mount magazine state park lodge – rocky mountain tot

Mount Magazine State Park Hikes and Overlooks

Mount Magazine State Park is in Paris, Arkansas which is two hours south of our home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We recently booked a cabin for a weekend stay which I wrote about here.

There is a lot to do and see in Mount Magazine State Park. Of course one of our favorite activities is hiking. This area is also a great place to go on an afternoon drive to take in the mountain views.

Highest Point in Arkansas: Signal hill – 2,753 ft.

Our cabin was located right across the street from the Signal Hill trail head. I expected more views on this trail, so I was slightly disappointed, but it is still fun to say that we hiked to the highest point in the state of Arkansas. The hike is 1.5 miles in length.

As you might expect by the name, the hike climbed up hill. We enjoyed the white wildflowers along the path.

old lodge trail: Danger high cliff

This trail is not listed on the park’s hiking brochure, so I’m not sure if I should even recommend it. My husband and I took turns going on the Old Lodge Trail without our children. The trail was not well maintained, but it is short, and the overlook is impressive.

benefield trail

This hike is divided into two loops. The East Loop is 1.1 miles long and has views of Bear Hollow, the Ouachita Mountains, and the Petit Jean River Valley. The West Loop is .9-miles and connects to the Mossback Ridge Trail.

petite jean valley overlook

Down the road from the Benefield trails, there is a pull off on Highway 309 with incredible views of the Petite Jean Valley. The pictures were taken on a foggy day, so I imagine that the views are typically even more impressive.

Cameron BlufF Overlook Drive

The overlooks on Cameron Bluff Drive were breath taking. This spot has me dreaming about going back to Mount Magazine later this fall. I bet the autumn colors in this area are amazing!

All the hikes we chose were short and fun. I liked the mini hikes because it allowed us to explore several different trails. We balanced hiking with other fun activities like swimming and going to a local brewery. I’ll write more about that on my next post.

Mount Magazine Cabins: Stay at The Highest Point in Arkansas

What is there to do in Mount Magazine State Park?

At 2,753 feet in elevation, Mount Magazine is the highest point in Arkansas. Visitors can enjoy recreational activities including hiking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, and hang gliding. Additional amenities include a restaurant and pool at the lodge.

Mount Magazine State Park is in Paris, Arkansas which is two hours south of our home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We recently booked a cabin for a weekend stay. We pulled up to the cabin and my first impression was that it was big and gorgeous and completely exceeded my expectations.

The cabin we rented had two bedrooms and two bathrooms along with a wraparound deck where we could take in the amazing views of the Petit Jean River Valley.

Stay at Cabins at Mount Magazine State Park

One of our favorite things about the cabin was the private hot tub. We enjoyed relaxing under the stars each night. Additional outdoor amenities include a charcoal grille and picnic table.

What is there to do at Mount Magazine State Park?

Vaulted wood ceilings, a stone fireplace, and leather couches created a cozy atmosphere inside the cabin. There was a full kitchen where we could make our own meals.

mount magazine lodge

The cabins are spaced far enough a part that I felt we had enough privacy, but they are also close enough to the lodge that it is easy (and beautiful) to walk there. The lodge has sixty guest rooms and fabulous amenities including an indoor swimming pool and a gift shop.