Cedarville ArkansasATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Cedarville, Arkansas.
1. Lee Creek Hiking Trails
SCENIC NATURAL PATHWAYS
Lee Creek Hiking Trails offers visitors beautiful paths through the natural landscape of Cedarville. The trails feature varying difficulty levels suitable for both beginners and experienced hikers. Visitors can enjoy the serene atmosphere while exploring the local flora and fauna.
2. A to Z
UNIQUE GIFT SHOPPING
A to Z is a specialty and gift shop in Cedarville that offers a wide range of unique items and souvenirs. The shop features locally made crafts, home decor, and Arkansas-themed merchandise. Visitors appreciate the friendly service and distinctive selection not found in typical retail stores.
3. Natural Dam
STUNNING WATER FORMATION
Natural Dam is a remarkable natural rock formation that creates a picturesque waterfall across Mountain Fork Creek. Visitors can enjoy swimming, picnicking, and photography at this scenic location just outside Cedarville. The area is especially beautiful during spring when water flow is at its peak.
4. Boxley Valley
HISTORIC RURAL COMMUNITY
Boxley Valley offers visitors a glimpse into the rural Ozark heritage with its preserved historic buildings and pastoral landscapes. The valley is home to a herd of elk that can often be spotted grazing in the meadows during early morning or evening hours. Visitors can explore old homesteads, a grist mill, and enjoy numerous hiking opportunities in this picturesque area.
5. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
WORLD-CLASS ART COLLECTION
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art houses a stunning collection of American art masterpieces spanning five centuries. The museum's unique architecture integrates with the surrounding Ozark landscape, featuring beautiful walking trails and outdoor sculptures. Admission to the permanent collections is free, making world-class art accessible to all visitors.
6. Crater of Diamonds State Park
DIAMOND HUNTING ADVENTURE
Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only public diamond mine in the United States where visitors can search for and keep any diamonds they find. The 37-acre plowed field is the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic crater where visitors have discovered more than 33,000 diamonds since 1972. The park also offers camping, walking trails, and water-based recreational activities.
7. Petit Jean State Park
SCENIC MOUNTAIN RETREAT
Petit Jean State Park features stunning natural beauty with mountains, canyons, and waterfalls, including the iconic 95-foot Cedar Falls. The park contains numerous trails built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s that lead to breathtaking overlooks and geological formations. Visitors can enjoy camping, lodging at Mather Lodge, boating, fishing, and interpretive programs throughout the year.
8. Hot Springs National Park
HISTORIC THERMAL WATERS
Hot Springs National Park preserves and protects 47 natural thermal springs that have been used for therapeutic bathing for centuries. The park's Bathhouse Row features eight historic bathhouse buildings in the downtown area, with several still offering traditional spa services. Visitors can hike scenic mountain trails, tour the historic bathhouses, and even collect the famous hot spring water from public fountains throughout the park.
9. Eureka Springs Historic District
VICTORIAN MOUNTAIN VILLAGE
Eureka Springs Historic District features over 400 Victorian-era buildings nestled into the steep hillsides of this unique Ozark Mountain town. The entire downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers visitors charming shops, galleries, restaurants, and lodging options. Visitors can explore the winding streets and staircases that connect various levels of this picturesque village known for its healing springs and artistic community.
10. The Old Mill
ICONIC FILM LOCATION
The Old Mill is a historic recreation of a water-powered grist mill that appeared in the opening credits of the 1939 film Gone with the Wind. The picturesque structure and surrounding gardens feature intricate concrete work designed to look like wood and stone, created by sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez. Visitors can explore this beautiful park setting that has become one of the most photographed spots in Arkansas.
11. Ozark Folk Center State Park
LIVING CRAFT HERITAGE
Ozark Folk Center State Park celebrates and preserves the cultural heritage of the Ozark Mountains through traditional crafts, music, and folklore. Visitors can watch demonstrations by skilled artisans practicing over 20 traditional crafts including blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, and woodworking. The park also features regular live music performances of authentic mountain music, herb gardens, and educational programs about Ozark heritage.
12. Buffalo National River
AMERICA'S FIRST NATIONAL RIVER
Buffalo National River flows freely for 135 miles through the beautiful Ozark Mountains as America's first designated national river. Visitors can enjoy floating, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing in the clear waters that wind between towering limestone bluffs. The surrounding park offers hiking trails, camping, wildlife viewing, and spectacular scenic drives through pristine natural landscapes.
13. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
CIVIL RIGHTS LANDMARK
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site preserves the school that became internationally known during the 1957 desegregation crisis. Nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, faced angry mobs as they integrated this formerly all-white school under federal protection. Visitors can tour the visitor center with exhibits about the civil rights movement and take ranger-led tours of the still-functioning high school.
14. War Eagle Mill
HISTORIC WORKING GRISTMILL
War Eagle Mill is Arkansas's only working gristmill, producing organic flours and mixes using water power just as it has since 1832. Visitors can explore all three floors of the historic mill, watch grain being ground between massive stones, and purchase fresh products in the gift shop. The mill also houses the Bean Palace restaurant offering delicious meals featuring products made on-site, including their famous cornbread and beans.
15. Blanchard Springs Caverns
MAGNIFICENT UNDERGROUND WONDER
Blanchard Springs Caverns is a spectacular three-level cave system with stunning formations maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Guided tours take visitors through impressive chambers featuring dazzling stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstones formed over thousands of years. The surrounding recreation area offers hiking trails, swimming, picnicking, and camping in the beautiful Ozark National Forest.