Hiking up the path through a densely wooded region, the crisp, fall air had a bite to it that was both stinging, yet refreshing. The crunch of foliage underfoot was another hint to this time of year. But the next few steps around a curve of the path and into a clearing perched atop a hundred-foot cliff revealed a breathtaking, panoramic testimony that autumn was undoubtedly here. The surrounding rugged terrain was ablaze with a mosaic of red, orange, and yellow hues, while a churning white river below ferried cold mountain waters on a long journey that would eventually pour into the mighty Mississippi. It was a sight I’ll never forget and long to see again.
For those who love the great outdoors, there’s no better time to explore and reconnect with nature through a variety of activities than in the cool of autumn. With comfortable temperatures and incredibly colorful scenery, Mother Nature serves up a setting that’s hard to resist for outdoor adventurers and anyone else who enjoys being outside. While there are plenty of destinations that cater to this kind of vacation, one place in particular is quite underrated: the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.
The Ozarks stretch across the better part of northern Arkansas and spill into southern Missouri, northeast Oklahoma, and the southeastern tip of Kansas. The Springfield Plateau and Boston Mountains sections, which contain some of its most beautiful terrain, make for many adventurous Arkansas vacations. So forget about a stay in some highfalutin, urban New York hotel room—experience some wild outdoor excursions in the Natural State:
Caving
While the outside is breathtakingly beautiful, what’s beneath the terrain is even more so. The Ozarks offer several underground vistas, caves, and caverns that provide subterranean adventures of awe, imagination, science, and history at several different parks and attractions, including Mystic Caverns, Bull Shoals Caverns, and Blanchard Springs Caverns. Each step you take follows the footsteps of Native Americans, famous spelunkers, Civil War soldiers, and even saber-tooth tigers who all explored the “great indoors” beneath the Ozarks. I’ve come across many other smaller caves to be explored while hiking through the region as well–there is much to experience below the ground.
Fishing
A fishing paradise, the region offers the White and North Fork Rivers, which provide a bounty of trout from their cool waters year-round. Bull Shoals Lake and Lake Norfork, the region’s crystal-clear twin lakes, provide deep-water fishing either from the shore, by boat, or even via SCUBA gear and spears, while smallmouth bass, spotted bass, sunfish, and catfish populate the Buffalo National River, Crooked Creek, and countless mountain streams. Regardless of how or where you do it, the fish are always biting—in fact, Field & Stream magazine recently ranked the Ozark village of Mountain Home as the second best fishing town in the nation. The White River was a common fishing destination for my grandfather, and it never disappointed him.
Climbing
Forget about soaring high to a vacation destination on that cheap flight you booked. Take off and climb to new heights yourself by turning your outdoor adventure vertical with some of the best rock climbing in the central U.S. At the sandstone crags of the Buffalo National River Park, beginners can get instruction for scaling the 80-foot climbs, while seasoned wall-crawlers will enjoy sharpening their skills. Climbers of all abilities will enjoy the views from the top… Just don’t look down while on the wall.
Canoeing/Kayaking
The Buffalo is great for fishing, but even better for canoeing and kayaking. It meanders 150 miles across the Ozarks, offering spectacular views and currents that vary from white rapids to calm pools. The Ponca wilderness section serves up Class I and II rapids along with the sights of the towering 500-foot Big Bluff cliff and Hemmed-in-Hallow waterfall. This stretch, along with many others on the river, includes many popular swimming holes too.
Biking
Some people island hop on vacation. Others enjoy rock hopping. The bike trails in the Ozarks offer challenging excursions with inclines, many twists and turns, and downhill dives. The Buffalo National Forest is home to trails that once served as roads to homesteads all along scenic Highway 7, while the new Ozark Mountain Bicycle Trail courses bikers 40 miles through the Buffalo National River refuge, where pedal pumping will take you up Horn Mountain, past the waterfalls of Falling Water Creek, through the Richland Creek Valley, and to the tiny town of Snowball.
I’m ready to return to that spot with the incredible view this fall, with my bike, fishing pole, a kayak, and some rope in tow. The Ozarks of the Natural State are indeed a natural beauty to be enjoyed—especially this time of year.
Image credits: Amorgasaurus and Ar Mtn Grl via Flickr, Ozark Mountain Region
