Want to pretend like you’re the star of a TV Show? Visit the Arkansas Ozarks and you can imagine you’re Jason Bateman. However, the Ozarks are a very large, rugged mountain range that begin near St Louis Missouri and sprawl through the state of Arkansas. There are many different state parks, waterfalls, hikes, and things to see in the Ozarks. You could spend a weekend focusing on each park. Most things are a considerable distance away from each other, so you’ll have to decide what areas interest you most for two days in the Arkansas Ozarks.
We had two days in the Ozarks and I didn’t know what to expect, but we were blown away! Of the 46 states I have visited, Arkansas is by far the most underrated. Craggy mountain tops jut out amongst the thick forest floors. I cannot wait to go back to see even more of this wonderful landscape. If you only have a weekend to explore the Arkansas Ozarks and want to see the highlights then follow this guide!
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Table of Contents
Two Great Days in Arkansas
Day 1 in the Arkansas Ozarks:
If you only have two days in the Arkansas Ozarks, you’ll want to get an early start to see as much as you can. We were there in the late fall, so we had to take advantage of all the daylight hours we could. We got up and started moving right away.
Sam’s Throne
So technically, we didn’t end up on the Sam’s Throne trail, because we couldn’t find the trailhead. Instead, we took part of the trail from the campground. We made our way along the rocky crags that lined the trail and were in awe of the beautiful landscapes.
For those who actually want to climb up to Sam’s Throne, you’ll need to find the trailhead in the middle of the campground. There is a little pile of rocks that marks the start of the trail next to a public camping site. This trail leads for 2.9 miles to some stunning panoramas of the area!
Lost Valley
Drive an hour and find yourself taking one of the most unique and remarkable hikes that I have ever been on. This hike starts like any ordinary trail, winding its way through the woods and along a river. About three quarters of a mile in, you’ll see rocky cliffs and a natural bridge. Many people stop here, but trust me you should keep going up the hill and into the cave.
Once you enter the cave, you’ll crawl on your hands and knees through the dark. This can be a bit frightening and challenging, but it’s doable if you bring a headlamp. At the very end of the cave you’ll be rewarded by seeing a waterfall that seems to magically bust out of the cave’s walls. It’s incredible and I highly recommend this hike!
Hawksbill Crag and Whitaker Point
From Lost Valley, drive half an hour away to the most famous spot in the Arkansas Ozarks. In order to get to the trail, you’ll have to drive six miles up the mountain over rocky unpaved roads. This drive is pretty frightening if you don’t have a four wheel drive vehicle. Dylan and I were holding our breath and hoping our van would make it up the road.
Arrive early to avoid the crowds and to get a parking spot that isn’t half a mile away from the trailhead. We were lucky enough to leave when a few people were leaving, so we snagged a spot right near the start.
The trail starts through the forest and goes down the mountain for about a mile. Once you get to the end you’ll see the famous Whitaker Point. Here, you’ll find stunning panoramic views over the Ozarks and plenty of people lining up for a picture. Sit on the rocks nearby and take in the views while you wait for a turn at the point. This is a great spot to watch the sun go down and end the day.
Day 2 In the Ozarks
On your second day, you can take things a little slower and do less driving. This way you won’t get overtired and you can take your time exploring the beautiful areas.
Lake Dardanelle State Park
We actually ended here on night one, because we were driving by and we felt compelled to stop there. We ended up paying to stay at the campground, because we wanted to watch the sunrise over the lake.
If you don’t stay the night, make sure to stop in the morning. It’s a gorgeous lake that seems to go on for miles. You can fish, swim, or kayak through the serene lake waters. Stop and spend a few hours on the lake shores, soaking in the sun and taking in the views.
Mount Nebo State Park
After you’ve got your fill of relaxing by the lake, you can half an hour further south. This park is located at the very top of a mountain in the Ozarks. I loved staring out the windows as the road made its way up the winding road.
At the top, go for a hike around the Rim trail. This trail goes all the way around the mountain and there are plenty of areas to stop and enjoy the scenery that unfolds below. You can shorten this hike by just doing a little of it or stopping at the sunset or sunrise points at either end of the mountain for a photo op.
Closing Thoughts
Two days have come to an end, but there is so much more to see in Arkansas. If you have more time, think about going on a hike in Petit Jean State Park or soaking in a bath at Hot Springs National Park.
Let me know in the comments if you found this guide to the Ozarks helpful and pin it for later!
Oooh hiking in the Ozarks for a couple of days looks great fun! I LOVE places like Sam’s throne or Whittaker point when you are up high on cool rock formations looking down at the gorgeous scenery!! I also really like the idea of going for a soak in Hot Springs National Park afterwards!!
Soaking in the hot springs was the perfect way to end our weekend full of hiking. The views around the Ozarks were so beautiful!
I’ve been to Arkansas, but I didn’t get to go to the Ozarks! I really want to go to Mount Nebo, it looks like it has amazing views.
Mount Nebo had incredible views! We really enjoyed the rim trail so much more than we thought we would!
Arkansas seems like such an underrated location! I’m hoping to visit sometime next year on a road trip. Thanks so much for sharing these excellent spots I need to check out while I’m there! The views at Mount Nebo State Park look amazing.
We loved Mount Nebo State Park! We just took our time taking in the views as we meandered along the trail.
What a beautiful location. I didn’t know much about this area, but looking at your itinerary and photos I really want to visit. Especially want to complete the Lost Valley hike, it looks and sounds really cool! Thanks for sharing.
It was so unique! I had never done anything like it. My fiance was a little spooked in the cave, so I had to go first haha.
oh wow, those high points like Sam’s Throne are beautiful, love those endless views. We just drove through Arkansas on our road trip, but it’s definitely worth more time.
yes we had the best time visiting Arkansas!