Arkansas Best Hikes. 5 Hikes with Amazing Views!

Updated: April 2024

Arkansas is a hiker’s paradise, with trails that will make your heart race and soul smile. After exploring many hikes across the state, we’ve narrowed down the top 5 that are sure to impress.

Don’t miss out on these stunning trails that demand to be hiked in all four seasons (but seriously, the autumn views are unbeatable!).

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Arkansas Best Hikes #5

Centerpoint to Goat Trail. Ponca, AR

This trail is marked as a 5.9 mile out and back trail (est 2hr 50mins) to the main destination- Big Bluff (overlooking the Buffalo River). It is considered the tallest bluff along the Buffalo River at 500ft tall.

The side trail that leads to an outcropping on the bluff is the Goat Trail which is about 350ft. Since it is one of the most popular trails on the Buffalo National River, and the parking lot is small, you need to get to the parking spot at the Centerpoint Trailhead early.

The first hour of this hike is through the woods, heading down a steep rocky decline. Once you reach a small campground at the bottom, take a right to continue to Goat Trail.

There are times the trail appears to stop on the rocks and bluffs, but a way can be found on/around/through (at the true end of the trail, you will be back on a grassy area with trees).

There are safety risks associated with this trail, proceed at your discretion. The hike back is challenging since it will be a solid 45mins to 1-hour uphill trek with many rocks to navigate.

@brandi_youre.a.fine.girl

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♬ som original – crz

Arkansas Best Hikes #4

Yellow Rock Trail. Devil’s Den State Park

Inside of Devil’s Den State Park you will find Yellow Rcok Trail which leads you to an incredible overlook. The full trail is marked at a 3.1-mile loop (est 1hr 27min). However, if you park at the upper trailhead at the Highway 70 CCC Overlook (also a beautiful view to begin the hike!) and do an out-and-back hike, it cuts that distance and time in half.

This is a fairly easy hike to make to the main attraction- Yellow Rock Overlook.

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MORE ON DEVIL’S DEN STATE PARK

Arkansas Best Hikes #3

Cedar Falls Trail (+Bear Cave Trail). Petit Jean State Park.

This hike gets #2 because of the diversity- rocks, scenery, and a waterfall!

You can start this hike on the official trailhead directly behind Mathur Lodge. Or for a more diverse hike, start at the Bear Cave Area parking lot.

From the Bear Cave Trailhead: This 1 mile out and back trail has huge rocks to wander through/on/over/under. At the end of this trail, you are at Mathur Lodge (optional starting point if you choose to hike only Cedar Falls Trail).

From the Cedar Falls Trailhead at Mathur Lodge, there is a steep descent to the bottom (0.4 miles). After crossing the bridge at the bottom, it’s an easy hike for a little over a half mile to Cedar Falls.

Cedar Falls is a 95ft continuous flow waterfall that is the 2nd most photographed place in Arkansas (second only to my #1 Best Hike).

Bear Cave Trail- 1.10 miles out and back, average 27mins. Cedar Falls Trail- 1.9 miles out and back, average 56mins.

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More on Petit Jean State Park –>

Arkansas Best Hikes #2

Rattlesnake Ridge. Roland, Arkansas

I would almost consider the Rattlesnake Ridge hike a tie for #1. The only thing it lacks to make it a perfect hike for me- a waterfall.

You’ll need to channel your inner explorer to find your way to the elusive ridge. Once you begin climbing to and on the ridge, it will demand your full physical prowess to navigate the ridge.

But trust me, it’s a blast and totally worth the effort when you see the most incredible views that Arkansas has to offer.

Arkansas Best Hikes #1

Whitaker Point Trail (Hawksbill Crag). Near Kingston, AR

My #1 “Best Hikes in Arkansas” is the most photographed spot in Arkansas. Whitaker Point is a 2.9m out and back (est 1hr 16mins).

Watching a sunrise or sunset from this point is UNBEATABLE. The hike is fairly easy, with the toughest part being the last incline on the return hike.

The dirt road to the trailhead is sketchy (long, steep, loose gravel), but cars can make it to the trailhead.

Once parked in the large parking area, find the big rock (with engraved trail information) that marks the beginning of the trail (on your left as you are driving to the parking area).

Bonus Trail

There is also the option of another offshoot trail that will lead you to multiple waterfalls (Upper and Lower Haley Falls, Mule Trail Falls– 2.2 miles out and back, and Thousand Kisses Falls– 2.4 miles out and back). This trail does not have trail markers.

Initially, we just followed the sound of water and found the waterfalls…and kept going. Three waterfalls later we decided to turn around. Later, after consulting my “Arkansas Waterfalls, Second Edition” book, I learned there was a 4th larger waterfall further upstream.

If You LOVE Arkansas {waterfalls}

If you are a fan of waterfalls, I HIGHLY recommend Tim Ernst’s book- Arkansas Waterfalls. It gives incredible details about 200+ waterfalls (how to get there, where to park, where to hike, hiking distance, and waterfall height). This book is an amazing reference.

Each one of the 5 BEST Hikes in Arkansas {With AMAZING Views} offers an amazing hiking experience!

They each offer different variations of the view during different seasons. Fall offers colorful overlooks. Winter offers unobstructed views. Spring offers pretty colors and increased waterfall flows. Summer is best for shaded hikes and cool dips in the streams and waterfalls.

With so many available hiking trails in NWA, I haven’t explored them all… YET. Leave me a comment and tell me your “Arkansas Best Hikes” so I can check them out!

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