Arkansas

Arkansas offers hiking and mountain biking in the Ozarks and Ouachitas, float-trips on clear rivers, world-class cycling trails, and diamond hunting at the only public diamond mine in the U.S. Hot Springs National Park, the Buffalo National River, Crater of Diamonds State Park, and the Ozark and Ouachita national forests anchor it.

Spring (April–May) brings waterfalls and wildflowers, and fall (October–November) delivers excellent Ozark color and crisp hiking. Summers are hot and humid; floating cool rivers is the antidote.

Black bears (the state was once called the 'Bear State'), white-tailed deer, elk reintroduced along the Buffalo River, and abundant bass and trout inhabit Arkansas, a major waterfowl wintering ground in the Delta.

Upland oak-hickory and pine forests, clear Ozark streams, and the bottomland hardwoods and wetlands of the Delta create a varied landscape rich in aquatic life.

The Ozark Plateau and Ouachita Mountains dominate the north and west with ancient folded rock, caves, and clear spring-fed rivers (2,753-ft Mount Magazine is the high point), while the Mississippi Delta flattens the east; Hot Springs' geothermal waters rise along a fault at about 143°F.

The Caddo, Osage, and Quapaw peoples lived here before removal. Hot Springs' thermal waters drew people for centuries and became a federal reservation in 1832 — a precursor to the national park idea. Arkansas became a state in 1836.

Float-fishing, the spa heritage of Hot Springs, and a booming mountain-biking scene (Bentonville has become a global mountain-bike hub) define the state's outdoor culture.

Protecting the free-flowing Buffalo River from agricultural pollution and conserving Ozark streams and elk habitat are central efforts.

Little Rock is the main airport; Northwest Arkansas (Bentonville/Fayetteville) serves the Ozarks and the mountain-bike trails. A vehicle is essential for the rural parks and rivers.

Summer heat and humidity, flash floods on the rivers, and ticks and chiggers are the main concerns. Watch for venomous snakes, and check river levels before floating.

State parks charge no general entrance fee, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission administers licenses; Crater of Diamonds lets you keep what you find for a dig fee.

Check river levels before floating the Buffalo.

Float the Buffalo River in spring for the best water levels, ride the Bentonville trails, hunt for real diamonds at Crater of Diamonds, and soak in the historic Hot Springs bathhouses.

Arkansas borders Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, linking the Ozarks with the Mississippi River and the southern plains.