Drive Through The Mountains And Past Wineries Along The Scenic Arkansas Loop
By Carol Ann Carson|Published December 13, 2019
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
Here in the Natural State, the drive is just as important as the destination. Whether you’re taking a backroad through the valley or conquering part of a national byway, Arkansans have not forgotten the significance of a Sunday drive. Today’s winding loop meanders through the state’s wine country as well as Mount Magazine. Let’s buckle up and head out for a beautiful drive through the Western Mountain Frontier.
The Mount Magazine/Wine Country Loop is just as enchanting as it sounds.
The winding loop begins in the heart of wine country and traverses through the mountains of Arkansas' western frontier. For a map of today's tour, click here.
You may want to start this drive after lunch so you have plenty of time to explore Altus.
The half dozen wineries of Altus all have delectable wines but with unique flairs. Have a meal at the oldest winery, Wiederkehr, or take a few tastings at Post or Dionysus. You can view a full itinerary of the wine country tour right here. After you've wined and dined, you'll head south on AR-309 to Paris.
The wineries are historically rich — as well as rich in flavor — but they're not the only feature to this scenic drive. You'll soon be heading right to the highest peak in Arkansas.
The elevation isn't quite high enough to take your breath away but the views sure are! It's easy to lose an hour just looking out at the different vistas around the lodge alone. Mount Magazine State Park has ample camping, trails, and adventures if you'd like to stretch out your drive into a full weekend. Whenever you wrap up your visit you'll continue the loop east through the tiny town of Havana, Danville, and Ola before heading north.
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Mount Magazine may be the main feature along the drive but it's not the only mountain to visit.
Before heading west at Dardanelle, take a slight detour to Mount Nebo for another inviting vista scene. Take a few minutes to stretch your legs and snap a picture or stay longer for a hike and picnic.
If you can keep a steady pace without stopping, the drive should take just under 3 hours. That said, it's easy to spend a day — or longer —exploring this stunning area.
Whether you're on two wheels or four, the Mount Magazine/Wine Country Loop is a beautiful tour you'll want to take more than once.
Have you taken this tour before? What’s your favorite spot along the way? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
We would love to see your drive photos in our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
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