Upcoming Trips to Arkansas

[dws1308]

We have two trips planned for this year to Arkansas, coming from the Dallas area.
First one is in June. We will be staying at Lake Catherine for a couple of days before we make our way up to Petit Jean for a week. Our plans are to visit the nearby parks of Mt Nebo, Lake Dardanelle, as well as a couple of COE campgrounds in that area if time permits.
Then in late October, the wife wants to travel to see the fall colors. That route has us doing an overnight stay at Lake Wister in OK, then on to Mt Magazine for a week, before we stop at Daisy State Park for a couple of days before heading back home.
It will be our first time to travel those areas and to visit those parks, so we are looking forward to it.
I've had some reservations regarding the roads and hills as we are pulling a 35' 5th wheel, but I think we'll be fine.
One stop I'd like to make in Poteau, OK is to see the worlds tallest hill, Cavanal Hill. Looks like it will be too much of a hassle to haul the RV up there and back down, just for a few minutes worth of viewing. I'm thinking we may park both truck and RV in the Wal-Mart parking lot and Uber up the hill.
POI from your travels in these areas would be welcomed.

 

[Onyrlef]

Both Petit Jean and Magazine are easily accessible by even the longest rigs. There are a few switchbacks going up Magazine but nothing you can't easily swing.
Arkansas has one of the best park systems in the country. Many of them from the CCC and WPA era. The trail down to the falls at Petit Jean was all CCC work.
There's a 12 mile hike from the old cabin site on Petit Jean that winds down through the several hollows that's really fun. When I was younger I used to run it. The several CCC built overlooks of the Arkansas River down below aren't to be missed as well. You're going to love it.

 

[Isaac-1]

Don't forget Queen Wilhelmina State Park as it is beside a 50+ mile long scenic drive, only issue is that it is small and right beside the highway and on the weekends this is a popular motorcycle tour route.

 

[dws1308]

Yeah, I've checked into QWSP and it's on our list of places to go, but I will try to avoid the weekend cruisers.
There are still several state parks there in Arkansas we'd like to visit, and Oklahoma as well.
We just got back from a week long trip to Lake Bistineau State Park in Louisiana. What a beautiful park, but I recommend you go in the cooler months to avoid the bugs.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

I've camped at Beaver Dam Site which proved to be lush and tranquil. Then Lake Ouachita with some travels through the Ouachita national forest which would probably offer some leaf peeping in the fall. The others were on my list but were booked. If what I got were the leftovers then these must be pretty remarkable, because I enjoyed where I stayed very much.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM