Summary
It is the highest point in the state with an elevation of 2,753 feet and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and forests. There are numerous hiking trails, camping sites, and cabins available for visitors to stay and explore the area. Points of interest include the Cameron Bluff Overlook, the Mossback Ridge Trail, and the Signal Hill Trail, which is an easy hike to the highest point in Arkansas. Interesting facts about the park include its history as a former summer resort for wealthy families and the presence of endangered species such as the Ozark big-eared bat. The best time to visit is typically during the fall season when the leaves change color and the temperatures are mild.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Mount Magazine State Park
Cameron Bluff
Cove Lake Recreation Area
Cove Lake Complex
Waveland - Blue Mountain Lake
Outlet Area - Blue Mountain Lake