Located atop 2,753-foot Mount Magazine, the state's highest mountain, this scenic Arkansas state park was developed by Arkansas State Parks in the Mount Magazine Ranger District of the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests through a special use permit from the USDA Forest Service. The mountain offers sweeping vistas of broad river valleys, deep canyons, and distant mountains. Here the altitude, geography, and climate combine to create unique habitats for rare plants and animals. The elevation makes the mountaintop a cool place to be on hot summer days.
The Lodge at Mount Magazine, the park's magnificent, mountain resort lodge, features 60 guest rooms that all offer breathtaking views from Mount Magazine's south bluff of the Petit Jean River Valley and distant Blue Mountain Lake. Forty of these guest rooms include balconies and 17 offer spa tubs. Fine dining can be enjoyed in the lodge's Skycrest Restaurant where large windows frame the dramatic view from the bluff. The lodge also features a conference center, business center, indoor heated swimming pool, and fitness center.
Stretching along the bluff from both sides of the lodge are the park's 13 fully-equipped cabins. Each cabin features an outdoor hot tub on a covered deck that faces the sweeping view from the bluff.
The dramatic bluff setting and these first-class facilities combine to make Mount Magazine a destination for unforgettable vacations, getaways, business meetings and conferences, corporate retreats, weddings, and other events.
For lodge and cabin reservations call 1-877-665-6343 or go online at www.MountMagazineStatePark.com.
The park also offers a campground featuring 18 campsites [two Class AAA and 16 Class AA with Class B or Class D (tent only) options], hiking trails, overlooks, a pavilion, picnic area with restrooms, visitor center with exhibit gallery, and gift shop. Park interpreters present a wide variety of interpretive programs about the flora, fauna, and natural and cultural history of Mount Magazine.
The park is a place to enjoy sightseeing. It's a place for nature lovers, and for students of the natural sciences. It's a place to explore the mountain's rich history. And Mount Magazine is a destination for outdoor sports and extreme adventure enthusiasts.
The more adventuresome can go rock climbing, hang-gliding, biking, horseback riding, and riding along the ATV trails here.
Mount Magazine is the state parks system's most dramatic location for technical rock climbing. Traditional and sport climbing, and rappelling, are allowed in the park in a designated area on the mountain's south bluff that overlooks the Petit Jean River Valley. This 1,500-foot wide stretch of sandstone boasts over 100 routes up to 80 feet high, ranging from 5.5 to 5.12c in difficulty, with plenty in the 5.10 and under range. Climbers are required to register at the state park visitor center.
Hang gliders have flocked to Arkansas's highest point for many years. Rising high above the Petit Jean River Valley and Arkansas River Valley, 2,753-foot Mount Magazine has near perfect conditions for flight. Hang gliders must register each day at the park visitor center and be Class 4 certified to fly alone. A Class 3 flier can fly with a Class 4. Parking is available at the hang gliding launch site.
Arkansas's highest mountain at 2,753-feet, Mount Magazine is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts. For mountain bikers, the Huckleberry Mountain Trail is a challenging 34-mile trek down the mountain and into the adjacent Ozark National Forest. This multi-use trail is also used by equestrians, ATV's, and backpackers. The trail's three loops cross creeks and connect Mount Magazine with nearby Huckleberry Mountain. Camping is allowed on the portions of trail that are located on national forest lands.
For more information about outdoor sports and extreme adventure opportunities in Arkansas's state parks, go to:
http://www.adventurestateparks.com/.