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Explore The Best Hikes of Arkansas: 20 Hiking Trails

Posted on January 2, 2024April 24, 2024 By ~Brandi~ 7 Comments on Explore The Best Hikes of Arkansas: 20 Hiking Trails
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Updated: April 2024

Our Best Arkansas Hikes of 2023.

Exploring Arkansas through hikes gives you a different perspective of the state. Our team embarked on 20 separate hiking adventures in Arkansas throughout 2023, and we compiled a complete list of the Arkansas Hiking Trails we explored.

best arkansas hiking

If you are searching for your next Arkansas hike, here is our complete list of Best Arkansas Hikes of 2023…

Table of Contents

  • Best Arkansas Hikes: Sam’s Throne
  • High Bank Twin Falls
  • Bear Cave Trail
  • Best Arkansas Hikes: Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag)
  • Lost Valley
  • Sugarloaf Fire Tower
  • Twin Knobs / Twin Mountains
  • Moonshiners Cave
  • Best Arkansas Hikes: Blanchard Spring Trail
  • Mirror Lake Trail
  • Kings River Falls Trail
  • Best Arkansas Hikes: Thunder Canyon Falls
  • Best Arkansas Hikes: Rattlesnake Ridge
  • Yellow Rock
  • Seven Hollows
  • Best Arkansas Hikes: Cedar Falls
  • Rock House Cave
  • Best Arkansas Hikes: White Rock
  • Miner’s Rock
  • Lake Leatherwood Loop

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Best Arkansas Hikes: Sam’s Throne

Sam’s Throne is a 2.9-mile loop trail near Mount Judea. The base trail is easy enough to follow and fairly well-marked. We hiked it in late fall with leaves covering the ground, which always makes following a trail a little more challenging. There are elevation changes that will give you a good workout.

The first section of the hike follows along the bluff line giving you amazing views of the mountains. Start at the (lower) campground and hike the Sam’s Loop Trail “Chickenhead Wall Access.”

“The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot.”

Werner Herzog

The best part of this trail is climbing to “Sam’s Throne.” This point is not well marked, but you can find the entrance if you know what you are looking for. Once at the bottom of the bluffs, a small crevice in the bluff side will lead to a rope to assist the short climb to the top of Sam’s Throne.

best arkansas hikes sams throne

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High Bank Twin Falls

The hike to High Bank Twin Falls is a short, rocky 0.4-mile route. Plan to hit this hike after good rainfall because the falls are rainfall-dependent.

best arkansas hikes high bank twin falls

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Bear Cave Trail

The Bear Cave Trail at Petit Jean State Park is a 1.1-mile out-and-back hike with ample rocks for climbing and exploring.

best arkansas hikes bear cave trail petit jean

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Best Arkansas Hikes: Whitaker Point (Hawksbill Crag)

Whitaker Point will always remain one of my favorite hiking trails in Arkansas and on the top of any “Best Arkansas Hikes” list.

At a 2.7-mile out-and-back hike, it is one of the easier (and more popular) hikes in Arkansas. The last quarter of a mile on the return hike is a workout, but not overly strenuous.

“The climb speaks to our character, but the view, I think, to our souls.”

Lori Lansens

The hike’s endpoint is the Whitaker Point overlook, one of the best sunrise views in the state. It takes the record for the most photographed spot in the state.

Tip: Don’t try finding the trailhead with Google (it leads you to the OLD trailhead that cannot be used now). Use Alltrails to find the trailhead. There is a large parking area (spots on both sides of the road) and a large boulder marking the entrance to the Whitaker Point Trail.

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My backpack: Lowe Alpine AirZone Active Backpack for Day Hiking

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The drive to the trailhead is a long drive up a steep dirt road. The parking is easy, but the lot can fill up fast.

best arkansas hikes whitaker point

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arkansas hiking guide to whitaker point

Whitaker Point Hiking Guide

All the details you need to plan a stress-free hike to see the most photographed spot in Arkansas: Whitaker Point (aka Hawksbill Crag).

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Lost Valley

Next on the list of best Arkansas hikes is Lost Valley. This hiking trail is a 2.3-mile out-and-back journey with plenty to keep you occupied. With a creek, rocks, natural bridges, and a cave at the end, you will have plenty to explore.

best arkansas hikes lost valley

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MORE ON HIKING LOST VALLEY

Sugarloaf Fire Tower

This was a fun one that we found by accident. When planning this trip, I didn’t realize there was a Sugarloaf Mountain and a separate Sugarloaf Mountain Lookout that were more than an hour’s drive apart. We found ourselves at the Sugarloaf Mountain Lookout/Fire Tower instead of the Summit Trail I had planned on hiking. We decided to take advantage of the mistake and hike to the Sugarloaf Firetower anyway.

“Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains.”

Jeffrey Rasley

And what a payoff! The trail is an access road that leads to a mile(ish) long hike up the mountain to the Sugarloaf Fire Tower Historic District (a collection of historic buildings atop the hill). With an amazing view, old structures to explore, and a fire tower, this stop was a fun and secluded spot to explore (at your own risk).

best arkansas hikes sugarloaf firetower

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Twin Knobs / Twin Mountains

Twin Knobs (or Twin Mountains) is close to Siloam Springs. We have visited a couple of times due to the close proximity for us. This trail is secluded (we only saw one other person in the 2 times we hiked it), and has an amazing viewpoint for sunset.

However, this trail can be tricky to follow, especially at dusk and with the fallen leaves covering the trail. It can be easy to get lost (ask me how I know…).

The drive to the trailhead is a rough drive on a dirt road, and parking is limited.

best arkansas hikes twin knobs

TRAIL INFO

Moonshiners Cave

The hike to Moonshiners Cave is 0.8 miles out and back. It’s all downhill to the cave, and all uphill coming back. After rainfall, there will be a waterfall next to the cave. This hike is a fun, family-friendly trail.

best arkansas hikes moonshiners cave

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Best Arkansas Hikes: Blanchard Spring Trail

Next up on the list of best Arkansas hikes is Blanchard Springs. The Blanchard Spring Trail is a .20-mile out-and-back hike. It is a well-marked, flat hike that is very popular. It leads you to Blanchard Spring pouring out of a mountainside cave.

best arkansas hikes blanchard spring

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Mirror Lake Trail

Mirror Lake Trail is a 0.9-mile out-and-back trail that leads to Mirror Lake, including the beautiful Mirror Lake Falls. The trail is well-marked and easy to navigate.

best arkansas hikes mirror lake falls

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Kings River Falls Trail

Kings River Falls Trail is a 1.8-mile out-and-back well-marked trail that is flat and easy. It is a scenic hike along Kings River that leads to a waterfall at the end (rainfall-dependent).

best arkansas hikes kings river falls

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MORE ON HIKING KINGS RIVER FALLS


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Hiking supplies to own.

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Best Arkansas Hikes: Thunder Canyon Falls

Thunder Canyon Falls is a 3.4-mile out-and-back trail leading to an amazing waterfall. Although not incredibly well marked (many turns), another hiker had marked the path with neon orange blazes along the way that kept us mostly on track. We met a group at the falls but still had plenty of alone time to enjoy the falls.

best arkansas hikes thunder canyon falls

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MORE ON HIKING THUNDER CANYON FALLS


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Arkansas Waterfalls

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Best Arkansas Hikes: Rattlesnake Ridge

Rattlesnake Ridge is a hike that I have seen pictures of and aspired to visit for some time.

And it turned out to be more than I hoped for! The base trail itself is marked as a 2-mile out-and-back hike. However, the best part was finding a way to get ON the ridge and hike the entire length. This turned out to be close to a 4-mile roundtrip hike for us once we looped over the ridge.

“Leave the road, take the trails.”

Pythagoras

The base trail (seen on AllTrails) is a challenging hike with elevation. The ridge is extra challenging (with scrambling and climbing boulders the entire time) but with some of the most spectacular scenery in Arkansas. The trail onto and off the ridge is not marked.

best arkansas hikes rattlesnake ridge

TRAIL INFO

Yellow Rock

Yellow Rock is a fairly easy 2.6-mile loop inside Devil’s Den State Park. It is another one of my favorite hikes because it is challenging enough for a good workout, but not strenuous, and it has a great overlook at the end (and one at the beginning if you start the hike at the CCC Overlook).

best arkansas hikes yellow rock devils den

TRAIL INFO

MORE ON HIKING YELLOW ROCK

Seven Hollows

Seven Hollows is a 4.3-mile loop hiking trail inside of Petit Jean State Park. This trail is longer, and mildly challenging, with plenty of variety during the hike. You will pass through Natural Bridge and can take a small off-shoot trail to see the Grotto.

best arkansas hikes seven hollows petit jean

TRAIL INFO

MORE INFO ON PETIT JEAN STATE PARK

Best Arkansas Hikes: Cedar Falls

Cedar Falls Trail is a 1.9-mile out-and-back hiking trail inside of Petit Jean State Park. The first half of this hike is downhill, to the bottom of the mountain, crossing Cedar Creek, and hiking up the creek to the most photographed waterfall in Arkansas- Cedar Falls.

“There is always an adventure waiting in the woods.”

Katelyn S. Bolds

The waterfall is rainfall dependent. If you can catch the falls after a good rain, you will see quite the show. However, after a span of no rainfall, the fall will be at a trickle.

Save your energy for the hike back- straight up the mountainside!

best arkansas hikes cedar falls hiking trail

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MORE INFO ON PETIT JEAN


Arkansas Hikes Checklist (Instagram Post)

Arkansas HIkes

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Rock House Cave

Rock House Cave is a short hike inside of Petit Jean State Park that can also be expanded into a longer hike. The full trail is a 3.5-mile loop. But from the parking lot, it’s a short hike on a well-marked path, over some turtle rocks, to Rock House Cave (a large bluff shelter over 500 years old).

best arkansas hikes rock house cave petit jean

TRAIL INFO

Best Arkansas Hikes: White Rock

The White Rock Rim Trail is a 2.1-mile loop atop White Rock Mountain. The hike is an easy loop with amazing viewpoints throughout the entire trek. The road to the trailhead can be rough, but the parking is easy.

best arkansas hikes white rock rim

TRAIL INFO

HIKING TRAILS FOR KIDS

Miner’s Rock

Miner’s Rock is a 1.9-mile loop trail that has some cool features and rocks to explore, but no waterfalls or overlooks.

best arkansas hikes miners rock

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MORE ON HIKING IN EUREKA SPRINGS


hiking supplies

Lake Leatherwood Loop

The Lake Leatherwood Loop is a 2.4-mile looped hike that leads you to the Lake Leatherwood Dam and back. The hike is easy, and the dam overflow is a fun place to explore.

best arkansas hikes lake leatherwood loop eureka springs

TRAIL INFO

MORE ON HIKING LAKE LEATHERWOOD

You really can’t go wrong with any one of these Best Arkansas hikes for an amazing adventure! We enjoyed each one for various reasons. We are currently gearing up for our 2024 Arkansas Hiking adventures (including Hemmed in Hollow, Pedestal Rock, and more!)

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Experience Arkansas Hikes through TikToks

Kings River Natural Area

Rattlesnake Ridge

Sam’s Throne

Thunder Canyon Falls

Lost Valley Trail

White Rock Rim Trail

Whitaker Point

Whitaker Point Overlook

Goat Rock Trail

Yellow Rock- Devil’s Den

Big Bluff

Goat Trail to Big Bluff

Sam’s Throne

Yellow Rock

Glory Hole

Pedestal Rock

Tanyard Creek Falls

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Arkansas Hiking Trails

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Comments (7) on “Explore The Best Hikes of Arkansas: 20 Hiking Trails”

  1. Sheenia says:
    January 2, 2024 at 7:49 am

    I love hiking. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
  2. Tiann Jackson says:
    January 2, 2024 at 10:23 am

    Thank you for compiling all these hiking trails. While I am not a hiker, my daughter loves to.

    Reply
  3. Haylee says:
    January 3, 2024 at 5:42 am

    What a comprehensive list – so many hikes and so many beautiful views!

    Reply
  4. Christine says:
    January 3, 2024 at 2:13 pm

    Wow these sound like such cool places to visit! And such a nice variety of scenery. I love hiking so this is an amazing resource!

    Reply
  5. Debbie says:
    January 3, 2024 at 8:24 pm

    This is an amazing resource! Thank you for compiling the best Arkansas hiking trails for us this year!

    Reply
  6. Davindra Ramnarine says:
    January 10, 2024 at 6:18 pm

    I don’t know what I was expecting but Arkansas is much more beautiful than I expected.

    Reply
  7. Timewires says:
    January 22, 2024 at 10:42 pm

    Usually I do not read article on blogs however I would like to say that this writeup very compelled me to take a look at and do so Your writing taste has been amazed me Thanks quite nice post

    Reply

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