Exploring Arkansas

One of the most photographed spots in the Natural State is a unique rock outcropping called-"Hawksbill Crag" in the upper portion of the Buffalo National River Wilderness. In living the lives of others, global hunger and poverty become a harsh reality at the Global Villages experience at Heifer International near Perryville. World class trout fishing can be enjoyed on the White River near Calico Rock.

From orienteering to mountain biking, canoeing, trekking and zip lining-it's the annual Ozark Adventure Race.Lake Enterprise by the town of Wilmot in south Arkansas is a neat, tucked away gem of the Natural State filled with picturesque cypress trees. The Arkansas Missouri Railroad offers a scenic passenger train trip back to the Golden Age of railway travel

Forked Mountain east of Hollis in the Ouachita National Forest is one of the more unique mountains in the Natural State with twin peaks.Situated along the Mississippi Flyway, a onetime elite hunting club, now the Wapanocca National Wildlife Reserve is an important sanctuary for migratory waterfowl Devil's Den State Park in northwest Arkansas is well known for its crevice and cave area, but a little known fact is that this park also has one of the state's first mountain biking trails. Hiking along the North Sylamore Creek Hiking Trail near Mountain View takes you through three fantastic camping areas along its fifteen mile route.

The Pedestal Rocks area near Pelsor is scenic as it is-but, if you hike in during the winter after a snowfall- you're rewarded with an extra added attraction-all the ice caverns below the bluffline. Sam's Throne rock formation south of Mount Judea in the Ozark National Forest is a popular destination with rock climbers and hikers alike. Taking the driving tour at Holla Bend National Wildlife Reserve south of Dardanelle, you can see bald and golden eagles snow geese and trumpeter swans. The Big Creek Natural Area east of Wilburn offers a woodlands hike to a crystal clear mountain stream with diverse populations of fish and other aquatic organisms.

Inside a cave between Gravette and Sulphur Springs in northwest Arkansas there's a fascinating legend of hidden gold left by Spanish Conquistadors of long ago. The Seven Hollows Trail at Petit Jean State Park offers a natural arch and a grotto with a waterfall Parkin Archeological State Park near Forrest City is where "history" began in Arkansas-written evidence provides documentation of events and a Native American village (1000 - 1550 A.D.) which the Hernando de Soto expedition visited in 1541. Once a rice farm, the Bald Knob National Wildlife Reserve is now a migratory mecca for both ducks and geese.

A twenty year project to build a genuine medieval castle is underway north of Harrison Bull Shoals is one of the world's oldest caverns containing virtually all known formations of any cave in the country. Overflow National Wildlife Reserve near the Louisiana state line was established to protect one of the last remaining bottomland hardwood forests in the lower Mississippi River Valley. The sandstone crevice area at Devil's Den State Park is the largest such area in the U.S.

Located near downtown Bentonville, it's a unique name for a unique mountain biking experience - Slaughter Pen, which offers both a single track trail and a freestyle area. Pinnacle Mountain State Park offers a wilderness float trip on the Little Maumelle, just minutes away from Little Rock. White River National Wildlife Refuge in east Arkansas at ninety miles in length, is the largest in the state. People from all over the world come to "the Crater" near Murfreesboro in search of diamonds because it's the only diamond producing site in the world open to the public.

As part of the Buffalo National River Region, "Thunder Canyon" Falls is one of the more lesser known waterfalls in the area and requires a bit of a hike to get to it-but well worth it. Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge near Crossett is home to the endangered red cockaded woodpecker Delta Heritage Trail State Park near West Helena is a rails to trails conversion, offering a unique look at the Delta. At Goose Pond Natural Area near Atkins, one can kayak through an enchanting cypress tupelo swamp environment.

Southeast of Fayetteville, in the Ozark National Forest , the Mill Creek Multi Use Trail offers an adventure for just about everyone - especially ATV enthusiasts. Gunner Pool and Barkshed Recreation Areas near Mountain View offer their own unique camping and swimming adventure. The Ivory Billed Woodpecker was rediscovered in 2004 but has yet to be seen again A canoe trip through the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge takes viewers to the general area where it was last spotted. n of Jasper in an experimental forest lies a hidden gem-the Koen Interpretive Nature Trail

The largest big cat refuge in the world happens to be near Eureka Springs-which rescues distressed big cats throughout the U.S. Great Egrets and gators are some of the wildlife you can see at Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Texarkana. Two lesser known trails at Pinnacle Mountain State Park offer unique opportunities-along the Kingfisher Trail you hike amongst giants-huge 600 year old cypress trees. A perfect ending to a summer evening is kayaking at sunset on DeGray Lake near Arkadelphia.

Balloon pilots from across the state gather in Harrison once a year during the annual balloon festival to determine who's the best of the best in this high adventure sport. One of the finest fishing and boating destinations in the nation can be found at Bull Shoals Lake and the White River-not to mention camping, mountain biking, a butterfly garden and a wildflower meadow. A unique auto tour in the Ouachita National Forest near Mt. Ida leads to Crystal Vista itself, offering beautiful views and of course, crystals. At Bird Island in the middle of Lake Ouachita, boaters can enjoy a spectacular display of nature during late summer, as tens of thousands of purple martins converge before flying to South America.

What has been enjoyed in Costa Rica is now available in the Natural State - a zipline canopy tour at Ponca. Along with deer, bear and elk in Arkansas, elephants also make their home in the state thanks to a unique sanctuary near Guy. There are several secluded fishing lakes in the Ouachita National Forest-and in most cases, you can enjoy them all to yourself. Also, nothing beats a trail ride and a Western cookout at sunset, which can be experienced at Chief Whitehorse Ranch near Mayflower.