Enjoy a beautiful winding road through the Ozark Mountains. Arkansas's Highway 7 runs the length of the state from north to south for about 290 miles. It offers vistas of high-mountain meadows, rugged highlands, deep hollows, and hardwood forests. You can get onto Scenic 7 at the lovely old town of Harrison, off of I-65, at the top of the state. If you are short on time, traveling on 7 will give you a wonderful taste of the beauty of Arkansas, if you have a little extra time, make some stops along the way and explore some of the side roads off of 7 on your journey south.
Heading south on 7 you will go by Mystic Caverns. A stop here will show you the underground beauties of Arkansas. Stalactites and Stalagmites encompass 2 caves. There are guided tours that take you past a crystal dome and a formation that resembles a giant pipe organ. Continuing on 7 you will come to the beautiful Buffalo River Area. The river courses for nearly 150 miles through the Ozarks. Towering limestone bluffs jut up in many places from the river’s blue-green water. Where there are no cliffs, you will see oak and hickory trees. If you want to get up close to the river take a side trip off 7 onto Rte. 74 west to the town of Ponca. The town is a popular place for canoes to put into the river, and several outfitters offer boats and tours. Just to the north a trail leads to Hemmed-in-Hollow, where a veil of water falls 175 feet from the crest of a limestone bluff. To the south lies Lost Valley, another scenic woodland worth a visit.
Back on 7, check out the scenic overlook at Buffalo River Canyon, where a short trail leads to a good view of the river against a backdrop of cedar-covered dolomite cliffs. Arkansas even has its own version of the Grand Canyon. Just north of Judea Mountain (2,169 feet), the landscape takes a sharp 600-foot drop, offering a sweeping view across Big Creek Valley for several miles.
Another side trip, this time to the west along Rt. 16 and 1206 will bring you to the Alum Cove Natural Bridge Recreation Area. Here, among craggy hillsides, the combined actions of wind, water, and gravity have transformed a huge mass of sandstone into a natural bridge with a total span of about 130 feet.
Back on 7 head to the little community of Pelsor, here you can catch Rte. 16 and head east for about 4 miles to Pedestal Rocks. Natural forces have carved the rocks so that large boulders stand upon pillar like ones.
Once back on Scenic 7, be sure to stop at the Rotary Ann Overlook. Here you will get a wonderful view of the Ozark National Forest. You will find picnic facilities, interpretive signs, and beautiful vistas of the jagged mountains. At the town of Dardanelle you can take a side trip to see the Mt. Magazine area. Turn onto scenic Rte. 22 and head along Lake Dardanelle, when you get to the town of Paris, head south on Rt. 309 across the river valley and farmlands. The drive then climbs the northern face of Mt. Magazine. Head back to 7 and continue south towards the Ouachita National Forest. You are likely to see deer along the road and possibly wild turkeys.
Scenic 7 will then take you through the city of Hot Springs. Here you will see beautiful old Victorian Homes on tree-lined streets. A row of ornate bathhouses on Central Ave. recalls the early 1900’s when health-seekers flocked to the town to look for cures in the mineral-laden waters of the natural hot springs. After Hot Springs, you start to leave the mountains behind and the terrain turns more into rolling hills and pine forests as you head toward Arkadelphia. This area is known for their quartz crystals. Scenic 7 ends by the Louisiana state line near the town of El Dorado. The northern end of 7 is the most scenic through the mountain areas. There are numerous recreation areas providing opportunities to camp, hike, mountain bike, canoe, and ride horses along or within a few miles of the highway. We have several motorcycle friendly campgrounds listed for this beautiful area. We rode Scenic 7 on our 2007 tour, and definitely recommend it. We found the road to be fun with some great curves and the scenery was wonderful. Riding the state of Arkansas was a great experience and we hope to return soon to experience more of the Buffalo River area. Map
Leah Lind
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