When we left home late Friday afternoon, we knew we were headed to the Ozark National Forest. Beyond that, we were going to decide the specifics of the trip while we were on the road. We ended up on the Sylamore Scenic Byway which starts at Calico Rock, Arkansas in the heart of the Ozark National Forest.
The Ozark National Forest is rich with beautiful landscapes, rock bluffs and high vistas. The Sylamore Scenic Byway offers the hiking trails, waterfalls and the panoramic overlooks we seek on all of our trips. This section of the Ozark National Forest was new territory for us.
We were in the mood to boondock in Alice versus staying in a campground. Boondocking is fun because we park wherever we are, pull the shades and sleep.
Boondocking on the Sylamore Scenic Byway
We ended up driving to the small, charming town of Norfork, Arkansas which sits right on the White River. As luck would have it, we parked in front of Norfork Adventure Supply.
Inside the store, the owners were very helpful in giving us ideas ideas for hikes in the area. If you visit the area, stop by for recommendations and supplies.
Since this stop was at the end of the day, we decided to spend the night where we parked. It was a great place to be as there is a brewery and restaurant within in walking distance. We felt safe there and it was relatively quiet even though were we parked on a 2 lane highway.
The next day, we hiked on a trail on Push Mountain Road. This trail is 26-miles long, but we chose a 3-mile out and back hike.
From there, we headed to Calico Rock and stopped at the bakery in town for some treats. We did not feel pressured for time so we stopped by the White River and hiked a short trail along the river.
Blanchard Springs Caverns
Later, we traveled south on the Sylamore Scenic Byway and spent several hours at the Blanchard Springs Caverns. It was interestingly beautiful and we took about an hour tour.
Above grounds in the Blanchard Springs Cave Park is a natural spring. The hike to the spring is easy and very accessible to anyone. We spent time discovering the area and enjoyed it too.
It was the perfect day for us. The weather was cool and sunny and we just made the day up as we went. It turned out to be not only the perfect day, but the perfect November weekend.
We would recommend this area and trip to others.
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