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Queen Wilhelmina State Park is a cloud-capped hideaway wrapped in the cool mountain breezes of summer or the blaze of fall colors in autumn. It is a winter wonderland or the magic of spring. Come experience the panoramic scenery at this Arkansas getaway gracing 2,681-foot Rich Mountain, Arkansas’s second highest peak.
As you travel the Talimena National Scenic Byway to Queen Wilhelmina State Park, you’ll understand why this 54-mile route along east-west trending ridge tops of Arkansas’s Ouachita and Oklahoma’s Winding Stair mountains connecting Mena, Arkansas, to Talihina, Oklahoma, is a national scenic byway. Enjoy breathtaking mountain scenery. You’ll find many roadside overlooks along the way. The Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas’s southernmost mountain range, are one of only two mountain regions in the U.S. that run east-west.
TOURS
While visiting Queen Wilhelmina State Park, join the programs and guided hikes led by the park interpreter. Learn more about the geology, fauna, and unique flora found here, and explore the fascinating history of this site that the state park graces on 2,681-foot Rich Mountain. Discover the trees that grow here, and learn how weather effects them in this upland environment. See the variety of wildflowers that grow here, and learn about their unique characteristics. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound here. The Ouachita Mountains are home to raccoons, deer, skunks, rabbits, and American black bear. This is a special place for birdwatching enthusiasts, too.
Explore the park’s trails. Visit Lover’s Leap and take in the sweeping view from this legendary overlook.
MOUNTAIN TRAILS
The park is surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, therefore more hiking adventures can be enjoyed within the national forest. The Ouachita National Recreation Trail can also be accessed from the park. The trail also stretches 223 miles through the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and the Winding Stair Mountains in Oklahoma. This premier trail is enjoyed by hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, and hunters. It is a non-motorized, single track trail open to foot traffic, with only partial mountain bike opportunities. The trail is primarily within the Ouachita National Forest which is administered by the U.S. Forest Service. Shelters for camping are spaced along the trail.
Queen Wilhelmina State Park includes a small playground for children. The park also offers a volleyball court.
WONDER HOUSE
See the rustic Wonder House. The house is so named because it houses nine levels although it appears to be a normal, two-story rock house. This house was built in the 1930s by Carlos Hill and his brother-in-law after Hill married and settled on Rich Mountain in the 1930s.
A unique way to see the park is to take a ride on the miniature train around the park. Visit the Mountain Glory Station, and then play miniature golf. Both of these are seasonal attractions, and admission fees apply.
The park hosts a variety of special events including the Butterfly Festival, Mountainfest craft show, as well as, Christmas on the Mountain celebration. Join the fun at these seasonal offerings. Combined with the natural beauty of Arkansas’s four seasons here atop the state’s second highest mountain, this is a mountain getaway for making special memories.
The City of Mena, just 13 miles east of the park, offers a city park with two spring-fed ponds. In the heart of the park stands a historic cabin. A block from the city park is the old Kansas City Southern depot. The features include a train museum and the offices of the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce. Near Mena are the Little Missouri Falls, as well as, Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area, and other attractions.
PARK HOURS & FEES
Contact Park
PARK PHONE
Lodge Reservations: 1-800-264-2477
Campsite Reservations: (479) 394-2863
PARK ADDRESS
3877 Highway 88 West
Mena, AR 71953
Email: queenwilhelmina@arkansas.com
For more information click HERE.
Have you visited this state park? If so, please leave a comment. Thanks.
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