Time for some Arkansas Adventures! So about 2 weeks after returning from Colorado with my husband, I got to take a kayak trip with some co-workers to Glenwood, Arkansas. I want people to know that vacations don’t always have to be across the country, and sometimes the perfect destination is only a couple hours away. And let’s face it, I don’t always have the money to travel half way around the world, so any place I haven’t been yet is a new adventure!
I’ll be honest…I’ve had a shallow opinion of Arkansas until recently, used to think it was dumpy and associated it with kissing cousins, really just another Southern state with not too much to offer…but it has since proven me wrong and definitely lives up to it’s motto: “The Natural State”
Coming back recently from Colorado, it’s hard to impress me with beautiful scenery and mountains, but Arkansas hangs in there! And made me miss CO even more! I want to come back with my husband soon to scope it out for possible places to move.
Where we stayed
The actual town of Glenwood, AR is a little dumpy with not too much to offer beside the canoe company along the Caddo River and some nice cabins. But to be honest, you really don’t need a whole lot when you go to a place like this, other than remembering to relax and have fun! The 3 of us booked this cute little cabin on stilts right on the river with a stunning view over the tree tops! Not to mention the pool and porch swing – this place was the perfect backdrop for a relaxing weekend getaway!
I’d definitely recommend this company if you’re coming to the area…fully furnished and clean cabins of various sizes depending on how much space you need. This same company also operates the main canoe rental location for the area, so kinda a one-stop-shop for everything during our stay.
What we did
After getting settled in our cabin, we went for a hike up to The Blue Hole in Hopper, AR, a known swimming hole just outside of Glenwood. There is a small fee (according to a sign) to swim, although there was no one there when we went 😉 A moderate, but rocky 5-10 minute hike will get you this stunning view overlooking the swimming hole! The mountains in the background are really the icing on the cake!
We also drove to the neighboring Albert Pike Recreational Area in the Ouachita National Forest to see Little Missouri Falls. There is a trail to hike around Albert Pike that leads to Little MO, but we drove close to the falls and surprisingly had it all to ourselves! The water level was down, so there were just a few small waterfalls, but that made it easier to climb around.
Albert Pike is beautiful and seems like the perfect place for camping, but a few years ago, a flash flood killed over 20 people, so it’s only open during the day now. No overnight camping allowed.
The next day, we spent kayaking on the Caddo River with a group of girls. The river was pretty chill and not too crowded, so you could go a while without seeing anyone else. Also my first time in a kayak-definitely easier to control than a canoe! Caddo River has some good swimming and fishing spots and some Class I & II rapids to push you along. We ended the weekend grilling burgers on the deck overlooking the Ouachita Mountains!
Southwest Arkansas definitely has some beautiful scenery and mountains to offer travelers, so don’t underestimate it. I was surprised that someplace so close to my hometown (only a 3 hour drive) had such a different landscape. Another popular destination in SW Arkansas is historic Hot Springs, a spa town in Ouachita National Forest that features 19th & 20th century bath houses, a theme park, gardens, and lot of other family stuff to do! It’s another great weekend getaway spot for people in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, and I’ve been there a handful of times growing up! The bottom line is that I love to travel no matter if it’s across world or just a few hours away from home! And I’ll take any opportunity!
Do you have a favorite spot in Arkansas?? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!
Down the Highway My Way 
One thought on “Southwest Arkansas”