With so many amazingly scenic hikes in Arkansas, it’s tough to choose which one you want to visit. We’ve got long treks fit for experienced hikers, easy hikes, kid-friendly hikes in Arkansas, and just about any type of hike you can imagine. There are an awful lot of hikes in the Natural State. How do you even begin to choose from the multitude of trails available to you? If you’re looking to narrow down your choices to the very best hikes in Arkansas, we recommend starting with these five.
- Whitaker Point Trail: Co Rd 406, Kingston, AR, 72742
Flickr/Granger Meador Let’s face it: Whitaker Point is going to land near the top of most people’s Natural State bucket lists. The view is unbelievably beautiful - breathtaking, really. Whitaker Point Trail is not a terribly difficult hike. You do have to watch your step near the bluffs, but you’d be missing out if you passed up this relatively easy hike. It’s got an absolutely jaw-dropping payoff. County Road 406, Co Rd 406, Arkansas 72742, USA
Yelp/Dee M. The views from the summit are utterly sublime. This is one of the best spots for photography in Arkansas.
- Cedar Falls Trail at Petit Jean State Park: 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road, Morrilton, AR, 72110
Flickr/Amy the Nurse Cedar Falls Trail is a little bit more difficult than Whitaker Point Trail, but we promise the payoff here is worth the effort. The trail is about two miles long and starts just behind Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park. It’s one of the best hikes in Arkansas. Mather Lodge, Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110, USA
Flickr/Dave Thomas You’ll love the rock formations and creek you see along the way. But nothing can come close to the beauty of the 95-foot Cedar Falls that gives the trail its name.
- Little Missouri Trail in the Ouachita National Forest: Mena, AR, 71953
Flickr/Richard May The Ouachita National Forest is such a stunning place. If you’re looking to spend a little time there, take a hike on the Little Missouri Trail. This trail is about 11 miles in length, so if you choose to tackle the entirety, it will take you some time! Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas 71965, USA
Tripadvisor/sweetsinclaire Of course, if you aren’t feeling up to taking quite that long of a hike, you can always choose to hike a shorter portion of the trail. The Little Missouri Trail will show you gorgeous views of the Ouachita Mountain forests, and the scenic Little Missouri River, too.
- Lost Valley Trail by the Buffalo National River
Cathy Macrum/Alltrails The Lost Valley Trail is one of the more popular hikes in Arkansas. Part of its popularity stems from the fact that it’s pretty easy. It certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s incredibly beautiful, though! You’ll find Eden Falls along the trail, plus so much greenery that you’ll actually feel like you’ve entered the Garden of Eden. Buffalo River, Arkansas 72742, USA
Flickr/AR Nature Gal The Lost Valley Trail is about 2.2 miles round trip, and it’s certainly something you’ll want to experience for yourself.
- Caddo Bend Trail in Lake Ouachita State Park: 5451 Mountain Pine Road, Mountain Pine, AR, 71956
All Trails/Aaron Hicks Feel up for another strenuous hike? Caddo Bend Trail is waiting for you. The trail’s around 3.8 miles long, and it’s as pretty as can be. You’ll head around the peninsula of Lake Ouachita, showing you the pretty mountain sunsets and the pristine waters of the clearest lake in Arkansas. Lake Ouachita State Park, 5451 Mountain Pine Rd, Mountain Pine, AR 71956, USA
All Trails/Michael Mattox Though the hike does include a bit of climbing with some elevation gain, the views are well worth it.
Which of these scenic hikes in Arkansas have you checked out? And do you have suggestions for more Natural State bucket list hikes? Share your thoughts in the comments: we love exploring our state!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Hiking Trails Near Me In Arkansas March 02, 2022 Lisa Sammons What are some more of the best hikes in Arkansas? Looking for more great hikes to check out in Arkansas? Here’s a bucket list of 15 of the best trails in Arkansas that we think are worth checking out. This hike in Petit Jean State Park is a four-mile hike that will take you through an enchanted forest. The area is so beautiful that it looks straight out of a fairy tale. What are some good kid-friendly hikes in Arkansas? Here are some shorter hikes in Arkansas that are great for viewing fall foliage. Most of them are under two miles, so they’re perfectly suitable for hiking with kids or novice hikers that haven’t got much experience. Bear Cave Trail at Petit Jean State Park is the shortest trail at the park, with only a quarter mile in length. You’ll head through some really scenic rock formations that are beautiful. What are some great longer hikes in Arkansas? Petit Jean State Park, the oldest state park in Arkansas, has some absolutely phenomenal longer hikes that are great for day hikes. If you’re looking for somewhere you can camp and hike at the same time, Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area is a lovely campground that has plenty of hiking trails and even waterfalls.
With so many amazingly scenic hikes in Arkansas, it’s tough to choose which one you want to visit. We’ve got long treks fit for experienced hikers, easy hikes, kid-friendly hikes in Arkansas, and just about any type of hike you can imagine. There are an awful lot of hikes in the Natural State. How do you even begin to choose from the multitude of trails available to you? If you’re looking to narrow down your choices to the very best hikes in Arkansas, we recommend starting with these five.
- Whitaker Point Trail: Co Rd 406, Kingston, AR, 72742
Flickr/Granger Meador Let’s face it: Whitaker Point is going to land near the top of most people’s Natural State bucket lists. The view is unbelievably beautiful - breathtaking, really. Whitaker Point Trail is not a terribly difficult hike. You do have to watch your step near the bluffs, but you’d be missing out if you passed up this relatively easy hike. It’s got an absolutely jaw-dropping payoff. County Road 406, Co Rd 406, Arkansas 72742, USA
Yelp/Dee M. The views from the summit are utterly sublime. This is one of the best spots for photography in Arkansas.
- Cedar Falls Trail at Petit Jean State Park: 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road, Morrilton, AR, 72110
Flickr/Amy the Nurse Cedar Falls Trail is a little bit more difficult than Whitaker Point Trail, but we promise the payoff here is worth the effort. The trail is about two miles long and starts just behind Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park. It’s one of the best hikes in Arkansas. Mather Lodge, Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110, USA
Flickr/Dave Thomas You’ll love the rock formations and creek you see along the way. But nothing can come close to the beauty of the 95-foot Cedar Falls that gives the trail its name.
- Little Missouri Trail in the Ouachita National Forest: Mena, AR, 71953
Flickr/Richard May The Ouachita National Forest is such a stunning place. If you’re looking to spend a little time there, take a hike on the Little Missouri Trail. This trail is about 11 miles in length, so if you choose to tackle the entirety, it will take you some time! Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas 71965, USA
Tripadvisor/sweetsinclaire Of course, if you aren’t feeling up to taking quite that long of a hike, you can always choose to hike a shorter portion of the trail. The Little Missouri Trail will show you gorgeous views of the Ouachita Mountain forests, and the scenic Little Missouri River, too.
- Lost Valley Trail by the Buffalo National River
Cathy Macrum/Alltrails The Lost Valley Trail is one of the more popular hikes in Arkansas. Part of its popularity stems from the fact that it’s pretty easy. It certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s incredibly beautiful, though! You’ll find Eden Falls along the trail, plus so much greenery that you’ll actually feel like you’ve entered the Garden of Eden. Buffalo River, Arkansas 72742, USA
Flickr/AR Nature Gal The Lost Valley Trail is about 2.2 miles round trip, and it’s certainly something you’ll want to experience for yourself.
- Caddo Bend Trail in Lake Ouachita State Park: 5451 Mountain Pine Road, Mountain Pine, AR, 71956
All Trails/Aaron Hicks Feel up for another strenuous hike? Caddo Bend Trail is waiting for you. The trail’s around 3.8 miles long, and it’s as pretty as can be. You’ll head around the peninsula of Lake Ouachita, showing you the pretty mountain sunsets and the pristine waters of the clearest lake in Arkansas. Lake Ouachita State Park, 5451 Mountain Pine Rd, Mountain Pine, AR 71956, USA
All Trails/Michael Mattox Though the hike does include a bit of climbing with some elevation gain, the views are well worth it.
Which of these scenic hikes in Arkansas have you checked out? And do you have suggestions for more Natural State bucket list hikes? Share your thoughts in the comments: we love exploring our state!
Flickr/Granger Meador
Let’s face it: Whitaker Point is going to land near the top of most people’s Natural State bucket lists. The view is unbelievably beautiful - breathtaking, really. Whitaker Point Trail is not a terribly difficult hike. You do have to watch your step near the bluffs, but you’d be missing out if you passed up this relatively easy hike. It’s got an absolutely jaw-dropping payoff.
County Road 406, Co Rd 406, Arkansas 72742, USA
Yelp/Dee M.
The views from the summit are utterly sublime. This is one of the best spots for photography in Arkansas.
Flickr/Amy the Nurse
Cedar Falls Trail is a little bit more difficult than Whitaker Point Trail, but we promise the payoff here is worth the effort. The trail is about two miles long and starts just behind Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park. It’s one of the best hikes in Arkansas.
Mather Lodge, Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110, USA
Flickr/Dave Thomas
You’ll love the rock formations and creek you see along the way. But nothing can come close to the beauty of the 95-foot Cedar Falls that gives the trail its name.
Flickr/Richard May
The Ouachita National Forest is such a stunning place. If you’re looking to spend a little time there, take a hike on the Little Missouri Trail. This trail is about 11 miles in length, so if you choose to tackle the entirety, it will take you some time!
Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas 71965, USA
Tripadvisor/sweetsinclaire
Of course, if you aren’t feeling up to taking quite that long of a hike, you can always choose to hike a shorter portion of the trail. The Little Missouri Trail will show you gorgeous views of the Ouachita Mountain forests, and the scenic Little Missouri River, too.
Cathy Macrum/Alltrails
The Lost Valley Trail is one of the more popular hikes in Arkansas. Part of its popularity stems from the fact that it’s pretty easy. It certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s incredibly beautiful, though! You’ll find Eden Falls along the trail, plus so much greenery that you’ll actually feel like you’ve entered the Garden of Eden.
Buffalo River, Arkansas 72742, USA
Flickr/AR Nature Gal
The Lost Valley Trail is about 2.2 miles round trip, and it’s certainly something you’ll want to experience for yourself.
All Trails/Aaron Hicks
Feel up for another strenuous hike? Caddo Bend Trail is waiting for you. The trail’s around 3.8 miles long, and it’s as pretty as can be. You’ll head around the peninsula of Lake Ouachita, showing you the pretty mountain sunsets and the pristine waters of the clearest lake in Arkansas.
Lake Ouachita State Park, 5451 Mountain Pine Rd, Mountain Pine, AR 71956, USA
All Trails/Michael Mattox
Though the hike does include a bit of climbing with some elevation gain, the views are well worth it.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hiking Trails Near Me In Arkansas
March 02, 2022
Lisa Sammons
What are some more of the best hikes in Arkansas? Looking for more great hikes to check out in Arkansas? Here’s a bucket list of 15 of the best trails in Arkansas that we think are worth checking out. This hike in Petit Jean State Park is a four-mile hike that will take you through an enchanted forest. The area is so beautiful that it looks straight out of a fairy tale. What are some good kid-friendly hikes in Arkansas? Here are some shorter hikes in Arkansas that are great for viewing fall foliage. Most of them are under two miles, so they’re perfectly suitable for hiking with kids or novice hikers that haven’t got much experience. Bear Cave Trail at Petit Jean State Park is the shortest trail at the park, with only a quarter mile in length. You’ll head through some really scenic rock formations that are beautiful. What are some great longer hikes in Arkansas? Petit Jean State Park, the oldest state park in Arkansas, has some absolutely phenomenal longer hikes that are great for day hikes. If you’re looking for somewhere you can camp and hike at the same time, Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area is a lovely campground that has plenty of hiking trails and even waterfalls.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Looking for more great hikes to check out in Arkansas? Here’s a bucket list of 15 of the best trails in Arkansas that we think are worth checking out. This hike in Petit Jean State Park is a four-mile hike that will take you through an enchanted forest. The area is so beautiful that it looks straight out of a fairy tale.
What are some good kid-friendly hikes in Arkansas?
Here are some shorter hikes in Arkansas that are great for viewing fall foliage. Most of them are under two miles, so they’re perfectly suitable for hiking with kids or novice hikers that haven’t got much experience. Bear Cave Trail at Petit Jean State Park is the shortest trail at the park, with only a quarter mile in length. You’ll head through some really scenic rock formations that are beautiful.
What are some great longer hikes in Arkansas?
Petit Jean State Park, the oldest state park in Arkansas, has some absolutely phenomenal longer hikes that are great for day hikes. If you’re looking for somewhere you can camp and hike at the same time, Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area is a lovely campground that has plenty of hiking trails and even waterfalls.
