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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.
If you are searching for your next Arkansas hike, here is our complete list of Best Arkansas Hikes of 2023…
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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.
Hiking Boots
Columbia Women’s Facet 75 Mid Outdry Hiking Shoe
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.
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: 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.
Hiking Backpack
My backpack: Lowe Alpine AirZone Active Backpack for Day Hiking
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.
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).
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.
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).
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.
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: 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.
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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.
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).
MORE ON HIKING KINGS RIVER FALLS
The Essentials.
Hiking supplies to own.
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.
MORE ON HIKING THUNDER CANYON FALLS
recommended book
Arkansas Waterfalls
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.
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).
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.
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!
Arkansas HIkes
checklist
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: 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.
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.
MORE ON HIKING IN EUREKA SPRINGS
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.
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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I love hiking. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for compiling all these hiking trails. While I am not a hiker, my daughter loves to.
What a comprehensive list – so many hikes and so many beautiful views!
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!
This is an amazing resource! Thank you for compiling the best Arkansas hiking trails for us this year!
I don’t know what I was expecting but Arkansas is much more beautiful than I expected.
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