BaM Dispensary’s Guide to Arkansas’ Natural Wonders

Arkansas is home to a diverse landscape with geography ranging from mountainous to densely forested, to lowlands along the Mississippi River. Since its natural landscape encompasses a variety of terrains, it’s a hot spot for people seeking to explore its many natural wonders. Whether you’re looking to tour deep caverns, or the rugged landscape of the Ozark Mountains, there’s something for every type of nature lover in the Natural State. At BaM Body and Mind Dispensary, we love Arkansas, so we created a guide outlining our top 5 favorite outdoor locations within a four hour drive of West Memphis.

Cedar Falls

Located in Petit Jean State Park, nearly three hours away from West Memphis, lies Cedar Falls, one of Arkansas’s best known waterfalls. At 95 feet tall, it’s one of the tallest continuously flowing waterfalls in the state. Nestled within a verdant forest, Cedar Falls is known as a photographer’s paradise. Take the hiking trail, which begins behind the rustic Mather Lodge and winds its way through Cedar Canyon alongside massive stone boulders and dense wilderness. Though the trails are strenuous, there are serene waters awaiting you.

Mammoth Spring

Arising from the Ozark Plateau is the Mammoth Spring. A large, first magnitude karst spring – which is the natural outflow of groundwater – Mammoth Spring is the third largest spring in Arkansas and the seventh largest spring in the world. The spring ultimately forms a 10-acre lake that eventually leads into Spring River. A famous destination for trout fishing and watersports in Northern Arkansas. Enjoy a day of fishing in the cool, clear waters less than a 2.5 hour drive from West Memphis.

Blanchard Springs Caverns

Located in Stone County, about a three hour drive from West Memphis, Blanchard Springs Cavern is a cave system in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. The three level cave system, all of which are accessible through tours, feature awe-inspiring “living” cave features, including stalactites and stalagmites, columns, and flow stones. Tourists can stroll through the well-lit and developed room of the caverns, and adventurers can opt for the more “intensive” tour, which allows visitors to explore all three levels extending beyond the Discovery Room where you can crawl over rocks, and slide through the red clay as the original cave explorers did.

White Rock Mountain

Just over an hour’s drive from the city of Fayetteville, and about four hours from West Memphis, White Rock Mountain lies well over 2,000 ft above sea level. The large bluffs appear white from a distance because of the lichens living on the rock surface. Hikers love exploring White Rock Mountain, and on top of the mountain are the many famed trails, including the 1.8-mile Rim Trail loop, the 17.5-mile Shores Lake Loop Trail and the West Trail. For true adventurers, there’s the 270-mile Ozark Highlands Trail, which begins in Fort Smith and travels through the highlands of the Ozark National Forest, which also can be accessed from White Rock Mountain. There are a variety of trails throughout the region for different skill-levels, so if you’re not up to a steep challenge, don’t worry, there are still plenty of trails to choose from.

Lake Ouachita

Lake Ouachita offers over 40,000 acres of clear, clean waters to swim, fish, or enjoy water sports at just about four hours drive from West Memphis. Surrounded by campsites, visitors to the lake can stay overnight in anything from a tent or RV, to a cabin full of amenities. The best park of Lake Ouachita is that there’s very little shoreline development, meaning that it’s in its pristine, unadulterated natural state. The lake was filled through a damming project nearby and an entire forest was swallowed up by the waters. These old forests are still standing with some 60 foot trees growing up from beneath the water. Additionally, there are many unique geological features surrounding the lake. Visitors can take the Geo Float Trail, the first water-based trail in the National Trails System.

Since Arkansas is composed of beautiful and diverse natural landscapes, this list only touches on a few of the many natural wonders that the Natural State offers. Next time you’re exploring Arkansas, visit the Delta region and stop by BaM Body and Mind Dispensary in West Memphis. If you’re a medical marijuana patient, we’ll be happy to guide you through our wide selection of cannabis products. In the meantime, plan your trip around the great state of Arkansas and behold its soaring vistas, flowing natural springs, and sprawling forests. You won’t be disappointed!