Mount Magazine State Park

Mount Magazine's summit, called Signal Hill, is the highest point in Arkansas, topping out at just over 2,750 feet above sea level. Though modest by the standards of the western mountains, it rises dramatically above the Arkansas River Valley, giving it a commanding presence and a genuinely mountain feel that surprises many first-time visitors to the state.

The mountain is a striking example of a mesa-like landform in the region, a flat table of resistant sandstone capping softer rock that has eroded away around it, leaving the summit standing high while the land below wore down. That hard cap is what gives Mount Magazine its broad flat top and its steep, bluff-rimmed edges, and it sets the mountain apart from the folded ridges of the nearby Ouachitas.

The rim of the summit plateau is lined with bluffs and overlooks that deliver sweeping views across the river valley, with Blue Mountain Lake shining below and the ridges of the Ouachitas rolling off to the south. Several overlooks are reached by short walks, making the mountain's signature vistas accessible to almost anyone.

Those same bluffs draw the adventurous. Mount Magazine is one of the premier hang gliding sites in the region, and on breezy days gliders launch from the cliffs to ride the air currents above the valley. The mountain's rock faces also attract climbers, and its trails range from easy overlook strolls to longer, rugged hikes down the slopes, giving the park a rare mix of comfort and challenge.

The mountain's isolation and elevation make it a haven for wildlife and plants, some of them found in few other places in Arkansas. Black bears range the slopes, along with white-tailed deer, bobcats, and a rich variety of birds that take advantage of the varied habitats from summit glade to shaded ravine.

Mount Magazine is especially celebrated among naturalists for its butterflies and wildflowers. The mountain's meadows and glades host dozens of butterfly species, and the park has become known as a butterfly-watching destination, while spring and summer bring successive waves of wildflowers to the summit and slopes. It is a place botanists and lepidopterists return to again and again.

Spring brings wildflowers, mild weather, and the return of the mountain's butterflies, one of the best times to explore the trails and glades. Summer stays noticeably cooler on the summit than in the valley below, making the mountaintop a welcome escape from the Arkansas heat, with long green views from the overlooks.

Fall sets the surrounding valley and slopes ablaze with color, and the clear air brings out the mountain's long-distance views at their finest. Winter is quiet and can turn genuinely cold and icy on the exposed summit, occasionally dusting the mountain with snow and rime, so hikers should check conditions before heading up.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.