WESTSIDE — With peak fall colors expected in the area the last few days of October and the first few days of November, it's time to plan visits to local parks and scenic areas to view the fall foliage. And where to go might be a question to consider now, before the color peaks and the leaves fall.
State parks in northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma offer visitors the opportunity to take scenic drives or to get out and walk and see the colors closeup. Hobbs State Park in Arkansas and Natural Falls State Park in Oklahoma are close by, as are other locations in both states. But it's not necessary to drive far because the colors can be viewed in numerous spots locally.
For those wanting to take a short drive, the colors can be seen along most local roads and highways. Arkansas Highways 72 and 102 offer beautiful forest colors to both the east and west of Arkansas Highway 59. And Arkansas 59 offers beautiful colors from the Spavinaw Creek, just south of Gravette, north through Sulphur Springs and into Missouri. Arkansas Highway 43 also offers beautiful viewing opportunities north of Cherokee City and then further north, along the Elk River in Missouri.
Numerous county roads also come to mind. There's Mt. Olive Road between Gravette and the Hiwasse area, Y-City and Vaughn Roads, Beaty Road, Honey Creek Road, State Line Road, Rocky Dell Hollow Road, Mt. Zion Road and West Mountain Road, Mt. Pleasant Road and numerous others -- some paved and some gravel. The low-water bridge in Springtown is a beautiful place to enjoy the creek and the fall colors.
For those who wish to get out of the car and enjoy the outdoors, there's Siloam Springs City Lake, Gentry's new Flint Creek Nature Park, Eagle Watch Nature Trail in Gentry, Crystal Lake in Decatur with parks on the east and west sides of the lake, Gravette's nature trail at Pop Allum Park, and the picnic area and valley in Old Town Park. And, for those in the Sulphur Springs area, don't forget the city's tree-filled park along Butler Creek and Lake La Balladine.
The opportunities locally are endless, so take some time and get out and enjoy the colors. You'll be glad you did.
General News on 10/18/2017