Talimena National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway Through The Ouachita National Forest, Oklahoma And Arkansas · Talihina, Oklahoma
A 54-mile mountain drive along the crest of the Ouachita Mountains from Talihina in Oklahoma to Mena in Arkansas, following ridges that run east to west rather than north to south, which is unusual in North America. Designated a National Scenic Byway, the road climbs past more than twenty overlooks with views over the Ouachita National Forest, Winding Stair Mountain, Rich Mountain and the Kiamichi valley. The Ouachita National Recreation Trail crosses the route in several places, Horse Thief Spring and other historic stops break up the drive, and near the state line the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge sits on Arkansas's second-highest mountain. Autumn is the season here: oaks, hickories and maples turn through late October and early November and the pull-offs fill at weekends. There is no fuel, food or water on the ridge, and winter brings ice and freezing fog at elevation.
State Highway 1 from Talihina, Oklahoma to State Highway 88 at Mena, Arkansas, Talihina, Oklahoma, 74571, United States
Open daily, year-round, and free. Overlooks and picnic areas are day use, some facilities close in winter, and ice or fog can make the ridge dangerous (check fs.usda.gov/ouachita and travelok.com).
Talimena National Scenic Byway on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos