Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway
Arkansass first state-designated scenic byway travels through four of the states varied geographical regions. The route begins on the south end within the West Gulf Coastal Plain, a region that saw an oil boom beginning in 1921 near El Dorado. It continues to Camden and on to Arkadelphia through rolling terrain with dense pine forests and stream valleys with bottomland hardwood forests.
Near Arkadelphia, the route enters the Ouachita Mountains, famous for their quartz crystals, and passes by DeGray Lake, home of Arkansass only resort state park. At Hot Springs, the byway journeys through the historic downtown and immediately in front of the famed Bath House Row of Hot Springs National Park. Continuing though the forested Ouachitas, it passes through the Ouachita National Forest and by Lake Nimrod, then reaches Russellville and crosses the more level terrain of the Arkansas River Valley.
Leaving the valley, Scenic 7 ascends into the Ozark Mountains, famous for fall foliage, and the Ozark National Forest, and passes through the mountain town of Jasper on its way to Harrison.
LENGTH: 290 miles.
MAPS:
THINGS TO KNOW:
Shopping, lodging and dining can be found in the byway's major cities: El Dorado,
Camden,
Arkadelphia, Hot Springs,
Russellville,
Jasper and Harrison, and in smaller communities along the way. Lodges, cabins and campgrounds are available in the various state parks listed below under "Major Area Attractions." Camping is also available at U.S.
Forest Service recreation areas within the Ouachita and
Ozark national forests and at U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers' recreation areas on DeGray Lake,
Lake Nimrod and Lake Dardanelle
on the Arkansas River. Private resorts, cabins and other lodging, as well as dining options, are also available.
MAJOR AREA ATTRACTIONS:
REGIONAL TOURISM INFORMATION: