8 Historical Hikes of Arkansas

As you stand at the weathered trailhead of Mount Nebo, you’ll notice the same rugged path that once witnessed thousands of Cherokee footsteps during the Trail of Tears. It’s just one of Arkansas’s many historical trails that’ll transport you through time. From Civil War battlefields to pioneer settlements, these eight paths don’t just offer scenic views—they’re living museums where you can touch the stones, walk the routes, and breathe the same air as those who shaped America’s heartland. Let’s explore these portals to the past.

Take Aways

• Mount Nebo State Park’s Trail of Tears routes offer scenic views and commemorate the forced relocation of five southeastern Native American tribes.
• Pea Ridge National Military Park features seven miles of battlefield trails showcasing pivotal Civil War sites and historic field hospitals.
• Lake Dardanelle State Park’s Native American Heritage Trail includes Dardanelle Rock and follows both water and land migration routes.
• Historic Cane Hill’s three-mile Jordan Creek trails wind through Arkansas’s earliest European settlements, featuring 19th-century rural life interpretations.
• Arkansas Post National Memorial contains three miles of trails through Revolutionary War sites and Fort Hindman’s remains.

Trail of Tears at Mount Nebo

While standing atop Mount Nebo State Park today, you’ll witness the same dramatic views of the Arkansas River that marked one of history’s darkest chapters – the Trail of Tears.

From this vantage point, you can trace the path where thousands of Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw people were forcibly relocated to Indian Territory in the 1830s.

Thousands of Indigenous people from five tribes walked a deadly path westward, forced from their ancestral homes into unknown territory.

The river route you’re observing served as a major waterway during the relocation, though it offered little reprieve from the journey’s hardships. Disease, hunger, and harsh conditions claimed countless lives along these waters. The water route portion stretched an astounding 1,226 miles, making the journey even more grueling for those forced to travel it.

As you explore the park’s trails, you’ll find yourself walking through a living memorial to the over 60,000 Indigenous people who endured this forced migration, making Mount Nebo an essential stop for understanding this vital piece of American history.

Historic Cane Hill Creekside Path

As you venture along the historic Jordan Creek trails in Cane Hill, you’ll discover one of Arkansas’ earliest European settlements, established in 1827 amid fertile soil and abundant freshwater springs.

The three-mile natural surface trail guides you past moss-covered boulders and crystal-clear creeks, where you can explore the area’s vibrant cultural heritage. Visitors can join guided or self-guided tours for an immersive historical experience.

Once known as Steam Mill and later Boonsboro, this historic community played a pivotal role in Arkansas’ development, hosting the state’s first public school, library, and Sunday school. Camping can enhance mental well-being, as the tranquil natural surroundings and physical activity can promote relaxation and reduce stress.

You’ll pass by some of Northwest Arkansas’ oldest standing houses, including the 1875 McCarty House, while learning about the site’s significance during the Civil War. The trails, open from sunrise to sunset, offer interpretive markers that bring to life stories of 19th-century rural life.

Civil War Routes Through Pea Ridge

Seven miles of interconnected trails wind through Pea Ridge National Military Park, inviting you to retrace the footsteps of Civil War soldiers across this pivotal 4,330-acre battlefield.

Step back in time as winding trails guide you through Pea Ridge’s historic battlefield, where Civil War soldiers once marched.

You’ll discover key sites where Union and Confederate forces clashed in March 1862, including the Williams Hollow Loop‘s challenging 2-mile terrain that leads past a historic field hospital and the Tanyard battlefield.

As you climb from Elkhorn Tavern, you’ll encounter the Clemens House foundation and reach panoramic views at East Overlook.

The network takes you through Leetown Fields, where makeshift hospitals once stood, and past 140 former farmsteads caught in the crossfire. National Historic Trail segments stretch 2.5 miles through the park, offering a sobering reminder of the Trail of Tears.

Along forested hollows and creek-side paths, you’ll experience the same challenging landscape that influenced troop movements during this decisive battle that kept Missouri in the Union.

Native American Heritage Trail at Lake Dardanelle

Deep within Lake Dardanelle State Park, you’ll discover a poignant network of trails that trace the footsteps of five southeastern tribes forced from their ancestral lands.

Along the Arkansas River, you’ll walk where Cherokee settlements once thrived in the late 1700s, before the Trail of Tears transformed this landscape into a corridor of displacement.

As you explore, you’ll encounter Dardanelle Rock, a landmark that guided countless Native Americans during their difficult journey west. The first Seminole removal group reached this area on May 5, 1836, marking the beginning of their long exodus.

The park’s interpretive trails follow both water and land routes used by the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes.

Today’s well-marked paths and educational exhibits help you understand the dual narrative of this sacred ground – both as a place of vibrant indigenous culture and as a witness to one of America’s most challenging chapters.

The Old Military Road at Petit Jean

Hidden beneath the canopy of Petit Jean Mountain lies a remarkable mile-long stretch of the Old Military Road, a historic thoroughfare that once connected Memphis to Little Rock in the early 19th century.

As you walk this natural “half-pipe” carved by decades of wagon wheels and footsteps, you’ll traverse the same path where Cherokee people, led by John Benge, made their forced journey west with 70 wagons and over 1,000 souls.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by towering walls shaped by time and travel, where mail carriers, farmers, and soldiers once passed.

The trail’s historical markers guide you through this powerful reminder of Arkansas’s complex heritage. Visitors can begin their journey at the boat landing near Austell.

It’s more than just a hiking path – you’re walking through a living museum that’s earned its place on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places.

Arkansas Post National Memorial Walk

Moving east from Petit Jean’s rugged terrain, you’ll discover a remarkable tribute to Arkansas’s earliest European roots at Arkansas Post National Memorial.

Arkansas Post National Memorial stands as a living gateway to Arkansas’s European heritage, preserving centuries of early settlement history.

This historic site, established in 1686 by Henri de Tonti as the first French trading post in the lower Mississippi Valley, offers three miles of immersive trails through a storied landscape.

You’ll walk where Native Americans, French traders, Spanish soldiers, and Civil War troops once stood. The Colbert’s Raid battle, the only Revolutionary War skirmish fought in Arkansas, took place here in 1783. The trails wind through a hardwood forest and around a scenic pond, leading you to the site of Fort Hindman, a Confederate stronghold destroyed by Union forces in 1863.

Don’t miss the visitor center’s museum exhibits before hitting the trails, where you can combine wildlife watching with historical exploration.

For the full experience, bring your fishing gear – just remember to get your Arkansas fishing license first.

Butterfield Stagecoach Trail

When you trace the historic Butterfield Stagecoach Trail through Northwest Arkansas, you’re following the footsteps of America’s most ambitious 19th-century mail route.

Starting operations in 1858, this remarkable trail stretched 2,812 miles from Missouri to California, with Arkansas serving as an essential southern corridor through Fort Smith and Springdale.

You’ll discover historic stops like Fitzgerald Station, where horses were changed and supplies replenished.

The trail’s carefully scouted route avoided snow-bound passes, featuring hard surfaces and gentle grades that allowed stagecoaches to cover 100 miles daily.

Today, you can explore this National Historic Trail that once employed 1,500 staff and operated 36 Concord stagecoaches.

It’s a journey through time that showcases Arkansas’s significant role in America’s westward expansion before the transcontinental railroad’s completion.

In Fayetteville, the company established a major stable and wagonworks, which became crucial to maintaining the stagecoach line’s operations.

Pioneer Settlement Path at Historic Washington

Deep in southwestern Arkansas, Historic Washington State Park invites you to step back into a significant chapter of America’s westward expansion.

As you stroll along wide-planked boardwalks, you’ll trace the footsteps of legendary figures like Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie, who once passed through this essential stop on the Southwest Trail.

You’ll discover the workshop where James Black forged the original Bowie knife and explore more than 40 historic structures, including the 1874 courthouse that now serves as the visitor center.

Don’t miss the chance to experience the park’s abundant Civil War heritage – from 1863 to 1865, Washington served as Arkansas’s Confederate capital. Devastating major fires in 1875 and 1883 forever changed the landscape of the town’s business district.

For an authentic pioneer experience, you can hop aboard a horse-drawn surrey or examine some of the park’s 200,000 nineteenth-century artifacts.

The Last Word

Like threads in a timeless tapestry, Arkansas’s historical trails weave together stories of triumph and tragedy. You’ll walk in the footsteps of Native Americans, Civil War soldiers, pioneers, and early settlers as you explore these eight remarkable paths. Whether you’re tracing the Trail of Tears or following the Butterfield Stagecoach route, you’re not just hiking – you’re stepping directly into the pages of Arkansas’s vibrant history.