape To This Hidden Oasis In Arkansas To Find Peace And Quiet, This Candy Store in Arkansas Was Ripped Straight From The Pages Of A Fairytale, Every Spring, Thousands Flock To This Arkansas Town For The World Championship Toad Races. awaits visitors at Jasper. They are nicely spaced apart, with nature making a command performance between. Follow the grand Mississippi along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway! Turn around if you have to like we did. Fully submerge yourself in the thermal water and let your worries melt away. Petit Jean State Park is one of the most attractive and most convenient options since it's only an hour outside of Little Rock. Arkansas's largest lake, Lake Ouachita offers 40,000 acres of clear, clean water surrounded by the scenic Ouachita National Forest. Arkansas You can continue on to North Mountain Loop and then back down to Fountain Street. With the charming Mulberry River as a backdrop, breathe in the fresh air as you drive on this lush, forested road that resembles a green tunnel. It is a 26.5-mile stretch (47.7 kilometers) that usually begins at the countrys only ghost town Calico Rock all the way to Blanchard Springs Caverns. As you continue, the forest changes to pasture and farmland. It may be one of the most touristy sites in Hot Springs but for good reason. Our 3-4 day agenda is to just take in the scenery, some smaller hikes, and an ATV rental for day/part day. When its late summer, absolutely sweltering outside and far too hot for a hike, or when its a cool and misty autumn day but I still want the chance to see Arkansass stunning foliage, the best thing to do is load the car and go for a cruise. Starting and ending in Lake Village, Arkansas, Lake Chicot Loop circumnavigates part of Lake Chicot, the largest natural lake in the state. It remains that way until climbing out of the Little Scenic 7: Among the Most Scenic Drives in AmericaRoute: in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. We left little rock to go up Scenic 7 on our way to eat at The Cliff House and then to go to the Mystic caverns in Harrison. (HSBOR) Vacant land located at 1322 Lakeshore Dr Unit 1.13 ac +/-, Hot Springs, AR 71913 sold for $24,900 on Feb 12, 2021. . Perfect drive way in US. Has anyone stayed at the Harmony Mountain Retreat in Jasper? Especially if you can take perfect photos to commemorate the tour! U.S. 71 and Interstate 49 are two of my familys favorite drives for taking in the Ozarks fall foliage, and could be your familys new annual tradition too! Ouachita National Forest - Talimena National Scenic Byway This scenic drive may be short but its one that every Hot Springs visitor should take! Beautiful drive and leaves beginning to turn. Recommended. Scenic Mountain Drives & Overlooks Non-hikers can drive to the top of Hot Springs and West Mountain summits. 3. The thermal water we have today originated as rain water that fell over 4,000 years ago, soaking into these mountains and funneling back up at high speeds and hot temperatures. You can also fill your own jugs of fresh hot spring water at a nozzled fountain near the Visitor Center. To reach it, head west on FR-1801 and then northwest on FR-1804. Have a favorite flower? In Paris, head south on AR-309 for the park. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Road Trip Itinerary: The Best of the Ozarks - Fodors Travel Guide Lake Ouachita State Park | Arkansas State Parks The most popular and difficult scenic driving trail in Arkansas is, Pea Ridge National Military Battlefield Loop. Since this stone breaks with a predictable cone-shaped fracture, they could easily carve tools into whatever shape and thickness they desired, commonly carving the rock into arrowheads, blades, drills, and other various tool. Much like the Crowleys Ridge Parkway, the Great River Road transverses the Crowleys Ridge geographical region of the state, as well as parts of the St. Francis National Forest. Seven miles from Hot Springs, turn left to remain on AR-7. The Rotary Ann Overlook (V2) features an endless view of the jagged Ozark Mountains and is an excellent location for a picnic. and the Ozark National Forest, and passes through the mountain town of Jasper Bream, crappie, catfish, striped bass, and largemouth bass can be caught in open waters or quiet coves. Have more destinations? Where to stay by the Crater od Diamonds State Park. You may check out the haunted Crescent Hotel nearby. Click on any scenic byway or backway listed below for complete information. Roosevelt Lake is among the most spectacular natural wonders in the Grand Canyon State - but the drive to get there is almost, if not equally, as beautiful. Scenic 7 | Explore Arkansas - myscenicdrives.com Which scenic driving trail has the most elevation gain in Arkansas? AR . If you get hungry, grab a bite at Jo-Jos Catfish Wharf located on the northern side of Mountain View. The route was originally intended for carriage rides up the mountain during the late 1800s. 10 Best Scenic Drives In Arkansas, USA | Trip101 2023 Best 10 Scenic Driving Trails in Arkansas | AllTrails Click on any scenic byway or backway listed below for complete information. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you have! Not that adventurous? . Searchable listings of Hot Springs hotels, motels, resorts, bed & breakfast, and more. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Swimming, skiing, scuba diving, boating, kayaking, and fishing are enjoyed here. Scenic Drives near Hot Springs NP, Arkansas THE 5 BEST Arkansas Scenic Drives (with Photos) - Tripadvisor Discover a wondrous world of tumbled moss-covered rock formations, bluffs, a natural bridge, caverns, Cobb Cave, and numerous waterfalls, nestled in lush green forest. Hot Springs Mountain Overlook | Explore Arkansas - myscenicdrives.com The Pig Trail - One of the most scenic drives in the state of Arkansas. We live in east Texas, between Dallas and Texarkana on Int.,30, Is the Arkansas Grand Canyon nearby and is there a cost to drive through the area. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why theres nothing better than Arkansas stunning nature. With the lush forest forming tunnels overhead, and the Mulberry River rushing by, you may even forget that you are in your car! Hike some or all of the park's 26 miles of trails. Starting in Havana, Arkansas, this scenic byway takes you up through Mount Magazine State Park, and then down through the charming town of Paris, Arkansas. Buffalo River Valley at Jasper. Eureka Springs. Byways, Backways, Historic Routes,. The driving part took 4 hours. See our privacy policy for more information on how we use your data. Continuing though the forested Ouachitas, it passes through the Ouachita National Forest and by Lake Nimrod, then reaches Russellville and crosses the more level terrain of the Arkansas River Valley. The drive begins at Fountain Street, just off of Central Avenue. Arkansas Tourism Arkansas Hotels Arkansas Bed and Breakfast Arkansas Vacation Rentals Arkansas . The varied colors of the foliage look simply magical. The Talimena National Scenic Byway is a total of 54 miles, but if you want to keep it in-state youll still have 18 miles from the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line to Mena, Arkansas. manageable by beginners. If you wish to explore more around this loop, go camping or rent a cottage at Lake Chicot State Park. The 4.5-mile Seven Hollows Trail passes a natural stone arch, rock shelters, a box canyon and signs of bluff-dwelling Native Americans. Map: http://www.arkansashighways.com/scenic_byways_program/highway7.aspx. View Artist-In-Residence artwork at the Ozark Bathhouse. An amateur historian and travel enthusiast, I travel around the world full-time visiting historic sites: hidden chapels, Communist monuments, ancient cities, religious relics, national parks, or any place that is beautiful, interesting, or weird. This drive along the Parkway will take you past seven Arkansas state parks and through the St. Francis National Forest! All Arkansas Novaculite is found within a 50-mile radius of Hot Springs, drawing Native Americans from all over to this location. I would say October is the best time to tour Arkansas on your trusted two wheeled steed. It can be hiked, biked, or auto-toured at proper times for a small fee. We enjoyed driving the Scenic 7 Byway. You will enjoy the trip very much and there are lots side trips along the way. What national parks in Arkansas have scenic driving trails? Or you can continue on the scenic drive in Oklahoma. About 10 miles You will never feel a shortage of magnificent views here as you enjoy a ride through Petit Jean State Park and the highest mountain of the state, Mount Magazine. we are heading that way soon. Are you a rock hound? Branson. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Full information on Hot Springs Tourist Attractions, Scenic Drives and other easy vacation activities. We have a trip planned end of july-early August. Scenic 7 then gradually changes into smooth, green pastures and the scenic drive comes to an end in Harrison. Use our easy Lodging Search to find exactly the type of accommodation you are looking for at the right price. This shelter was built in 1924 making it one of the oldest mountain shelters still in use today at Hot Springs National Park. Approaching historic Dardanelle, head west on AR-27 to Mount Nebo State Park (H3), where a drive to the top of Mount Nebo affords dramatic views of the Arkansas River and the Ozark National Forest. Looking out from the pagoda is the city of Hot Springs with the Ouachita Mountains out in the distance. Time to Allow 1 hour or less 1 - 3 hours Over 3 hours. Scenic drives to consider in the Hot Springs area are listed below. The second overlook has a historic trail shelter and picnic tables, and the summit has a view south to the Trap Mountains and Lake Hamilton. Highway 7 travels Arkansass rolling hills, curves through the Ouachita National Forest, Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, Hot Springs National Park, and the first national river, Buffalo National River. 7 can be connected to two other Arkansas scenic byways: the West-Northwest The remains of a quartz sandstone cave, the arch can be reached by a short trail, passing rare flowers, including the Frenchs shooting star. Starting at the St. Francis River near the Missouri border and winding all the way to Helena, Arkansas, Crowleys Ridge Parkway is the perfect way to see Crowleys Ridge and Arkansas delta regions! The Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway starts in the Ozarks at Clarksville, Arkansas, and leads motorists through 35 miles of striking forest and to the Buffalo National River. You will find an outcrop of Arkansas Novaculite at the top as well; this rock was used by the Caddo Users note that this is the most impressive scenic drive in all of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas or Missouri. You cross an old, green, iron bridge, over the Buffalo River. What is "must-see" or "must-do" in Arkansas?