GETAWAY TO RURAL ARKANSAS AT ITS BEST...

CYCLING - Gravel & Paved

Sparkling streams, hills and hollows, shady rivers, mountain views, waterfalls, swimming holes, historic sites, bustling cities – the Arkansas High Country Route has it all. This route is designed to connect many of the interesting places in west-central and northwest Arkansas.

For more information, click here.

CYCLING - Paved

Popular ride that connects Downtown Little Rock to beautiful spots along and overlooking the Arkansas River and Lake Maumelle.  Perry County points of interest along the route include Toad Suck Bridge & Park, historic St. Boniface Catholic Church, the Wye Mountain Daffodil Field, and the communities of Little Italy, Wye, Bigelow, New Dixie, and Toad Suck.

Click here for a map of the route.

CYCLING - Gravel

The Ouachita Mountains make for some of the region's best gravel riding and nowhere is that more evident than the Big Fish Loop. Out here, the only thing bigger than the fish stories are the inclines. Be sure to bring plenty of food and water - there’s not much out here except you and the road. 

Click here for a map of the route.

HIKING

Enjoy this 0.7-mile out-and-back trail in the Ouachita National Forest. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 24 min to complete. This trail is great for camping, hiking, and walking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. 

Click here for a map of the trail.

HIKING

Discover this 1.8-mile out-and-back trail near Hollis, Arkansas. Generally considered a challenging route, this trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring this very iconic mountain.

Click here for a map of the trail.

HIKING

Just below Forked Mountain outside the community of Hollis, these falls can be reached from a 3 mile hiking trail along a beautiful stream before arriving at the picturesque waterfall.

Click here for more information.

CYCLING - Gravel & Paved

Harris Brake Lake serves as the trailhead for this gravel cycling route that sees over 2,500 feet of elevation gain, almost all of it on the trail’s first 15 miles. 

With a mix of 50% Road & 50% Gravel, it is a beginner-friendly route set in the beauty of the Ouachita Mountains.

Click here for a map of the route.

HIKING, CYCLING - Gravel

In addition to the namesake lake, Lake Sylvia Recreation Area has a trail system that offers visitors an opportunity to bike, hike, enjoy an easy nature walk, connect with the Ouachita National Recreation Trail for a backpacking experience, go trail running or gravel grinding. 

For more information, click here.

CYCLING - Gravel & Paved

Try out this 52-mile gravel grinder that begins at the Nimrod Dam and travels through the Ouachita National Forest for a mix of paved and unpaved routes.

Click here for a map of the route.

HIKING, BACKPACKING

MTN BIKING - West of Scenic Hwy 7 

The longest trail in the Ouachita Mountains, spanning 223 miles between Talihina, OK and Pinnacle Mtn State Park.    Access points in Perry County can be found on Highways 7 south of Hollis, Highway 9 south of Williams Junction, & Lake Sylvia Recreation Area.

The entire trail is open to hiking and backpacking. The 108-mile stretch between Hwy 7 & Talimena Scenic Drive is open to mountain biking and is an IMBA-designated EPIC trail.

CYCLING - Gravel & Paved

The Ouachita Vistas Overnighter showcases numerous scenic outlooks over the beautiful and rugged Ouachita Mountains. The route begins and ends at Lake Sylvia Recreation Area, which has a small parking lot for hikers, runners, and cyclists. The forest roads west of Lake Sylvia are a popular destination for local off-road cyclists. 

Click here for more information on the route and a map.

CYCLING - Paved

Just west of Little Rock, the 37-mile Wye Mountain Loop is one of the best road cycling routes in Central Arkansas. 

Click here for a map of the route.

Situated along the edge of both the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, the Arkansas River and surrounding area is a haven for nature enthusiasts. Toad Suck Park - located on State Highway 60 in the community of Toad Suck - is a popular recreation area offering camping, fishing, picnicking and other fun on the shores of the Arkansas River. 

For more information, click here.

This 85 acre flood control lake in the Ouachita National Forest is one of the newest in the county.

For more information, click here.

This 46 acre flood control lake in the Ouachita National Forest north of Hollis offers good warm water fishing opportunities - to include  some big bass in the lake.  

For  more information, click here:

This popular 105 acre flood control lake in the Ouachita National Forest offers warm-water fishing opportunities, to include some big bass.

For more information, click here.

The Fourche LaFave River flows the entire width of Perry County before emptying into the Arkansas River south of the town of Fourche, which takes its name from the river. The river is impounded in western Perry County by Nimrod Dam, forming Nimrod Lake. 

The river is popular with anglers and there are multiple access points to the river, primarily at highway crossings (e.g., Hwys 9 and 113), below Nimrod Dam, and via the Harris Brake Lake Wildlife Management Area.

Built in 1955, at 1,300 acres Harris Brake Lake is one of the largest ever built by a state wildlife agency. Facilities include boat ramps and a lakeside bait shop that provides boat and motor rentals and fishing supplies. Camping and picnic areas are also available. The lake is well known for its bluegill, catfish, crappie, hybrid striped bass, and largemouth bass fishing. 

Lake Sylvia is a serene 18-acre mountain lake noted for its swimming and fishing opportunities. Only 38 miles west of Little Rock, the lake is an Arkansas State Park and features a trail system from easy lakeside walks to a connection to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail that stretches from Pinnacle Mountain State Park to Oklahoma. There is also a swimming beach, bathhouses, and picnic sites at the park and interpretive programming is offered.

For more information, click here.

Because of the limited access to this lake, it has one of the better bass populations of lakes in the Ouachita National Forest. Located just south of Hollis off Scenic Hwy 7. 

For more information, click here.

Cradled between the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains, Nimrod Lake is popular with fishermen and hunters alike. Six parks nestled along the lake provide modern camping facilities and an opportunity to relax amid the groves of tall, sweet-scented pines. Nimrod is conveniently located adjacent to State Highway 7, a National Scenic Byway and other nearby points of interest like Petit Jean State Park, Mount Nebo State Park, and Hot Springs National Park. 

For more information, click here.

This 27 acre flood control lake in the Ouachita National Forest offers good warm-water fishing opportunities.

Form more information, click here. 

The South Fourche LaFave River is a stream that flows through the mountains of southwestern Perry County, entering the Fourche LaFave River near Deberrie. The South Fourche's cooler waters allow it to have smallmouth bass. Additionally, the river is also popular with kayakers and canoeists in the wet season (late winter/spring).

Public access is limited but there is a Forest Service recreation area on the stream where Scenic Highway 7 crosses it, just south of Hollis.

Historic camp built between 1936-1941; listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the only surviving Works Progress Administration and/or Civilian Conservation Corps-constructed Girl Scout facility in the United States. The Great Hall has been restored and is available to rent for family reunions, meetings, weddings, conferences other groups. Overlooks Lake Sylvia; 7 furnished cabins and rehabilitated lakeview camping unit. 

Lake Sylvia Recreation Area

Harmony, Arkansas

Located three miles west of Perryville, Arkansas, this working cattle ranch is home to a unique bed, breakfast and barn. The BB & B is a former horse barn, converted to living quarters with a great room/kitchen with fireplace, 3 bedrooms, and bath.

Additionally, they offer The Homeplace - a restored 1950's farmhouse for rent.  

3109 State Highway 60

Perryville, AR 72126

The Hollis Civilian Conservation Corps Camp (CCC) - a part of the New Deal public works program - was located in the Ouachita National Forest just south of the Hollis community. Today, visitors can visit the site of the camp and read historical markers about the camp and its history.

Hollis, Arkansas

Established in 1930 in the small mountain community of Hollis, the Hollis Country Store is an old-time, authentic country store serving Scenic 7 Byway travelers for decades. With gas, fishing and camping supplies, snacks and drinks - plus famous bologna sandwiches - Hollis Country Store is a "must-see" for travelers exploring Arkansas' Ouachita Mountains.  The store is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hollis, Arkansas

www.facebook.com/holliscountrystore

Built in 1888, the Perry County Courthouse was built by John Edwin Oliver for $4,000. Oliver used local clay to make the bricks. The courthouse is the oldest building in the Perryville's commercial historic district. 

Perryville, Arkansas

Housed in a former American Legion hut on the Courthouse Square in Downtown Perryville. The museum building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The museum features treasures from Perry County’s past, including a huge stone fireplace and great hall light fixture made from a World War I Sopwith Camel airplane. 

Perryville, Arkansas

www.arkansas.com/perryville/landmarks/perry-county-historical-museum

One of Arkansas's most photographed churches, St. Boniface Catholic Church  was built in 1906 and has been the community center of New Dixie and its local German Catholic community for over 100 years.

New Dixie, Arkansas

Arkansas's first state-designated scenic byway, Scenic Highway 7 is arguably one of the most scenic drives in America. Perry County has one of most scenic stretches of the highway as it traverses the rugged Ouachita Mountains and offering stunning views - such as Forked Mountain. Popular points of interest along the route in Perry County include the Ouachita National Trail, the Hollis CCC Camp, the South Fourche Recreation Area, the historic Hollis Country Store, and Nimrod Lake.

A 27-mile gravel route through the Ouachita National Forest, connecting state highways 7 and 9. Driving time is 1 hour (without stops) but allocate additional time to stop at scenic pull-offs and interpretive markers.

State Highway  9 and portions of state highways 10 & 60 are also state-designated scenic routes. There are multiple other state highways, county roads, and Forest Service roads in the county that make beautiful drives.

The Arkansas Goat Festival celebrates all things goat! Goat parade, costume contest, lingerie show, food trucks, 100 vendors, and live music! 

First Saturday of October each Year

Perryville City Park

www.arkansasgoatfestival.com

“Music & Market on the Square” is a vibrant farmers market with fresh local produce, handmade crafts, and locally produced goods. Taking place on Perryville's Historic Courthouse Square on the 4th Saturday of the month, June - October, the market runs from 8:00 a.m. to Noon with live music and children’s activities.

Small town Christmas parade that winds through the streets of Perryville, ending at the Courthouse Square.

Since 1946, the Perry County Fair has been a annual highlight in Perry County! Carnival rides & games, live music, rodeos, livestock shows, 4H & FFA contests, baking and cooking competitions, arts, crafts & photo exhibitions, fair food, local vendors, pageant, talent shows, and LOTS of fun.

124 Hickory St

Perryville, AR 72126

(501) 215-9752

www.theperrycountyfair.com

Each spring is the famous Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival atop Wye Mountain. The  festival begins on the 1st Saturday of March and goes through the 2nd Sunday. It features seven acres filled with approximately 65 varieties of daffodils and jonquils. It includes arts and crafts, food vendors, and also daffodil bulbs available for purchase. There is no charge for this event, and the parking is free.

Wye Mountain Church

Wye, Arkansas