Arkansas in Fall: Foliage, Road Trips & Festivals

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The Natural State is known for its mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and hot springs, making the fall an ideal time to visit Arkansas. If you especially love the outdoors and foliage, bookmark this guide for planning.

Arkansas is also featured on our USA bucket list.

Northern Arkansas in the Fall

Ozark National Forest

The Ozark-St. Francis National Forest is made up of two distinct areas, covering both the north (Ozark Forest) and the east (St. Francis Forest).

There are several trails, including the 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail, but if you don’t want to commit to that length of hike, you can check out the 1.1-mile Alum Cove Trail.

Other activities include canoeing, biking, and camping.

Several camping areas in the forest are open all year round, perfect for those who dream of waking up under foliage.

Zipline through the Ozark Mountains 

Head to Eureka Springs to experience the Ozark Mountain Ziplines (208 W Van Buren), which offers tours among the treetops.

There are 10 different zipline paths and one balance bridge that overlooks the canopy.

Go on a Fall Foliage Hike to Hawksbill Crag 

Located in the Ozark National Forest, Hawksbill Crag on Whitaker Point Trail offers a scenic overlook perfect for photographing the autumnal scene.

You can reach this rock formation, which juts out over the colorful forest below, by hiking three miles from the road.

Take an Arkansas Fall Foliage Road Trip

The Ozark Scenic Byway goes through the Ozark Highlands and is an excellent fall foliage road trip route.

See all of the fall hues on the trees and experience five major streams flowing through the Highlands.

The Ozark Scenic Byway is 35 miles long and can be combined with other outdoor activities in the area.

To help you prepare for your adventure, check out our road trip packing list essentials.

See the Natural Wonders of Glory Hole Falls

The Glory Hole Waterfalls are one of the most unique places in the state and were formed when water fell below an overhanging bluff, carving out a hole over time.

You can peek through the hole below the bluff to see the waters falling down and enjoy the forest in its fall colors.

The area also has a 1.9-mile (round-trip distance) moderately difficult hiking trail.

Catch the Twin Falls Surrounded by Fall Foliage

Twin Falls are found in the Ozarks National Forest’s Richland Creek Wilderness, which has a few miles of hiking trails and a couple of unnamed scenic lookouts.

The area has a 5.1-mile trail (round-trip distance) that takes approximately two hours to explore.

Central Arkansas in the Fall

Pick Your Own Apples

Cadron Crest Orchard (86 Mode Rd, Guy) offers a variety of apples in the fall that you can pick yourself.

If you go early enough in September, you can pick both apples and the late crop of summer peaches.

Enjoy a Hike and Go Kayaking at Petit Jean State Park 

Petit Jean State Park (1285 Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton) is a great place to visit if you are interested in experiencing the fall foliage from the forest and the water.

Rent a boat and enjoy the many waterways and waterfalls.

Take a Fall Hike at the Pinnacle Mountain State Park

Head to the Pinnacle Mountain State Park in fall (11901 Pinnacle Valley Rd, Roland) which is home to miles of hiking trails and lookouts surrounding Pinnacle Mountain.

There are around 22 miles of trails that range from easy to hard.

One of the most popular trails is the Pinnacle Mountain West Summit Trail, featuring a 1.5-mile difficult hike that takes more than an hour to complete- but offers some great sights along the way.

At the top, Pinnacle Mountain offers some of the best views in Central Arkansas.

Visit the Central Arkansas Library

If you want to take a break from the outdoors during your fall adventure, head to the Central Arkansas Library System.

The library has around fifteen branches all over Arkansas, with the Main Library located in downtown Little Rock.

You can find interactive activities such as author talks, art exhibitions, and film showings.

There’s also a specialized facility around the Main Library area called The Ron Robinson Theater, which hosts programs such as musical performances and plays.

Check the library’s events calendar to discover what activities and events are hosted there in the autumn.

Go on a Haunted Walking Tour of Little Rock

Haunted Arkansas Tours offers a variety of walking tours that take an inside look at Little Rock’s most haunted and spooky places.

An expert tour guide will take you around the city, where you’ll discover the area’s interesting history and legends.

They also host the Boos and Brews tour on special occasions, which combines a haunted tour with a pub tour.

Pick a Pumpkin from Motley’s Pumpkin Patch

Motley’s Pumpkin Patch (13724 Sandy Ann Drive, Little Rock) has all sorts of fall fun for the whole family.

Pick a pumpkin, hop aboard the tractor-drawn hay rides, and try all kinds of fall treats at the farm.

Visit the Hot Springs Bathhouse Row 

If you’re looking to warm yourself up from the crisp autumn air, why not visit Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the fall?

Among the area’s highlights is Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Spring, home to eight historic bathhouses named Hale, Lamar, Maurice, Buckstaff, Fordyce, Ozark, Quapaw, and Superior.

The site features stunning bathhouse structures and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

You can round out your visit with a soak in the naturally heated 102-degree mineral water of the Buckstaff Bathhouse, which has operated since 1912.

The water comes from the 47 springs of Hot Springs Mountain and is enjoyed by tourists and locals looking for therapeutic and relaxing baths.

See the Fall Foliage at Garvan Woodland Gardens 

Garvan Woodland Gardens (550 Arkridge Road, Hot Springs) is a huge botanical garden owned by the University of Arkansas.

With preserved local flora, the Garvan Woodland Gardens is a great place to stroll and enjoy the Arkansas fall colors.

The grounds of this botanical garden are filled with rare plants that you can only see in the preserved environment.

Bike Ride in the Ouachita Mountains 

Pedal your way through the Ouachita National Recreation Trail (Mena), which spans 108 miles, or the Womble Trail (Mt Ida Township), measuring 37 miles, and the 45-mile Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (Hot Springs).

Western Arkansas in the Fall

Visit the Mountain Lodge at Queen Wilhelmina State Park 

Head to Queen Wilhelmina State Park (3877 Highway 88 W., Mena), which features a great lookout from the second-highest mountain peak in the state at almost 3,000 feet high.

The refurbished lodge, Castle in the Sky, is near the top of the mountain and offers great views of the fall foliage below. 

Take the Talimena Scenic Drive 

Want to know where to find more of Mena, Arkansas fall foliage? 

The Talimena National Scenic Byway (Arkansas Highway 88) stretches up the entire Western border and offers one of Arkansas’s best fall foliage drives.

This hilly byway will take you in and out of the Ouachita National Forest, full of 54 miles of fall foliage.

A day trip up this scenic byway will give you your fill of fall colors and autumn weather.

Hunt for Diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park

The Crater of Diamonds State Park (209 State Park Rd, Murfreesboro) is the only diamond mine in the world open to the public.

Prospecting for diamonds is a perfect way to get outside in the fall weather.

Even better, you get to keep all of the diamonds you find.

Go for a Fall Fishing Trip at Millwood Lake 

Millwood Lake in Millwood State Park (1564 Hwy. 32 East, Ashdown) is a great place to take a fall fishing trip.

Fall offers a lower chance that alligators will be present and the fish will be biting.

See all of the Arkansas fall foliage while you watch for the Arkansas state fish, the Alligator Gar.

Learn the Legend of the Boggy Creek Monster

If you’re looking for something to do in the fall just in time for Halloween, visit the Fouke Monster Mart (104 Highway 71, Fouke) and learn more about the legend of the Fouke Monster.

The monster was said to have been first sighted in the town of Fouke and made famous by the 1973 movie Legend of the Boggy Creek.

Complete your visit by buying some shirts or gifts inspired by the Boggy Creek Monster.

Fall Festivals in Arkansas

The following list explores fall festivals and events to look forward to on your next visit to Arkansas.

The Hillberry Harvest Moon Festival 

The Hillberry Harvest Moon Festival (Eureka Springs) is a fall music fest every October.

Hosted in the Mark Twain National Forest, this music festival is a great way to hear live music while enjoying the mild fall weather that Eureka Springs has to offer.

Join the four-day festival in the Ozark hills filled with 2 stages of bluegrass music, food, and fall fun at The Harvest Moon Festival.

Hillcrest Harvestfest 

The Hillcrest Harvestfest in Little Rock is a full day of fall fun for the whole family.

This festival has something for everyone, from live music to arts and crafts.

You can also find plenty of food trucks or sample craft beer around the area.

Timberfest 

Timberfest (Sheridan) is an annual lumberjack festival that takes place every October in downtown Sheridan.

Watch lumberjacks participate in various competitions while relishing all the food you can find from vendors in the area and all the fun in the event.

Timberfest even includes a parade, a 5k fun run, and many games for people of all ages.

The King Biscuit Blues Festival

If you love the blues, add the King Biscuit Blues Festival to your list of festivals to join.

The festival, held every October on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Helena, features performances by various blues musicians.

The event also features a 5k run, a bicycle race, a barbecue contest, and an arts and crafts expo.