In your first highway journey to Arkansas, you rapidly perceive why it’s nicknamed The Pure State. Arkansas has a few of the prettiest landscapes within the U.S., significantly within the northwest quadrant the place the thick forests, rocky bluffs and rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains dominate. However the japanese facet is fairly wonderful, too, because the Mississippi River continues its gradual roll from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico previous agricultural fields and swampland. A nationwide park devoted to historic sizzling springs, nation cooking, small household farms and craft retailers means there’s loads of fascinating tradition in The Pure State, too. Arkansas has a number of scenic byways and those we’ve chosen present an outline of the topography and heritage of this fascinating state.

1. Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway
2. Boston Mountains Scenic Loop
3. Pig Path Scenic Byway
4. Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway
5. Nice River Highway – All-American Highway

Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway – 249 miles, from Harrison south to DeGray Lake Resort State Park, together with facet journeys

This various byway might be the state’s best as a result of it exemplifies Arkansas’s “Pure State” nickname: mountains, forests and lakes plus a number of memorable historic cities. The byway additionally passes close to a number of state parks and one nationwide park, which means there are ample tenting and out of doors leisure alternatives. The byway basically runs the size of the state, from north to south, crossing two mountain ranges and the Arkansas River Valley earlier than chopping by pine woodlands on its solution to Louisiana. 

If you happen to don’t have time to drive your complete size, think about the northern half, beginning in Harrison, about 20 miles south of the Missouri state line. With RV parks, large field shops and a brewery, Harrison makes a very good basecamp. The downtown sq. is a Nationwide Historic District the place flower baskets dangle from previous brick storefronts. There are artwork galleries, vintage shops and the 1929 Lyric Theater. As soon as the realm’s first movie show for “talkies,” it’s now a much-loved venue for performs and live shows. And in case you’re needing an improve from tenting, take into account a keep on the fantastically restored 1929 Resort Seville. Close by, the Boone County Heritage Museum has displays on the Ozarks, early Harrison settlers, the Civil Battle and the city’s railroad previous. And in a area famend for its mountains, the 71-acre Baker Prairie is all that continues to be of a 5,000 acre prairie ecosystem. Positioned subsequent to Harrison Excessive Faculty, the character reserve is dwelling to greater than 250 totally different species of animals and vegetation, together with a number of uncommon ones.

From Harrison, comply with State Freeway 7 south towards Jasper. In about 13 miles the highway crosses the Buffalo River, America’s first Nationwide River, identified for its spectacular limestone and sandstone partitions. Established in 1972 and administered by the Nationwide Park Service, the Buffalo is among the final undammed rivers within the continental U.S., flowing freely for 135 miles. Freeway 7 intersects the river and solely runs by a small part of nationwide river land, however the freeway connects with different roads that give entry to kayaking, mountaineering and swimming. The Buffalo River can be prime fishing, dwelling to 74 species. About 15 miles from Harrison, a proper flip results in Ozark Campground, a brief drive north. 

One other 4 miles south and Freeway 7 enters Jasper, a small city centered on tourism with out of doors outfitters, craft retailers and eating places, together with the Ozark Cafe. It initially opened in 1909 and serves burgers, milkshakes and breakfast. From Jasper, Freeway 7 continues six miles south to a different well-known restaurant, the Cliff Home Inn. Serving homecooked meals and recent baked pies and cobblers, the eating room overlooks the Arkansas Grand Canyon, the state’s deepest valley. The inn additionally has 5 guestrooms. 

Freeway 7 then twists and turns deeper into Ozark Nationwide Forest. About eight miles from Cliff Home Inn, take a brief 4.5 mile detour on Freeway 16 and Newton County Highway 28 to the Alum Cove Pure Bridge Geological Space. A brief hike results in a 130-foot-long stone arch, all that continues to be of a quartz sandstone cave eroded over time.

Again on Freeway 7, the crooked and steep highway continues south by forest made largely of oak and hickory.  A couple of mile earlier than Pelsor, search for the Fairview Trailhead, an entry level for the Ozark Highlands Path, providing 270 miles of year-round mountaineering and backpacking by a few of the area’s most rugged terrain. In Pelsor, a enjoyable cease is the Sand Hole Normal Retailer the place you’ll discover every thing from souvenirs, spices and sourdough bread to Cinnamon Sugar Pork Rinds. The final retailer has been in enterprise for greater than 100 years. 

Extra mountain magnificence and scenic overlooks unfold as Freeway 7 continues one other 29 miles south to Dover the place two lanes swell to 4. The scenic byway then enters Russellville the place it intersects I-40. This busy space has quick meals, gas, grocery shops and pharmacies. However regardless of the event, that is additionally the place you’ll encounter a number of excellent state parks. Russellville lies close to Lake Dardanelle, a big reservoir on the Arkansas River. Lake Dardanelle State Park has two places, basically throughout the river from one another. The principle web site on the Russellville facet has tenting, swimming, fishing, mountaineering, lake excursions and a customer heart with 5 aquariums. The state park can be a Path of Tears Nationwide Historic Web site and options displays on the U.S. authorities’s compelled elimination of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole folks. Between late 1831 and 1859, teams of those Native Individuals handed by this space as they have been pushed off their ancestral homelands within the east to newly designated territory west of the Mississippi River.

Simply south of Russellville is the historic river port city of Dardanelle the place you may see the imposing Lake Dardanelle Dam. Simply up Freeway 22 is the opposite a part of Lake Dardanelle State Park with extra tenting and out of doors actions. One other state park value trying out lies seven miles west of the city of Dardanelle on Freeway 155. A steep drive results in the highest of 1,350-foot Mount Nebo. Along with spectacular views of the Arkansas River Valley and greater than 30 miles of mountaineering and mountain biking trails, Mount Nebo State Park options rustic-style cabins, pavilions and bridges, many constructed by the Thirties-era Civilian Conservation Corps.

Again in Dardanelle, take Freeway 7 south eight miles Centerville. Then, take a left onto Freeway 254 and go east 16 miles to the realm’s third wonderful state park: Petit Jean. It’s additionally Arkansas’s first state park and, like Mt. Nebo, options native log and stone amenities constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC additionally constructed Mather Lodge, a 24-room resort overlooking Cedar Creek Canyon with a restaurant and present store. The park has cabins and campsites, too. Climbing, swimming, fishing, kayaking and pedal boating are widespread. And hikes result in a few of Petit Jean’s spectacular overlooks and pure sights together with 95-foot Cedar Falls, Seven Hollows, Bear Cave, the Grotto and Pure Bridge.

Heading again to Freeway 7, you’ll go the southern boundary of Holla Bend Nationwide Wildlife Refuge the place a self-guided auto tour results in numerous habitats, mountaineering trails and an statement tower.

Then, again in Centerville, comply with Freeway 7 south by farmland and woodlands to Ola and onto Nimrod Lake, one other massive reservoir with tenting and out of doors recreation. The Nimrod Dam is value a glance, too. From Centerville, it’s 15 miles to the dam after which Freeway 7 curves into Ouachita Nationwide Forest, dwelling to a different of Arkansas’s important ranges, the Ouachita Mountains. About 19 miles from the dam, the Winona Scenic Drive takes off from Freeway 7 and runs 27 miles east to Freeway 9. The highway is maintained gravel and passes by a few of Arkansas’s most spectacular excessive nation surroundings.

From the Winona Scenic Drive turnoff, it’s one other 10 miles to Freeway 192. Flip proper and go 8.5 miles to Lake Ouachita State Park. This reservoir is Arkansas’s largest lake, with 40,000 acres of water enclosed by Ouachita Nationwide Forest. Swimming, waterskiing, scuba diving, boating, kayaking, fishing and mountaineering are widespread, and the park has campsites and cabins. 

Again on Freeway 7, it’s one other 15.5 miles to Sizzling Springs, one among Arkansas’s high locations. This hip and enjoyable metropolis is surrounded by Sizzling Springs Nationwide Park. However whereas the park has many wilderness trails to discover, don’t anticipate out of doors swimming pools of effervescent geothermal water. As an alternative, the recent springs are discovered inside ornate buildings alongside the Grand Promenade. At the moment, Bathhouse Row consists of eight constructions constructed between 1892 and 1923. Whereas just a few nonetheless supply spa providers, the opposite buildings have been became the park’s customer heart, present retailer and a brewery. And whereas there’s no out of doors soaking within the park, there are three locations the place you may see and contact the thermal water. The Sizzling Water Cascade at Arlington Garden is the park’s largest seen spring the place water gushes down a steep cliff into two swimming pools. The Show Spring emanates from a hillside and flows right into a shallow pool behind the Maurice Bathhouse. And the Fordyce Fountains are two hexagonal sculptures with capturing streams situated on the park’s former “grand entrance” between the Fordyce and Maurice bathhouses. Bathhouse Row is a part of Sizzling Springs’ charismatic downtown with procuring and cafes. Throughout their heyday within the Nineteen Twenties, 30s and 40s, the bathhouses attracted playing, bootlegging and different “excessive pleasures” as explored within the Gangster Museum of America. And although it’s not a part of the well-known Madame Tussauds’ chain, playing and gore are additionally on show on the Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum the place you’ll discover greater than 100 wax creations. South of city, highlights on the 210-acre Garvan Woodland Gardens embrace the Camelia Path, Southern Inspiration Backyard, a Japanese backyard and an annual tulip competition.

From Sizzling Springs, comply with Freeway 7 one other 27 miles south to DeGray Lake Resort State Park. That is Arkansas’s solely resort state park and options a big lodge, restaurant, golf course, disc golf, mountaineering, mountain biking, guided horseback driving and birding excursions. The lake provides all types of water actions together with swimming, paddling, sundown cruises and snorkeling journeys.

From DeGray Lake, Freeway 7 meanders onto Arkadelphia and Camden the place it turns into a four-lane freeway because it heads towards El Dorado and the Louisiana state line.

Boston Mountains Scenic Loop – 74 miles, from Alma north to Fayetteville following US 71

Extending throughout northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, the Ozark Mountains are important for his or her pure magnificence and cultural significance. And but, Arkansas’s scenic byways program is fairly complicated on this area, the place a mishmash of roads are labeled as scenic. So beginning within the west and transferring east, listed below are three routes that run north/south and parallel to one another. By going up one, coming down one other after which going again up the third, you’ll just about expertise the very best of the Arkansas Ozarks.

First, a geography lesson: the Boston Mountains make up the southwestern a part of the Ozark plateau, and they’re the very best and most jagged a part of the Ozarks. Fort Smith lies in northwest Arkansas on the border with Oklahoma. It’s Arkansas’s second largest metropolis and the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop connects it with the state’s second largest metropolis, Fayetteville. Following I-49, it’s an hour’s drive north from Fort Smith to Fayetteville. The interstate varieties the byway’s western half and sure, freeways might be designated as scenic byways. For an extended, extra intimate journey to Fayetteville, take US 71. It’s the japanese part of the loop, operating parallel to I-49 for 47 miles. 

Fifteen miles east of Fort Smith, US 71 heads north of I-40 at Alma. A former stagecoach route, US 71 curves by the mountainous terrain about 20 miles to Lake Fort Smith State Park. Providing tenting, kayaking, mountaineering, mountain biking and fishing, the park can be the western finish of the 270-mile Ozark Highlands Path, widespread with backpackers as famous in our Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway itinerary above. Again on US 71 and 5 minutes from Lake Fort Smith State Park, cease by Artist Level Present Store and Cultural Middle for sensational valley and mountain views plus souvenirs, native crafts and fudge. There’s additionally a small museum.

One other seven miles north on US 71 brings you to Winslow the place a 12 mile detour west on Freeway 74 results in Satan’s Den, one other wonderful deep forest state park identified for mountaineering, biking, backpacking and horseback driving. Lake Satan has fishing and boating the place you may hire canoes and pedal boats. Tenting and cabins can be found, too. The park’s Yellow Rock Path is among the state’s high hikes with majestic views and intriguing rock formations. About two miles earlier than the customer heart, there’s an unmarked parking space for Moonshiners Cave. The brief path isn’t a part of the park nevertheless it’s a simple, fairly hike to a waterfall and enormous cave that was allegedly utilized by bootleggers to make moonshine.Again in Winslow, proceed north on US 71 and in 18 miles you’ll attain the Arkansas Air & Navy Museum the place greater than 2,000 unique artifacts, aviation memorabilia, plane and navy autos are on show. Then, it’s simply 4 miles to Fayetteville. Residence to the College of Arkansas, this energetic faculty city with a cool downtown sq. has an awesome restaurant and brewery scene. There’s additionally a year-round farmers market, loads of close by mountaineering and biking trails and the beautiful Botanical Backyard of the Ozarks.

Pig Path Scenic Byway – 103 miles, from Eureka Springs south to I-40

This second Ozark route runs north/south and parallel to the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop east of Fayetteville. From Eureka Springs, State Freeway 23 runs south the place a piece makes up the Pig Path Scenic Byway as you get nearer to I-40. In accordance with the Arkansas Division of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, there are a few explanations for the distinctive title. The primary is that “since this portion of AR 23 was a part of a preferred again highway route into Fayetteville for College of Arkansas Razorback soccer video games, it was due to this fact dubbed the Pig Path. The opposite clarification is solely that the highway is as twisty because the tail of a wild hog.” The Pig Path is especially notable for bikers because it was not too long ago named America’s high bike trip in a USA At the moment Readers’ Selection ballot.

Begin your highway journey within the far north as a result of a go to to northwest Arkansas could be remiss with out going to Eureka Springs, close to the place Freeway 23 begins on the Missouri state line. Positioned about an hour northeast of Fayetteville, tourism has all the time been Eureka Springs’ lifeblood. Beginning in 1879, the therapeutic waters of the realm’s mineral springs turned the city right into a distinguished well being heart. Eureka Springs grew to become a profitable resort vacation spot and its reputation ebbed and flowed through the years. In 1970 your complete city was positioned on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations and as we speak, it thrives as a cool, progressive journey spot with quite a few eating places specializing in steaks, seafood, barbecue, pizza and vegetarian cooking. There’s a whisky bar, breweries and all types of procuring, historic inns, lodges and campgrounds. Quite a few spas proceed Eureka Springs well being, wellness and leisure custom. The city has all the time attracted artists and writers and so it options many artwork galleries, a summer time opera collection referred to as Opera within the Ozarks and in November, the Ozark People Pageant, the longest operating people competition in America. The Nice Ardour Play is a serious draw the place the final week of Jesus Christ’s life is staged in a 4,000-seat out of doors amphitheater. Performances run a few nights every week from mid-Could by October. Close by, the seven-story excessive Christ of the Ozarks welcomes guests with large open arms. Manufactured from concrete and metal, the large determine was designed by one among Mount Rushmore’s sculptors and erected in 1966. Pivot Rock Park is one other quirky roadside attraction with a number of peculiar geological formations, together with Pure Bridge and the park’s namesake, Pivot Rock, which appears like an inverted triangle. With two rivers and three lakes close by, out of doors actions run the gamut, and Eureka Springs additionally has two golf programs.

Following Freeway 23 south out of Eureka Springs, it’s 5 miles to Quigley’s Fort. Beginning within the Forties, this home was constructed over time by Elise Quigley and her household. Now a vacationer attraction run by her grandchildren, the odd dwelling’s outdoors partitions are coated with fossils, crystals, arrowheads and stones. Inside the home are household antiques, a Butterfly Wall and enormous tropical vegetation that develop in 4 toes of dust left naked between the sides of the partitions and the dwelling space. There’s additionally a perennial backyard with greater than 400 styles of flowers.

Persevering with south alongside Freeway 23, it’s 4 miles to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, which offers lifetime look after rescued tigers, lions, leopards, cougars and bears. The refuge provides tram rides, instructional programming and lodging, together with six RV areas and two Glamping Safari Tents.

From Turpentine Creek go one other 4 miles south on Freeway 23 to Freeway 127 the place a proper flip and one other 12 miles west results in Hobbs State Park-Conservation Space. It’s Arkansas’s largest state park and is widespread for mountaineering, mountain biking and horseback driving. There are 11 primitive campsites, six accessible by mountain biking. Close by however not a part of the park is Battle Eagle Cavern the place guided excursions are led by the varied rooms of this lakeside cave, that includes the biggest pure cavern entrance in Arkansas.

Again on Freeway 23 and persevering with south, you’ll discover a few RV parks and campgrounds, together with about 40 campsites at Withrow Springs State Park the place mountaineering, floating on the stream and fishing are the primary actions. Freeway 23 then wanders by the picturesque countryside to Huntsville, a small city with eating places, groceries and gas. You’re 28 miles south of Eureka Springs now.

One other 24.5 miles south brings you to Brashears and the official begin of the Pig Path Scenic Byway. Along with the bizarre title, the route is totally different from most byways as a result of it’s strictly in regards to the highway. The Arkansas Division of Transportation describes the byway like this: “With its many steep inclines and sharp curves, driving the Pig Path could also be likened to driving a curler coaster. Bushes crowd the roadside, making a shady hall in the course of the summer time in some areas and displaying gorgeous fall colour. Little or no improvement has occurred alongside this route, providing vacationers a glimpse of the Ozarks that might have been acquainted to the early settlers.”

Positioned within the Boston Mountains, the realm can be a part of the White Rock Wildlife Administration Space the place looking, tenting and picnicking are pastimes. That is waterfall nation, too, though it takes work to succeed in most of them. As you roll up and down by deep hollows and steep benched ridges, 5.5 miles from Brashears the Pig Path reaches the parking space for Cherry Bend Trailhead. That is an entry level for the Ozark Highlands Path, as we’ve talked about within the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop and Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway itineraries, above. Although not on the precise Ozark Highland Path, one other path at Cherry Bend is a average one-mile roundtrip hike to Murray Falls and Senyard Falls, situated very close to one another. As with all waterfalls, lakes and rivers, verify situations earlier than you go. It may not be well worth the trek if water ranges are low. 

From Cherry Bend, in about seven miles the Pig Path crosses the Mulberry River the place Turner Bend provides cabins and tenting. The shop additionally rents canoes, kayaks and rafts and sells gas, meals and souvenirs. From Turner Bend, it’s one other beautiful and windy 11.5 miles to I-40. 

Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway – 66 miles, from Clarksville north to Ponca Nature Middle

To hook up with the following scenic byway, Ozark Highlands, you will have a few choices. First, as soon as the Pig Path Scenic Byway and Freeway 23 attain I-40, comply with the freeway east for twenty-four miles to Clarksville and go north on Freeway 21. Another choice is taking Freeway 215 east to Freeway 103 south. This route is much extra scenic and begins 5 miles previous Cherry Bend and about two miles earlier than reaching the Mulberry River and Turner Bend. It passes by quite a few trailheads earlier than zigzagging into Clarksville, a small city with eating places, motels and fuel stations. Head east on Principal Road after which go north on Freeway 21. If you happen to’re counting, the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway is the third of 4 scenic byways we’re profiling in northwest Arkansas: Boston Mountains is the farthest west, then Pig Path, Ozark Highlands and Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway, all operating north/south. There aren’t loads of sights alongside the Ozark Highlands, however the drive may be very stunning because it jogs up and down by Ozark Nationwide Forest. Just like the Pig Path, this highway journey is actually widespread with bikers and likewise well-known for its fall colours. There are quite a few magnificent hikes, waterfalls and tenting areas alongside the byway. 

18 miles from Clarksville, the byway meets the Ozark Highlands Path, a 270-mile east/west route for year-round mountaineering and backpacking that we’ve talked about in earlier Ozark itineraries. Then, the byway continues one other 17.5 miles north to the Glory Gap Falls Trailhead, one of many state’s greatest identified waterfalls. Thought-about a reasonably difficult route, this two mile roundtrip hike results in a cavern the place a creek has worn a big gap by the overhang. Its waters tumble by the opening 31 toes to a pool beneath. The trek is open all yr and the waterfall is especially fairly in the course of the wet season and winter when the falls freeze.

Subsequent, proceed 12 miles north on Freeway 21 and after crossing the Buffalo River, flip left onto County Highway 5. Observe the gravel highway one other six miles to Hawksbill Crag Trailhead, additionally referred to as Whitaker Level. You already know you’re getting shut when about ¼ mile from the small parking space you go Cave Mountain Church on the proper. It’s a average three-mile in-and-back hike to maybe essentially the most iconic spot within the Ozarks. Described by some as “floating above the forest,” Hawksbill Crag is a big chunk of rock that stands out about 100 toes above a valley. Whereas the view is sensational, strolling out on the crag just isn’t for the faint of coronary heart, clearly!

Again on Freeway 21, go a couple of mile north after which proceed straight on Freeway 43. The highway parallels America’s first Nationwide River, the Buffalo. A part of the Nationwide Park Service since 1972, the river flows freely for 135 miles. It’s one of many final undammed rivers within the Decrease 48 states and so leisure alternatives abound. There’s loads of wildlife, too, together with a herd of about 600 elk that reside alongside this part of the byway. Round 1840, elk disappeared from Arkansas. In 1981, the animals have been re-introduced to the Buffalo River space, turning into one among Arkansas’s most profitable wildlife re-establishment packages. You possibly can study extra in regards to the herd in addition to different animals and vegetation on the Ponca Nature Middle, about 4.5 miles from the intersection of highways 21 and 43. There are displays, a path and a present store promoting souvenirs in addition to fishing and looking licenses.

From the Ponca Nature Middle, you may return to Freeway 21 and proceed about 48 miles north by fairly countryside to the resort city of Eureka Springs, as profiled in our Pig Path story, above. Or comply with Freeway 43 northeast 26 miles to Harrison and the beginning of our story on the Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway. You can even head east of the character heart 14.5 miles on Freeway 74 to Jasper and decide up Arkansas 7.

Nice River Highway – 416 miles from Missouri to Louisiana, together with all facet journeys besides to Memphis, Tennessee

Flowing 2,350 miles by the middle of America from its headwaters in Minnesota to Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River is the nation’s most dominant river, economically, culturally and naturally. “The Delta varieties crucial fowl and waterfowl migration hall on the continent and helps North America’s largest wetland space and bottomland hardwood forest.” That’s how the Nationwide Park Service describes the Decrease Mississippi Delta, the part that runs from southern Illinois and alongside Arkansas’s whole japanese border to the southeastern tip of Louisiana.

There’s quite a bit to see alongside the roads that comply with the river because it programs southward. The Mississippi both passes by or varieties the borders of 10 states, and the Nice River Highway is definitely one in depth community of scenic byways that run parallel to the Mississippi from headwaters to mouth. In earlier articles, we’ve coated Minnesota’s and Iowa’s Nice River Roads. Right here is Arkansas’s part, which might be explored all yr; nevertheless, summers are often very popular and humid.

One problem with the Nice River Highway is that because it meanders 362 miles from Missouri to Louisiana, it travels alongside nearly 20 totally different highways. So comply with your highway atlas, GPS or cellphone map app intently. Beginning on US 61 on the Missouri state line, the Nice River Highway heads 5 miles south to Blytheville. Cease first on the blue-colored Historic Greyhound Bus Depot Customer Middle to admire the restored Thirties Artwork Moderne constructing. Inside, along with journey info, there are shows on the station’s necessary function as a transportation hub in the course of the mid-20^th century. A five-minute stroll from the customer heart results in the Delta Gateway Museum and displays on the cultural and pure historical past of the Mississippi Delta area, additionally known as the “Arkansas Delta.” For a nature break, head 18 miles west of downtown on Freeway 14 to Huge Lake Nationwide Wildlife Refuge the place early 19^th century earthquakes turned a free-flowing river system into a big lake and swamp. Huge Lake is understood for its birdwatching and looking. Greater than 225 fowl species have been documented, together with a sizeable wooden duck inhabitants, wild turkeys and a whole bunch and 1000’s of wintering waterfowl.

Subsequent, from Huge Lake Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, comply with your GPS 19.5 miles southeast to the small city of Osceola, on the banks of the Mississippi. Positioned on the courthouse sq., the Mississippi County Museum has artwork, memorabilia, furnishings, photographs and commercials that doc native historical past. Then, proceed south on US 61 because it parallels the Mississippi. In 11 miles you’ll attain Wilson and the Hampson Archeological Museum State Park, which options archaeological treasures from a farming-based civilization that flourished right here from about 1400 to 1650. Wilson additionally has some very modern sights, too, together with the upscale Lewis Resort and two eating places, the Wilson Cafe and The Grange at Wilson Gardens. Their menus function domestically sourced Southern fare. A lot of the thick forests that grew within the wealthy soil of the Mississippi Delta have been changed by agriculture. And since a lot of Arkansas’s farmland is concentrated within the east, the Nice River Highway passes by fields of the state’s main crops, together with corn, cotton, peanuts, rice, soybeans and wheat. 

Touring by farmland on Freeway 14, historical past and nation music buffs will need to detour to a different attraction that lies 14.5 west of Wilson. The Historic Dyess Colony was a Thirties New Deal-era agricultural resettlement undertaking. Practically 500 Arkansas households have been recruited to reside and work there, together with Carrie and Ray Money. Their son would grow to be a rustic music legend and as we speak, the home is now the Johnny Money Boyhood Residence and Museum. 

Again in Wilson, the Nice River Highway continues south alongside US 61 for 5 miles to Bassett. Simply earlier than city, look to the proper for a historic marker and the stays of a gate. This entrance is just about all that’s left of the Bassett POW Camp, which housed some 300 German prisoners throughout World Battle II. It was one among a number of POW camps in japanese Arkansas.

Venturing south of Bassett on US 61, go one other 18 miles to Wapanocca Nationwide Wildlife Refuge which the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service describes as “actually an island of forests in a sea of agriculture.” Fishing, looking, birding and pictures are widespread at a protect the place the celebrities are migratory waterfowl, in addition to songbirds on their solution to and from Central and South America.

Subsequent, following a mixture of highways: 77, 50, 218 and at last, US 79, from Wapanocca Nationwide Wildlife Refuge journey 63 miles to Marianna. Now, it’s additionally necessary to notice that you simply’ll go very near Memphis, Tennessee in case you’re within the temper for some large metropolis blues, Beale Road, Elvis Presley’s Graceland or the Nationwide Civil Rights Museum on the Lorraine Motel, the place Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.

No matter your plans, as you arrive in Marianna one of many first belongings you’ll discover is Crowley’s Ridge. This uncommon geological formation stretches from southern Missouri to east-central Arkansas. It rises some 250 toes above the comparatively flat Mississippi Delta. Marianna sits on high of Crowley’s Ridge and a must-stop is Jones Bar-B-Q Diner. Positioned on the bottom ground of Betty and James Jones’s dwelling, this two-table eatery was the primary restaurant in Arkansas to obtain a coveted James Beard Award, the Oscars of the meals world. The diner’s Fb web page sums it up greatest: “Hours are 7 AM till the meals runs out. There may be NO MENU. All Jones BBQ Diner serves is a pork BBQ sandwich on Surprise Bread.”

If it’s too early for BBQ or the tables are full, take your sandwiches seven miles east to Mississippi River State Park. Located in St. Francis Nationwide Forest, the place Crowley’s Ridge, the Mississippi Delta and Mississippi River meet, the park offers entry to quite a few adventures, together with picnicking, tenting, swimming, mountaineering, biking, kayaking and birdwatching.

From Mississippi River State Park, it’s 28 miles south to Helena, essentially the most fascinating metropolis alongside Arkansas’s a part of the Nice River Highway. Based in 1820, town has restored Antebellum and Victorian properties, murals, historic cemeteries, boutiques, Mississippi River canoe excursions and Delta Dust Distillery, a family-owned craft distillery. As the location of the 1863 Battle of Helena, town has loads of Civil Battle historical past. It was additionally as soon as a serious port on the Mississippi. And when the blues took off within the Forties and 50s, Helena performed an enormous function. At the moment, it’s nonetheless dwelling to King Biscuit Time, the longest operating blues radio present within the nation. Each October, the city hosts the world-famous King Biscuit Blues Pageant. The displays on the Helena Museum of Phillips County and Delta Cultural Middle give a full image of the realm’s compelling historical past.

From Helena, it’s 40 miles west and south following US 49 and Freeway 1 to the Dale Bumpers White River Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, one other prime birding and wildlife watching and looking vacation spot with about 20 primitive campsites all through the protect.

From the wildlife refuge, comply with Freeway 1 and US 165 south for 37 miles to the Arkansas Put up Nationwide Memorial. Based in 1686 close to a Native American village, it was the primary European and first semi-permanent French settlement within the decrease Mississippi River Valley. As described by the Nationwide Park Service, “The institution of the Put up was step one in an extended wrestle between France, Spain and England for dominance of the Mississippi River Valley.” The Put up can be situated alongside the Path of Tears, the compelled relocation of 5 Native American tribes from their ancestral land within the east to designated territory west of the Mississippi River. Reveals and artifacts showcase the Put up’s important place in American historical past.

As you comply with Freeway 169 west 2.5 miles, Arkansas Put up Museum State Park will probably be on the US 165/Freeway 1 intersection. Made up of 5 buildings, the displays discover life on this area of Arkansas from 1877 to as we speak.

One other somber reminder of America’s previous is situated some 33 miles from the state park following US 165/Freeway 1 after which US 65 south to McGehee. Throughout World Battle II, greater than 8,000 Japanese Individuals have been detained on the Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Middle between 1942 and 1945. The WWII Japanese American Internment Museum has artifacts, pictures and background info on Rohwer’s historical past. There’s not a lot left of the particular camp however to see it, comply with Freeway 1 northeast of McGehee 12.8 miles. The museum recommends referring to it as “Rohwer Relocation Middle Memorial Cemetery” if utilizing Google Maps.

From the Relocation Middle, comply with Freeway 1 after which Freeway 4 south to Arkansas Metropolis. As soon as a thriving port on the Mississippi with a peak inhabitants of about 15,000, a serious flood worn out many of the metropolis in 1927. At the moment, fewer than 500 folks reside right here however a strolling tour reveals seven buildings lovingly refurbished and now listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.

From Arkansas Metropolis, comply with Levee Highway south alongside the Mississippi River about 24 miles to Lake Chicot State Park the place the centerpiece is the biggest pure lake in Arkansas and the largest oxbow lake in North America. So, it’s no shock that Lake Chicot is a favourite with birders and people who fish for largemouth bass, crappie, bream and catfish. The park has 85 campsites and 14 cabins, and you’ll hire boats and take lake and levee excursions. On the customer heart, ask methods to drive on high of the levee for notable views of the water, swamp, wildlife and farmland.

From the state park, it’s about 7.5 miles south to Lake Village after which one other 12 miles to Lakeport Plantation. Like all Delta plantations, Lakeport was constructed by enslaved laborers.  Preserved, restored and owned by Arkansas State College, the Greek Revival dwelling nonetheless has lots of its unique architectural options. Reveals all through the home and grounds inform tales of slavery, sharecropping and the household who previously owned the plantation. You possibly can discover Lakeport by yourself or take a guided tour. From the plantation, it’s one other 27 miles south to the Louisiana border.

Be taught extra in regards to the thought, analysis, planning and promotion that goes into the designation of our stunning Scenic Byways.