by Scott Shaddox

Created on: July 28, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Without question, Arkansas is one of the most scenic states in the country.  Despite its relatively small size, the geography of the state is very diverse.  From the higher elevations of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains to the flat-lands of the Mississippi Delta, Arkansas has a variety of scenic landscapes to enjoy.  Tourists from around the nation travel the state each year along the major thoroughfares designed to move traffic quickly.  While these major roadways provide travelers some sense of the beauty found in the “Natural State,” the lesser traveled rural highways maximize the opportunity to see Arkansas in all her splendor.

Highway 7 was the first road in Arkansas to be named a scenic byway.  Snaking its way through the mountainous terrain of western Arkansas down to the Gulf Coastal Plains of south Arkansas, the highway offers some of the most incredible scenery found in the United States.  The highway covers 290 miles, and stretches from Bull Shoals Lake, along the border of Missouri to the Louisiana state line.   ­

The northern stretch of the roadway begins in Boone County, in the lakeside community of Diamond City.  From there, the road pierces the center of the county, traveling through the city of Harrison before entering sparsely populated and rural Newton County.  It is in Newton County that Highway 7 truly becomes “scenic.”  Immediately upon entering the county, the road becomes increasingly crooked and steep.  As you pass by the remnants of the old Dogpatch U.S.A. amusement park, you will marvel at the rugged beauty of the Ozarks.  Natural vegetation and wildlife abound in this area, so be on the lookout for animal crossings along the road.  Large elk, deer, and other mammals inhabit this area and cross the highway on a regular basis.

The Buffalo National River flows underneath Highway 7 near Jasper.  The Buffalo is well-known for its pristine water, and hiking trails dot the area around the river.  The town of Jasper features one of the best places to eat in the Ozarks, the Ozark Café.  As you continue on your trek south towards the Arkansas River, you will pass the “Grand Canyon of the Ozarks.”  Above the canyon sits the Cliff House Inn & Restaurant, where you can spend the night and/or experience native Ozark cuisine first hand.

Highway 7 continues to weave its way across the Ozarks and begins a slow

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