ozark-st. francis national forests

Despite the fact that we missed the fall colour by a few days, this is still some of the most beautiful scenery our country has to offer. My first visit to the Ozarks and I hope to go back some day and maybe hit the peak this time!

What spectacular views we saw! LOTS of hair pin turns and even saw some snow still accumulated on the ground! Nothing blooming just yet, but, in about a month, this will be fabulous!

The colors of the leaves were just turning and made for beautiful scenery. The scenic byway, Highway 7 was a most delightful day adventure across northern AR.

This was worth a short 6 mile drive east on Hwy 16 during our trip from Clarksville to Branson on scenic Hwy 7.The 2.2 mile RT walk to see the rocks and caves under them was enjoyable. The trees were just starting to show color, so end of Oct or early Nov are probably ideal for optimal fall colors. We couldn't find a way to get down below the bluffs to access the trail and caves below, but it was still a nice respite on a mid October day. Watch out for poison ivy along the trail.

My absolute favorite place in the world.A must see in the fall when the leaves are changing.Or, a drive to Ponca to see the Elk and stay in a unique cabin in a cave is also a must. Great fishing too!

The scenic area consists of 2 hiking trails Pedestal Rocks (2.2 mi) and Kings Bluff (1.7 mi). Regardless of your hiking skills, it's worth the trip. You will see unique formations, called pedestals that were formed by weathering. Kings Bluff features a waterfall that flows over the ledge. The trail is located at the top of the Illinois Bayou River Drainage and offers great views and a history lesson in Arkansas geology.At I-40 & 7 go north about 38 miles, Right onto Arkansas 16 for 6 miles. Sign for trailhead is on your right and there is a vault toilet.

Live less than a mile away, Great deer and turkey hunting. Lots of creeks and wilderness camping. Has a new visitor center on Hwy 21 about 3 miles north of Clarksville.

I spend a lot of time in this area looking for places to hunt, fish and just relax. Dirt roads are inviting to me so 4 wheel drive is my security blanket and used when necessary.

Love to ride my Harley from Russellville to Jasper for breakfast or lunch at the Ozark Cafe in Jasper.

A beautiful change of scenery from Texas. It was quiet, secluded, and a rugged breath of fresh air from everyday stresses.

The various national forests/state forests tend to run together in AR, but they sure do provide some awesome scenery and quiet places to explore. We drove through different sections of this national forest on our drive up Scenic Highway 7. We saw some sandstone bluffs, some streams/rivers, some wonderful vistas (often with turnouts) and a few deer. We made a quick stop in the Cove Lake Recreation area, off of Scenic 309. This would be a great weekend spot to enjoy the lake and hike in the forest. It was very quiet, but of course, we went in January! No matter the time of year, this area of Arkansas provides a nice getaway and I am glad we took the time to discover it on our way home to Michigan. Hope one day to be back and explore more in depth.

We drove the Great River Road through the forest and were treated the whole way with wildlife, water, and trees. A deer darted in front of us at one point, and we also saw a fox. In one area the water was almost up to the road.Not very far into the area was Mississippi River State Park, which has camping sites and a dock you can walk on.The roads quickly turn to gravel, so your vehicle should be up for that. There is plenty of shade, so you'll stay on the cool side.if you go, be sure to take in the Great River Road portion that takes you by Horseshoe Lake.