11 Off The Beaten Path Towns in the Ozarks
The best small towns in the Ozarks lie well off the beaten path. Beaver, Arkansas, has fewer than 100 residents and a one-lane swinging bridge over the White River. Wild horses graze the fields around Eminence, Missouri. In the far corner of Kansas, Baxter Springs claims the state's only miles of Route 66. Each one trades crowds for room to roam.
Beaver, Arkansas
Beaver, Arkansas, lies where the White River reaches the westernmost edge of Table Rock Lake, close to the Missouri border. A one-lane suspension bridge crosses the river here, known locally as the Golden Gate of the Ozarks. The bridge dates to the early 20th century and gives long views up and down the water.
Fewer than 100 people live here. The Town of Beaver Trail follows the shoreline past campgrounds and fishing spots on the lake. Castle Rogue's Manor, a castle that took more than 20 years to build, rises above the waterfront and offers guided tours.
Calico Rock, Arkansas
Calico Rock, Arkansas, lines a bluff above the White River. The water brings trout fishing, guided float trips, and boating. City Rock Bluff gives the widest view over the river.
The Calico Rock Museum and Visitor Center traces the history of the old river port. Each September, the Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour brings local artists' studios into public view.
Eminence, Missouri
Eminence lies in southern Missouri on Jacks Fork, a tributary of the Current River. Canoes, kayaks, and tubes float the clear water below the bluffs. Hiking trails thread the surrounding hills, including the Lick Log Hollow Trail. Angeline Conservation Area and Echo Bluff State Park add more paths and wildlife nearby.
The wild horses of Shannon County roam free through the Ozark National Scenic Riverways nearby. A handful of small herds, descended from farm horses turned loose during the Depression, graze the grassy fields along the rivers. Federal law has protected them since 1996.
Ponca, Arkansas
Ponca, Arkansas, marks the center of the Buffalo National River country. The Buffalo National River carries canoes and kayaks past the town, through some of the least-developed land in the state.
The town also serves as a base for the limestone bluffs and trails of the Ponca Wilderness and Boxley Valley. Elk herds graze the valley floor, most often at dawn and dusk. Cabins on the ridges above Ponca take in the sunrise, the sunset, and clear night skies.
Jasper, Arkansas
Known for quiet and open country, Jasper, Arkansas, lies on the Little Buffalo River inside the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. The forest brings hiking, climbing, and mountain biking within a few miles of downtown. The Koen Interpretive Trail and the Round Top Mountain Trail both start close to town.
South of Jasper, Scenic Highway 7 climbs to the overlook known as the Arkansas Grand Canyon. The deep valley spreads out below, widest and most colorful at sunrise and sunset.
Baxter Springs, Kansas
Baxter Springs occupies the small corner of the Ozarks that reaches into southeastern Kansas, right on the Oklahoma line. The Spring River passes through town, with fishing and camping at Kiwanis Park and Riverside Park.
The Battle of Baxter Springs took place here in 1863, during the Civil War. The Baxter Springs Historical Museum lays out that history. Kansas claims only 13 miles of Route 66. The Route 66 Visitors Center in town tells that stretch's story.
Grove, Oklahoma
Grove, Oklahoma, fronts the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, one of the largest lakes in the state. The Honey Creek Area of Grand Lake State Park brings hiking, camping, and swimming to the shoreline. In October, the park hosts the Pelican Festival, with a parade, art vendors, and boat tours to see the birds.
Lendonwood Gardens spreads across eight acres of paths and plant collections open for self-guided tours. Rotary Veterans Park adds a playground and picnic grounds closer to the center of town.
Salem, Missouri
Salem, Missouri, lies inside the Mark Twain National Forest, near the headwaters of the Current River. Montauk State Park protects that spring-fed stretch, known across the state for its trout fishing and its restored 1890s gristmill.
The Shawnee Mac Lakes Conservation Area centers on two lakes, Ziske and Turner. Both bring fishing. Short trails and primitive campsites round out the visit.
Pocahontas, Arkansas
Pocahontas, Arkansas, lies on the Black River, in a county where several rivers meet. The water makes for easy fishing and boating. Overlook Park frames the riverfront from a paved walking path.
The Eddie Mae Herron Center, set in a one-room schoolhouse, preserves the area's African-American history. The Randolph County Heritage Museum traces the wider county story and charges no admission.
Norfork, Arkansas
Norfork, Arkansas, lies in the north-central hills, where the North Fork River meets the White River. The confluence brings trout anglers year-round. Norfork also ranks among the oldest settled towns in Arkansas. Pioneer Days marks that history each May.
The Matney Knob Trail climbs to wide views over the valley. Highway 341 takes the same scenery by car, along a slow drive through the hills.
Van Buren, Missouri
Van Buren, Missouri, counts fewer than 1,000 residents on the banks of the Current River. Van Buren Riverfront Park gives easy access to the water for fishing and boating. Just south of town, Big Spring pushes out one of the largest daily flows of any spring in the country.
The spring, its lodge, and its campground now belong to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Created in 1964, it was the first national park unit set aside to protect a wild river system.
The Quiet Side of the Ozarks
The Ozarks reward anyone willing to leave the main highways. Calico Rock lines a bluff above the White River, with trout below and artists' studios above. Jasper looks out on the Arkansas Grand Canyon a few miles south of its courthouse square. Van Buren guards Big Spring and the first river system the country ever set aside as a park. None of these towns are big. That is the point. A weekend here trades crowds and ticket lines for open water, empty trails, and dark night skies.
