Mount Magazine State Park is located on Scenic Highway 309 approximately 17 miles south of Paris, Arkansas. From Danville visitors should travel nine miles west on Ark. 10 to Havana, then go 10 miles north on Scenic Highway 309. Mount Magazine is Arkansas' highest mountain at 2,753 feet and it rises above the valleys of the Petit Jean River and the Arkansas River.
On reaching the park tourists will find the 8,000 square-foot Visitor Center, where they can learn more about the history, geology, flora and fauna of the park through several exhibits. Visitors can watch audiovisual programs presented daily, and there is a large wildlife observation area overlooking a native plant garden. The Visitor Center is the starting point for many of the guided walks, special workshops and wildlife and history programs offered at the park.
A number of hiking and other outdoor activities are available here with a trail system of approximately 14.2 miles. The trails vary in difficulty with two of the easier ones being Will Apple's Road Trail at 1.6 miles and Benfield Loop Trails around two miles. Some of the trails like the North Rim and Cove Lake Trails are strenuous excursions but provide wonderful scenic views, whilst the Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail is the only multi use trail here and is 34 miles long.
Bird watching is quite popular at the park with Rufous-crowned sparrows a particular draw as they are rarely seen anywhere else in Arkansas, whilst many hawks, eagles, and falcons can also be spotted here. There is a healthy black bear population at Mount Magazine and white tailed deer and wild turkey are often seen along the roadsides at the park as well as the occasional bobcat and coyote. All animals are protected in the park and some unique and rare species are also to be found here such as the Magazine Mountain Shagreen snail and the Diana Fritillary butterflies.
The campground at the park features 18 campsites with water, electric, sewer hook-ups, an RV dump station, showers and flush toilets. Some of the sites are also wheelchair accessible and there is also camping space for tents and hose trailers in the park. These 21 campsites are ideally located for the Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail.
Visitors looking for accommodation and preferring their creature comforts can stay at the lodge situated at Mount Magazine. There are 60 guest rooms consisting of 24 standard queen rooms, 19 double queen rooms, 13 single king rooms and four suites. The lodge also has a 1,325-square-foot indoor swimming pool with a small area for children, lap lane, and hot tub, while adjacent to the pool is the fitness center and locker rooms.
Alternatively visitors can stay at one of the thirteen cabins featuring one, two or three bedroom units. Each cabin offers a kitchen, clothes washer and dryer, fireplace, a bathroom for each bedroom and outdoor hot tubs. Visitors needn't go hungry either as there is the Skycrest Restaurant on site too.
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