Exploring Arkansas

The White Rock Mountain Recreation Area north of Mulberry offers some of the best views in the state along the rim loop trail A wild cave trek through War Eagle Cavern near Rogers provides a unique look at bat colonies. The Poteau Mountain Rustic Road Tour is yet another wonderful opportunity to experience the wilderness of the Ouachita National Forest.

Braving winter's cold temps in a kayak one is rewarded by magnificent sights of Bald Eagles on Lake Dardanelle near Russellville. Speaking of eagles… Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Arkansas was instrumental in the recovery of the bald eagle from its endangered status.We take you on an airboat and driving tour of this tucked away refuge along the Mississippi Delta. Mammoth Spring near the Missouri state line is not only the largest spring in the state, but the tenth largest in the world!

The Battle of Pea Ridge is viewed as the most decisive Civil War battle west of the Mississippi RiveRiver Pea Ridge National Military Park in northwest Arkansas is one of the most well preserved Civil War battlefields in the U.S. The Lakeport Plantation is the only remaining antebellum home along the Mississippi River in Arkansas. Beaver Lake near Rogers boasts of having the most bald eagles of any lake in the state.

You wouldn't normally expect to find wildlife viewing opportunities at an archeological park, but that's not the case at Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park near Scott. A hidden gem in the southern part of the state near Smackover, is the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources which portrays the 1920's oil boom in that area. Fort Smith National Historic Site is a special place where you can walk where Mexican War and Civil War soldiers drilled, pause along the Trail of Tears and witness where justice was served.

Triple Falls is a spectacular waterfall area in the upper portion of the Buffalo National River These fifty foot falls rival any of those seen in Hawaii. Lincoln Lake is a wonderful hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and kayaking gem tucked away in the northwest portion of the Natural State. Episode concludes with a float trip down the Buffalo National River showing exactly why this special river earned its place in 1972 as America's first national river.

In a previous episode two waterfalls were featured in the Richland Creek Wilderness area in the Ozark National Forest near Ben Hur In this segment, several more picturesque waterfalls are explored in this same area. Arkansas Post National Memorial near Gillette was not only the site of the first European settlement in the lower Mississippi Valley, but also a Civil War battleground and Arkansas'only Revolutionary War battle site. A float trip down Wattensaw Bayou near Hazen closes out the episode.

The Kings River in northwest Arkansas-like the Buffalo, is one of those few remaining pristine, free flowing streams in the country. A float trip on this river is truly an unforgettable experience, as you meander through the bluffs of the high Ozark Plateau. The various waterfalls in the Leatherwood Wilderness south of Mountain Home will also astound you with their beauty as you hike above, below and behind them. Episode concludes with a special look at "Valley of Vapors"-the hot springs that were set aside as a federal reservation in 1832 and eventually became - Hot Springs National Park.

One of the best places to go rock climbing east of the Rockies happens to be at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch near Jasper-and it's where we'll take you to conquer the rock ! Visiting one of the many Natural Areas under the protection of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission is a great way to explore a "wilder" version of the Natural State. Falcon Bottoms Natural Area near Magnolia with Bayou Dorcheat, offers a unique adventure in the state's original wild landscape. Bayou Bluff in the Ozark National Forest near Hector is one of those tucked away gems with picturesque bluffs, a cool mountain stream and breathtaking scenery.

The largest tract of protected blackland prairie in the nation happens to be in southwest Arkansas near Hope. The Grandview Prairie Wildlife Management Area contains 5000 acres of what once spanned from Missouri all the way down to Texas. Shady Lake Recreation Area in the Ouachita National Forest near Mena provides a remote picturesque mountain lake setting with plenty of fishing, camping and hiking opportunities. The great abundance of birds and other wildlife at the Millwood Lake area north of Texarkana has been a favorite with many wildlife photographers. Not to mention the perfect sunset location at Beard's Bluff Overlook.

The Cane Creek Lake Trail at Cane Creek State Park near Star City offers a unique mountain biking adventure through rolling terrain which includes suspension and timber bridges. The open range experience of the old West can be accomplished with a breakfast cookout trail ride at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch near Jasper pAcapulco style cliff diving into a natural pool is a popular activity at the Jack Creek Recreation Area in the Ouachita National Forest south of Booneville.

At the tallest peak in the state - Mt. Magazine men and women with wings soar like eagles with the extreme sport of hang gliding. Sugarloaf Mountain Island in the middle of Greers Ferry Lake is a popular destination with hiking enthusiasts to enjoy the Sugarloaf Mountain National Nature Trail Devil's Knob Devil's Backbone Natural Area near Melbourne offers a chance to explore an unusual sandstone glade and unique plant species.