Hiking
Mount Magazine State Park offers a variety of Arkansas hiking and outdoor adventure activities. Hikers can take a hike on the Signal Hill Trail, or the Greenfield, Benefield, Mossback Ridge, or Will Apple's Road Trails and explore the many natural and historical resources of the mountain. Park trails vary in length from .5 to 2.8 miles. The total trails system in the park is 14.2 miles.
In addition, the park trails link to the USDA Forest Service's 9.7-mile Cove Lake Trail and 34-mile Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail that lead into the adjacent Ozark National Forest. They can be enjoyed in as little as one hour, or for as long as an overnight backpacking experience.
The Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail is the park's only multi-use trail. Here ATV's, hikers, bikers, and horse riders can follow the trail to the park boundary and continue into the national forest for 34 miles of some of the most scenic and rugged landscape in Arkansas.
Trail maps are available at the Mount Magazine State Park visitor center or the Magazine Ranger District office located at 3001 East Walnut Street in Paris.
- Bear Hollow Trail
- Length: 2.8 miles
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: The Bear Hollow Trail follows the upper rim of Bear Hollow from the Benefield Picnic Area to the northern trailhead at Hwy 309 just below the horse camp. Points of interest include WPA steps, Sunrise Rock, Inspiration Point, Bear Head Bluff, and Shoal Creek. Some of the best scenery on the mountain is found along this trail. It crosses several wet-weather creeks which lead to beautiful waterfalls. The upper part of the hollow has never been logged and is some of the last remaining virgin hardwood forest in Arkansas. This trail offers hikers options of starting at the picnic area or near the visitor center to create a 7.5-mile loop connecting four other trails.
The first part of this trail, just north of the picnic area, was originally constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938. For those wanting to make a short loop, a spur trail reconnects with the Benefield West Loop just west of the main trail junction. (Orange blazes)
Location: On Scenic Highway 309, 17 miles south of Paris
- Benefield Loop Trails
Length: 2 milesView Map: 
Print Map: 
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Description: The Benefield Trail has two loops using the Benefield Picnic Area as a center point. History, wildflowers, and scenic beauty are prominent features along these easily walked loops.
In the 1880s Benjamin Benefield homesteaded 160 acres here. Approximately 40 acres were cultivated with onions, turnips, potatoes, an apple orchard and vineyard. One of their seven children is buried along the entrance road.
The East Loop follows a path originally constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938. It leads to wonderful views of Bear Hollow, along stone fences, and across the highway near the Petit Jean River Overlook. From there the trail follows the bluff line below the highway to stone steps that lead up to the southern side of this picnic area. This loop is 1.1 miles long.
The Benefield West Loop Trail leads across the highway to a wildlife pond. At that point it connects to the Mossback Ridge Trail, blazed in yellow. The Benefield West Loop Trail returns to this point via the picnic area entrance road, passing the grave. Watch for signs of white-tailed deer and black bear. It is .9 miles long. (Blue Blazes)
Location: On Scenic Highway 309, 17 miles south of Paris
- Cove Lake Trail
Length: 9.7 miles, only .5 mile is within the state park boundariesView Map: Print Map:
Time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate - Strenuous
Description: Starting in the Cameron Bluff Campground, this trail descends over 1,500 feet to Cove Lake. Most of the trail is in the Ozark National Forest with only half of a mile in the state park boundaries. It can be hiked in a full day but is best enjoyed at a slower pace and is excellent for beginning backpackers. Overnight camping is allowed in the national forest. Explore stands of virgin hardwoods. Watch for white-tailed deer and turkey. Hunting is allowed in the national forest so be aware of the seasons and wear bright colored clothing. Additional trails circle the lake, and the Forest Service Recreation Area at Cove Lake has camping, picnicking, and swimming. (White Diamond Blazes)
Location: On Scenic Highway 309, 17 miles south of Paris
- Greenfield Trail
Length: .9 mileView Map: Print Map:
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: The area now occupied by the Greenfield Picnic Area and the visitor center was a family farm before the Great Depression. The Greenfield Trail starts in the picnic area, crosses the highway and the headwaters of Big Shoal Creek, and meets the Mossback Ridge Trail. It climbs 210 feet in elevation. This is a good place to start a 14-mile hike to Cove Lake. (Green Blazes)
Location: On Scenic Highway 309, 17 miles south of Paris
- Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail
Length: 34 miles, only .6 mile is within the state park boundariesView Map: Print Map:
Difficulty: Moderate - Strenuous
Description: This is the only multi-use trail in the state park. Horses and motorized vehicles are not allowed on any other trail listed here. From the horse camp down to the highway, this old wagon road drops 200 feet. For a detailed map, pick up the Huckleberry Mountain Horse Trail brochure at the visitor center.
Location: On Scenic Highway 309, 17 miles south of Paris
- Mossback Ridge Trail
Length: 2.1 milesView Map: Print Map:
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: Named for Albert Morsbach, a settler, farmer, and teacher, this trail connects four other trails: Benefield West Loop, Greenfield, North Rim, and Signal Hill. Most of the walking is easy on top of the ridge. Watch for a variety of wildflowers and signs of black bears moving rocks and logs. (Yellow Blazes)
Location: On Scenic Highway 309, 17 miles south of Paris
- North Rim Trail
- Length: 2.2 miles
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate - Strenuous
Description: Starting just west of the visitor center, this trail follows the north rim of the mountain to Cameron Bluff Overlook Drive. It leads through hardwood forests, scrub oaks, and cedar glades across several tumbling creeks. Windswept bluffs overlook a rugged hollow, the Arkansas River Valley and the Ozark Plateau. A spur connects with the western end of the Mossback Ridge Trail to create a 4.4-mile loop back to the visitor center. (Red Blazes)
Location: On Scenic Highway 309, 17 miles south of Paris
- Signal Hill Trail
Length: 1.5 milesView Map: Print Map:
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: 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 highpoint. 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.
Location: On Scenic Highway 309, 17 miles south of Paris
- Will Apple’s Road Trail
Length: 1.6 milesView Map: Print Map:
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Description: Named for a farmer, this trail was the first road to the crest of Mount Magazine. During the 1800s, wagons hauled produce from the mountaintop to the valley using this path. This trail starts just east of the visitor center and ends at the horse camp field. Features include: historic home sites, wildflowers, escaped domestic flowers, woodland songbirds, stone fences, and ruins of a swimming pool built in the 1920s. Mountain bikes are allowed on this trail. Bikers and hikers should be aware and alert. Bikers, signal your presence to hikers when overtaking.
Location: On Scenic Highway 309, 17 miles south of Paris
 Mount Magazine Highpoint Brochure |
 Mount Magazine Hiking Trails Information |
Mount Magazine Hiking Trails Map |
For Information: Park Superintendent, Mount Magazine State Park, 16878 Hwy. 309 South, Paris, AR 72855, (479) 963-8502, E-mail: mountmagazine@arkansas.com
For more information about outdoor sports and extreme adventure opportunities in Arkansas's state parks, go to: http://www.adventurestateparks.com.
For information about other Arkansas State Parks mountain parks, go to: http://www.mountainstateparks.com.