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PINNACLE MOUNTAIN - At this environmental education park just west of Little Rock, Arkansas's largest metropolitan area, you can enjoy guided hikes and expeditions with park staff like the park's popular "Winter Wandering," "To Hill & Back", river walks, wetland expeditions and exploration hikes. The park staff also leads backpacking classes and a 10-mile overnight hike on the Ouachita Trail.
Off-trail self-guided expeditions can also be experienced at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. The park encompasses over 2,100 acres of diverse habitats with seven peaks and extensive wetlands to explore. See where vultures roost, beaver dams abound and wintering American bald eagles soar. Wear boots and dress for this rugged terrain. Bring food and water. Hikes vary from one to five-mile routes. Check with a park interpreter for recommended routes and safety recommendations.
Rocky Valley/East Quarry day hike - From the trail's beginning point near the Pinnacle Mountain State Park visitor center that overlooks the Arkansas River, one can enjoy a challenging day hike along a shady upland slope down to the edge of the Big Maumelle River. Spectacular views of the Arkansas and Big Maumelle Rivers await the hardy hiker at the hilltop overlook a half-mile farther up the East Quarry Trail. Rocky Valley is a partial loop woodland trail and is a 1 ½-mile round trip. If taken, the East Quarry Trail adds an additional mile ending at a hilltop overlook next to an interesting abandoned quarry.
Pinnacle Mountain Climb- Experience the thrill of reaching the 1,011-foot summit of Pinnacle Mountain by following one of two strenuous trails. Each trail leads through boulder fields and forests to spectacular views. Views from the summit include the Arkansas River, Lake Maumelle and more of the Ouachita Mountains. For the ultimate fitness adventure, try the 4 ½-mile loop formed by the West Summit Trail, the East Summit Trail and the relatively flat Base Trail. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Allow one and one-half hours for your trip. Close supervision of children is required, especially as you near the summit.
Hiking Queen Wilhelmina State Park QUEEN WILHELMINA - High atop Arkansas's second highest mountain is beautiful Queen Wilhelmina State Park Lodge featuring a 38-room and campsites with hookups. This windswept mountaintop park offers some of the most dramatic and panoramic views in the state. Trails lead to historic springs and cemeteries, through dwarf forests filled with wildflowers to dramatic Lover's Leap Overlook with its sweeping vista of the Ouachita Mountains and surrounding Ouachita National Forest. For a longer adventure, the 222-mile Ouachita Trail extends east from here to Pinnacle Mountain State Park near at Little Rock, and west to Talimena State Park near Talihina, Oklahoma.
VILLAGE CREEK - Hiking trails in 7,000-acre Village Creek State Park take you deep into the unusual forest community on Crowley's Ridge in northeast Arkansas. The Big Ben Trail is one of the park's shortest trails showcasing the astounding diversity of this climax beech/maple forest. You'll see native beech trees, magnolia, tulip trees, pawpaw and much more. Longer trails like the Old Military Road Trail, which includes one of the most dramatic remaining portions of the Trail of Tears, can last most of the day. In the 1830s the Chickasaw moved 5,000 of their finest horses through this area along the Trail of Tears en route to Indian Territory. Pack a snack and some water and set off through these rolling hills for a hiking adventure through a forest like no other in Arkansas.
WHITE OAK LAKE - Camp on the shore of White Oak Lake and you'll be in the tall timber and gentle rolling hills of the West Gulf Coastal Plain region. You will also be on the edge of an unusual eco-community filled with desert-like plants, the sand-hill plant community. Beech Ridge Trail, a 2-mile loop, starts in the tent camp area and will take you through a large beech forest. Much of the route borders the lake. Looping off this trail is the Coastal Plain Trail. This 3-mile loop courses through an old-growth shortleaf and loblolly pine forest that has an understory of diverse, unusual and rare plant species. The old growth timber provides habitat for a variety of wildlife including the great-horned owl, pileated woodpecker and more. The total route of five miles can be an all-day adventure of exploration and discovery of beautiful views and surprising species diversity.
Off-trail self-guided expeditions can also be experienced at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. The park encompasses over 2,100 acres of diverse habitats with seven peaks and extensive wetlands to explore. See where vultures roost, beaver dams abound and wintering American bald eagles soar. Wear boots and dress for this rugged terrain. Bring food and water. Hikes vary from one to five-mile routes. Check with a park interpreter for recommended routes and safety recommendations.
Rocky Valley/East Quarry day hike - From the trail's beginning point near the Pinnacle Mountain State Park visitor center that overlooks the Arkansas River, one can enjoy a challenging day hike along a shady upland slope down to the edge of the Big Maumelle River. Spectacular views of the Arkansas and Big Maumelle Rivers await the hardy hiker at the hilltop overlook a half-mile farther up the East Quarry Trail. Rocky Valley is a partial loop woodland trail and is a 1 ½-mile round trip. If taken, the East Quarry Trail adds an additional mile ending at a hilltop overlook next to an interesting abandoned quarry.
Pinnacle Mountain Climb- Experience the thrill of reaching the 1,011-foot summit of Pinnacle Mountain by following one of two strenuous trails. Each trail leads through boulder fields and forests to spectacular views. Views from the summit include the Arkansas River, Lake Maumelle and more of the Ouachita Mountains. For the ultimate fitness adventure, try the 4 ½-mile loop formed by the West Summit Trail, the East Summit Trail and the relatively flat Base Trail. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Allow one and one-half hours for your trip. Close supervision of children is required, especially as you near the summit.
Hiking Queen Wilhelmina State Park QUEEN WILHELMINA - High atop Arkansas's second highest mountain is beautiful Queen Wilhelmina State Park Lodge featuring a 38-room and campsites with hookups. This windswept mountaintop park offers some of the most dramatic and panoramic views in the state. Trails lead to historic springs and cemeteries, through dwarf forests filled with wildflowers to dramatic Lover's Leap Overlook with its sweeping vista of the Ouachita Mountains and surrounding Ouachita National Forest. For a longer adventure, the 222-mile Ouachita Trail extends east from here to Pinnacle Mountain State Park near at Little Rock, and west to Talimena State Park near Talihina, Oklahoma.
VILLAGE CREEK - Hiking trails in 7,000-acre Village Creek State Park take you deep into the unusual forest community on Crowley's Ridge in northeast Arkansas. The Big Ben Trail is one of the park's shortest trails showcasing the astounding diversity of this climax beech/maple forest. You'll see native beech trees, magnolia, tulip trees, pawpaw and much more. Longer trails like the Old Military Road Trail, which includes one of the most dramatic remaining portions of the Trail of Tears, can last most of the day. In the 1830s the Chickasaw moved 5,000 of their finest horses through this area along the Trail of Tears en route to Indian Territory. Pack a snack and some water and set off through these rolling hills for a hiking adventure through a forest like no other in Arkansas.
WHITE OAK LAKE - Camp on the shore of White Oak Lake and you'll be in the tall timber and gentle rolling hills of the West Gulf Coastal Plain region. You will also be on the edge of an unusual eco-community filled with desert-like plants, the sand-hill plant community. Beech Ridge Trail, a 2-mile loop, starts in the tent camp area and will take you through a large beech forest. Much of the route borders the lake. Looping off this trail is the Coastal Plain Trail. This 3-mile loop courses through an old-growth shortleaf and loblolly pine forest that has an understory of diverse, unusual and rare plant species. The old growth timber provides habitat for a variety of wildlife including the great-horned owl, pileated woodpecker and more. The total route of five miles can be an all-day adventure of exploration and discovery of beautiful views and surprising species diversity.
Adventure in Arkansas : Caving » Hang Gliding » Hiking » Horseback Riding » Lake Kayaking » Mountain Biking » River Running » Rock Climbing » Snorkeling
