AR State Parks: Mount Magazine State Park

This hike ISN’T PET-FRIENDLY.

Our goal in this series is to visit all 52 state parks. This month’s park is:

Mount Magazine State Park
16878 AR-309
Paris, AR 72

This also classifies as a High Point Hike! Mount Magazine is the highest point in Arkansas, and there’s a log book at the summit to say that you’ve made it to this high point.

The photo for this event is a view of Mount Magazine that I took from the summit of Mount Nebo in October 2025.

We will meet at the Bass Pro Pyramid north parking lot off Front Street (the smaller parking lot close to auto bridge over to Mud Island) at 8:45 am for those who would like to carpool. We will leave at 9:00 am.

About this park:

At the peak of the state park experience is Mount Magazine, Arkansas’ highest point at 2,753 feet. People come for the sweeping views alone, but there is much to see and do from this unique spot. Mount Magazine State Park is a place of relaxation, exploration, nature study, and is within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. It is a destination for outdoor sports and extreme adventures with mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking, and ATV riding. Mount Magazine is the state park system’s most dramatic location for technical rock climbing, and it’s one of only two parks to offer hang gliding launch areas. Scenic overlooks, hiking trails, picnic area, pavilion, and visitor center with gift shop add to the amenities. A wide variety of programs led by park interpreters highlights the mountain’s natural diversity.

The Lodge at Mount Magazine features 60 guest rooms, Skycrest Restaurant, a conference center, business center, heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center, and game room. From its setting on the mountain’s south bluff, the lodge offers breathtaking views of the Petit Jean River Valley and Blue Mountain Lake in the distance.

Arkansas State Parks list:
https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks

Planned Hike: Signal Hill

Trail Type: Day Hikes
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1.5 miles
Time: 2 hours hiking time
Hiking times may vary.

WHAT TO KNOW

At an elevation of 2,753 feet above Mean Sea Level, Signal Hill is the highest point in Arkansas. No visit to Mount Magazine is complete without having hiked to the highest peak in Arkansas. At the top is a 400 square feet stone map of Arkansas. A wide variety of plants make this a nice nature walk. This well-groomed trail is a gentle forest walk connecting Cameron Bluff Campground with the Mossback Ridge Trail and the Lodge at Mount Magazine.

Food: Skycrest Restaurant
For those who would like to join us for a meal, we are planning on eating at Skycrest Restaurant, at the lodge on Mount Magazine.