Polk County: Talimena Scenic Drive and Mountain Landscapes

The Talimena Scenic Drive climbs Rich Mountain and passes through Queen Wilhelmina State Park. The Arkansas section is 18 miles long and follows Arkansas State Highway 88 from Mena to Oklahoma. Along the way, the scenic byway offers views of forested peaks and valleys, as well as lakes and streams.

Mountain Landscapes and Trails

Queen Wilhelmina State Park is located on Rich Mountain, Arkansas’s second-highest mountain, in the Ouachita Mountains. Trails for hiking and mountain biking are open in the park. The site also has a distinctive history: the original lodge was built in the late 19th century as a Victorian resort called Wilhelmina Inn.

The Ouachita National Recreation Trail is 192 miles long in total and traverses the pine- and oak-covered Ouachita Mountains. Its landscape includes clear streams, rock outcrops, and sharply defined ridgelines. One trailhead is on the Talimena Scenic Drive, just beyond the western end of the campground at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. This offers views of a long-distance hiking trail and its striking mountain scenery, in addition to the park’s shorter trails.

Shady Lake: Lake, Camping, and History

Shady Lake is a 25-acre lake created in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps along the Saline River in Polk County. The recreation area currently has four camping areas with a total of 54 campsites; this number may change. The lake offers access for non-motorized boating, and there is also a swimming beach.

The walking access to Caney Creek Wilderness begins in Loop C at the Tall Peak Trail, which branches off from the Shady Lake Trail. The Shady Lake CCC Bridges were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. Together with the road, they continue to provide access to numerous campsites and picnic areas around the lake in the 21st century.

Local History Around Mena

Janssen Park was created in 1906 from the donation of four city blocks by Arthur Stilwell and his partners, the original founders of Mena. The land was used exclusively as a park. It is also home to a log cabin built in 1851, which later served as a museum and Mena’s city hall.

Another perspective on the area’s architectural history can be found at St. Agnes Catholic Church, an architecturally significant building in Polk County. The church is in the Spanish Mission style and was built from natural stone blocks sourced from the mountains and hills around Mena. The Ebenezer Monument, in turn, includes the names and a brief history of many citizens of Mena, Polk County, Arkansas, and the United States.

More Destinations and Getting Around

The Wolf Pen Gap Trail Complex includes approximately 35 miles of loop trails; the trail length may change. Its northern trailhead is accessible via Highway 8 and Polk County Road 61. The trail complex is part of the Ouachita National Forest and is regulated and maintained by the Forest Service. Check its current operating status before setting out.

The Board Camp Crystal Mine is located 10 miles east of Mena on Highway 8E in Board Camp. Another specific location is the Cossatot River: one section begins at its confluence with Mine Creek in Polk County, near the community of Shady in Arkansas. The places described thus range from mountain landscapes and trails to lake activities and architectural and local history.

Discover more destinations: Mena, White County, Pulaski, Crittenden, Poinsett County, Stone County, Conway County, Crawford.

For the broader travel overview: Arkansas.