Mount Magazine – Arkansas’ Best Kept Secret

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Home is where the heart is….or so the phrase goes right! Well, home for us right now is Jonesboro, Arkansas so we decided to take a trip across the state to North West Arkansas for the weekend and in doing so opted to go and explore Mount Magazine State Park. This is undoubtedly one of Arkansas’ best kept secrets though for many locals it is a haven for a weekend getaway, especially for the adventurous type who love the outdoors and hiking across some challenging trails.

Mount Magazine State Park

Mount Magazine State Park Location

Where is Mount Magazine State Park located? That’s probably the most challenging part of this getaway because it not the most convenient location to get too, as it is situated a fair distance from the interstate (I-40) that runs across the state of Arkansas.

Arkansas Countryside

If you are heading from the Memphis and Little Rock direction, you should take the Russelville exit which takes you on a meandering, scenic drive through stereotypical Arkansas farmland via Lake Dardanelle (if you are a golf fan like myself you will know that Dardanelle, AR is famous for being the home of John Daly – there is your fun fact of the day!).

Alternatively, if you are heading from the East and Fort Smith, AR  you would be well-advised to take the Ozark/Paris exit off I-40 and Mount Magazine is less than 20 miles from here.

Stunning Scenery

Driving through the local small towns of Arkansas really takes you back in time to what most places in the Mid-West were like in the last 30 to 40 years. As you head to the summit of Mount Magazine State Park, there are numerous spots along the way where you can stop and admire the Arkansas countryside. We probably stopped a dozen times just on the drive up in order to take some pictures and really cherish the views.

Meandering roads to Mount Magazine

At the entrance to the State Park, there is a visitor center which offers detailed maps and other leaflets on the variety of trails that are available. From the challenging peak of Signal Hill which at 2,753ft is the highest point in Arkansas, to a myriad of moderate and easy trails there is something for everyone! Our advice is just take those hiking boots and your backpack and just get out there and enjoy!

Natural wildlife Mount Magazine

The Cameron Bluff Overlook Drive is another great option if you are not planning on spending a full day at Mount Magazine State Park. We took this short drive and I have to admit that I was surprised at just how breathtaking the views are from the various overlooks along this one way route.

When you think of natural beauty, you probably don’t associate the state of Arkansas with this, I know that I didn’t. Perhaps this is just ignorance because the reality is whenever you have visited a location like Mount Magazine, you really do appreciate just how gorgeous this part of the country is.

Mount Magazine Overlook

Due to it’s location in a state that receives little to no media coverage in terms of advertisement, it’s tough to see how somewhere like Mount Magazine will ever receive the exposure it deserves. However, maybe this is beneficial to help preserve this part of Arkansas!

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What to do at Mount Magazine?

  • Trails – As I mentioned, hiking around Mount Magazine State Park is the number one attraction here.
  • Adventure Activities – If hiking is not challenging enough for you and you want something a little more daring, Mount Magazine offers hang gliding, mountain biking, horseback riding among many other activities.
  • Geocaching – A more modern day activity, geocaching is becoming incredibly popular around the world as it enables you to get out into the open and start exploring as you try to locate some hidden treasures along the way.
  • Explore Nature – What better way to see Arkansas’ finest wildlife than by heading ‘out into the wild’ and spotting some unique birds among other species.

Where to stay?

Dependent on what type of traveler you are, there are a variety of options available for accommodation in Mount Magazine State Park. Ranging from the beautiful ‘Lodge at Mount Magazine’ to camping in one of the various campgrounds, there is something for everyone.

  • The Lodge at Mount Magazine – With stunning views over the Petit Jean River Valley and Blue Mountain Lake, there are 60 rooms available for travelers to find luxury accommodation. This is a perfect option for a romantic getaway, especially in the winter where you can sit in the lobby with a beautiful wood-burning fire setting the mood.
  • Mountain Cabins – If you would prefer a little more privacy, there are 13 cabins available for rent, all of which are spacious enough to accommodate a couple or family dependent on your needs.
  • Campground – The low-budget option yet still offering an amazing outdoor experience is to pitch your tent in one of the campgrounds scattered around Mount Magazine. Of course, beware of the Arkansas bears but that’s just part of the experience!

If you would like to see more images from our trip to Mount Magazine, check out our photo gallery here: Mount Magazine Arkansas

Weekend Wanderlust

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Chris Boothmanhttps://abritandasoutherner.com
Chris Boothman is the co-founder of A Brit and A Southerner. Born near Manchester, England, Chris moved to USA in 2006 where he soon after met his wife and travel partner in crime, Heather. They have since embarked on an amazing journey of travel as they challenge others to follow in their paths of working full-time but also being able to travel frequently! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Chris at [email protected]

18 COMMENTS

  1. This looks a beautiful place. I think some places should remain hidden away – they remain special to those who do stumble across them, and aren’t ruined by hordes of tourists littering and generally making lots of noise 😉

    • It’s probably about 6 hours from Nashville to Mount Magazine State Park! It would pretty much be Interstate the whole way through Memphis, Little Rock and along I-40 so definitely worth a trip for a few days to go hiking in the outdoors.

  2. That road looks so inviting! Sounds a wonderful place for a hike and thank you for the reminder about Geocaching. I heard about it a long time ago but had forgotten it. Just signed up and downloaded the App! Would love to try it out on Mount Magazine but for now at least I’ll make do with somewhere closer to home.

  3. Arkansas is a beautiful state. I have vacationed there a number of times. I love the North Central region very much. I agree that many of the areas aren’t convenient to get to, but they are worth the drive.

  4. Great post about an unknown place. Esp. the hiking and the Cameron Bluff Overlook Drive sound like great fun. I think there are quite some places in the US that don’t get the attention they deserve because there is so much to see. Last summer we stayed in Mueller State Park close to Denver. There was almost nobody there because all tourists just rushed on to Aspen… loved being so close to nature and being almost on our own 🙂

  5. I haven’t been to the US for some time now but, if I was to visit again soon, this would be the kind of place I’d like to get out to – doing some walking and exploring the countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.

  6. I’m slowly seeing all over America through your blog!!! This looks like a great undiscovered area off the beaten track, exactly as Paul says – the sort of thing to long for on a trip to the states

    • One of these hard-capped hills is now called Mount Magazine. Fossils of prehistoric plants found on top of the mountain provide evidence of its submerged past. Although they have some characteristics of the Ouachita Mountains, Mount Magazine and others mountains in the Arkansas River Valley are considered by some geologists to be a separate range.- Just a little bit of history. 🙂

  7. Oh my, looks like a beautiful place to enjoy a weekend! You had me at the hiking and mountain cabins! It looks so peaceful and serene, and I especially love that lush shot of the trees with the road straight down the middle!

  8. Thank you for sharing! Yes, Mount Magazine is such a special place to me and my family. I grew up in Logan County. The mountain was part of the backdrop in my hometown of Booneville. I was married there. I feel a little closer to heaven when I visit. I would encourage anyone that has never been. You should make a plan to see it. The lodge and cabins Make it even more spectacular with the views. Enjoy Arkansas! I miss my home state. I’ll be back for a visit real soon!

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