2025's Towns In Arkansas That Come Alive In The Fall
There is no better place to enjoy leaf peeping this year than Arkansas, especially because much of the state has recently picked up steady, soaking rainfall, meaning leaves are holding on stronger heading into October. And make no mistake: The Natural State can decide to enact an electrifying colour show when it wants. You may think you are somewhere in Vermont or the Berkshires. So, pick up your camera and be on time for memorable fall adventures. The following are 2025's towns in Arkansas that come alive in the Fall.
Winslow
Winslow is a cute, but tiny town about 50 miles south of Bentonville that transforms into a magical destination when the fall season touches down. No surprises here, especially because Winslow is in the Ozarks, where the season often comes with a burst of yellows, oranges, and fiery red hues, starting from late October. You will want to ride the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad, a 3-hour trip from Van Buren to Winslow that features the most spectacular views of the Ozarks and the surrounding landscapes. Alternatively, Devil's Den State Park is just west of town and is beautifully nestled in Lee Creek Valley with several winding trails to explore. Keep in mind that Devil's Den State Park is often ranked as the best park in the entire state. If you have the nerve and the verve, climb to the top of White Rock Mountain, and sip in 360-degree views of the surrounding scenery when perched high up in the clouds, at more than 2,000 feet above sea level. The views here are incredibly beautiful.
Jasper
Jasper is traditionally a leaf-peeper’s destination, and the vibrant hues typically peak from late October to the first week of November, with October 28th predicted to be the most probable climax. The Little Buffalo River runs through the town and provides a superb setting for leaf viewings. Meanwhile, the Autumn Color Tour lights up the town on the fourth Friday in October and celebrates the area's scenic beauty through several fun-filled events and activities, including visiting townships and learning about the local heritage. Take up the chance to explore the Round Top Mountain Trail, conveniently located about 2 miles south of town, or aim for Scenic Point, especially to savor the breathtaking views of the Ozark Mountains. The other trick is to fill your car tank and cruise along Highway 7 Scenic Drive. You don't have to do the entire drive, just limit yourself to the section along the Arkansas Grand Canyon between Jasper and Russellville.
Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs is also in the Ozarks, and although famous for its beautiful Victorian architecture, it offers several other inducements, including paranormal opportunities, numerous natural springs, and spellbinding outdoor beauty. A big name in the vacation landscape, Eureka Springs is just south of the Missouri-Arkansas border. Gorgeous to a fault, the town doubles up as a leaf-peepers’ paradise, meaning you can catch jaw-dropping displays of golds and yellows in several spots around town, including at the Lake Leatherwood City Park, which boasts seven downhill biking trails and a clean spring-fed lake.
The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can also aim for Whittaker Point, a drenchingly beautiful area with amazing views on almost every side. Just don't take 5,000 pictures because you will be tempted to. Thorncrown Chapel is one of Eureka Springs's defining attractions, and the woods around the vicinity often blaze with color, especially when autumn is at its peak. The Original Ozark Festival, the longest-running folk festival in America, lights up the town in early September and informally acts as a season-opener.
Paris
It does not matter whether it is in Europe or the United States, any town called Paris will evoke a craving for adventure, for a vacation, for discovery. Like its European namesake, Paris, Arkansas, offers a blend of natural beauty, historic sites, and a variety of recreational activities, making it an ideal fall destination. The town's setting at the base of Mount Magazine is a bonus and enhances its outdoor appeal. Mount Magazine is the highest point in the state and the centerpiece of Mount Magazine State Park, where tourists enjoy sweeping vistas of the Arkansas River Valley and several photo-ops.
The trees in the park, the oaks and dogwoods, often present a colour show that can be quite heart-stirring. In the town square, the 25-foot Eiffel Tower is a quirky photo-op, especially with leaves turning bright around it. Another excellent site is Subiaco Abbey, a peaceful retreat surrounded by a pastoral landscape with greenery and trees. To cap it all, Cove Lake Recreation Area, a secluded nature spot in the foothills of Mount Magazine, will make your brain pump all the happy hormones.
Hot Springs
It is hard to find a town as unique as Hot Springs, with a quirky national park right in the heart of town. You will love Hot Springs for several reasons. You will love its spa culture and historic bathhouses; its interesting history, especially its association with gangsters and gambling, and above all, its heart-warming outdoor appeal. Every fall, nature paints the landscape around Hot Springs in bright, blazing hues, making the whole area come alive with a burbly spirit. Explore Hot Springs National Park, especially at the historic Bathhouse Row, where a dramatic colour show often blends nicely with the austere grandeur of the historic buildings.
There's the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, which goes up more than 200 feet, and provides sweeping views of the surrounding scenery in all its technicolour glory. Not just that. A short drive from town, you will find several outdoor pleasure spots with gasp-inducing views, including Falls Branch Trail in Lake Catherine State Park, and Caddo Bend Trail in Lake Ouachita State Park, which features one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in America.
Clarksville
Clarksville is between the Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains, and you know what that means if you are a leaf peeper. It is right at the base of the Ozarks and a few miles north of the Arkansas River and Lake Dardanelle, which has one of the most consistent bass habitats in the Arkansas River system. Although close to the highway and a Walmart, Spadra Park often feels like another world. Other than the trains that occasionally rumble around, the place is incredibly calm and peaceful.
Also, while Strawberry Bluffs is known as one of the best locations around for sunset viewing, the whole area can blaze with colour if you catch the season at its peak. That said, the star of the show is the Ozark National Forest, which, fortunately, is just in the backyard. The forest has some heart-ravishing trails to explore, including the Pedestal Rocks Loop Trail, a 2.2-mile beauty with some unique rock formations. There is the Annual Harvest Days Festival, which brightens up the town every first Saturday in October, and the Arkansas Wine Trail, a fun way to explore the lush, colorful vineyards around Clarksville.
Van Buren
Named for the eighth president of the United States, Van Buren reclines on the Arkansas River directly opposite Fort Smith. Life here is slow and relaxing, the go-to place for decompressing. Ozark National Forest is a famous autumn wonderland, and sections of it lie to the north of town and can make for fantastic leaf-peeping destinations. The trick is to swing by from the second weekend of October, especially if you want to catch the Fall Festival Tradin’ Days, when the streets become flooded with local merchants displaying handmade crafts and other interesting collectibles. There's the 3-hour train ride from Van Buren to Winslow on the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad, which features some of the most unforgettable fall scenery in the entire state. Alternatively, an escape to the Lee Creek Reservoir Recreation Area, a lovely space with lots of shade trees and awesome trails, will be quite rewarding.
That's how Arkansas will treat you well. Whether you want to cruise along a scenic road, wander through picturesque forest trails, or attend a fun-filled festival with tours and tunes, fall in Arkansas can be quite enjoyable. The good thing is that the air is often a tad cooler, just what you need to get out and enjoy the views. Although a thundering waterfall is awe-inspiring, no words can describe the heart-glowing charm of fiery golds or blazing blues.
