2025 At Our Beaver Lake Resort

Our Beaver Lake Resort

With the new year just weeks away, it’s a good time to look back over the past twelve months here at our Beaver Lake Resort, and what a year it was. Beautiful weather, fun times, and through it all, the many wonderful guests who chose to stay with us.

Sugar Ridge Resort has always been a place where people can slow down and reconnect. Reconnect with nature, loved ones, and even with themselves. With our wide-open sky and lake views, nature lovers need never wander far from the resort. Take in sunrises, boats gliding across the lake, wildlife, and more from your cabin window or porch.

Our corner of the Ozarks, so close to Eureka Springs, is also home to a variety of annual events and year-round attractions. Popular festivals, unique attractions, outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, and so much more. Seeing guests head out for a happy day’s adventures is something we never tire of.

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to welcome familiar faces as well as travelers discovering Sugar Ridge Resort for the first time. Here’s to another year of peaceful mornings, starlit nights, and unforgettable moments on Beaver Lake.

2025 At Our Beaver Lake Resort

Joshua Berry – 5/5
“It was a perfect weekend getaway. There is something to the calm and serenity that comes with an off-season visit. Nobody was on the lake, no sounds of boat engines, and no people. Just us in a beautiful log cabin with a hot tub that provides a perfect view of the lake. We watched birds of all kinds flock to the feeder attached to the porch. And we witnessed the dense morning fog tumbling across the water as it tried to freeze. The fireplace (with wood provided) added to the ambience of the room. It was wonderful.“

View from Couples Cabin Deck
as you rekindle romance, or…

Curtis Sere – 5/5
“We go on a vacation almost every year. This year was first time here. The nicest cabin we have had so far. Very clean, kitchen well stocked with cookware and dishes, bathrooms will stocked with toiletries and towels and wash clothes. An overall great stay. Would definitely return. Also centrally located all the activities we planned were within 30 minutes from the cabin. Thank you Sugar Ridge for a great stay.“

Jeanette Gillespie – 5/5
“This was the BEST anniversary ever. I can’t say enough how amazing this place is. We will be back for sure. Beautiful and cozy. I wish we could’ve met the owners to thank them personally. Everything you would need or want was provided. Thank you again for an amazing stay.“

Holly Bounds – 5/5
“I had the pleasure of staying in studio suite A, which is on the top floor above the office with a spectacular view of Beaver Lake. It has an outdoor charcoal grill, full-size refrigerator, coffee pot with coffee and filters, microwave, and all kitchenware needed if you want to eat-in. There’s a Jacuzzi tub and a seating area along with the bed, a small TV, and dining table. There is no food on-site so hit the grocery on your way in. Note that the stairs are outside, and there is no elevator. Plenty of free parking. You will access the Resort via an uphill, gravel driveway so be advised if you are driving a low-slung car. That said, it was Corvette Weekend, and the ‘vettes made it just fine!“

Jean Villines – 5/5
“Great experience for our 40th anniversary,it was so nice and peaceful the scenic view was beautiful, everyone was helpful and very nice“

Sugar Ridge Resort Lodging Specials & Gift Certificates

Stay at our Beaver Lake resort and SAVE when you take advantage of our popular, Beaver Lake lodging specials.

Stay 3 nights and get Tuesday free with our Midweek Special, available Dec 1 through Dec 20, 2025.

Planning a New Year getaway? Great idea! Our Winter Special: 2+1 Free special gets you a 3rd night free when you stay any 2 nights, Jan 2 – Feb 11, 2026. 

Sugar Ridge Resort gift certificates

Both offers apply automatically when you book direct.

Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone? Who wouldn’t want to wake up to find a Beaver Lake resort vacation under their tree Christmas morning?

Give the gift of a Eureka Springs area getaway with Sugar Ridge Resort gift certificates!

Sugar Ridge Resort gift certificates have no set amount, can be used for almost anything at the Resort, and are good for up to five years from date of issue.

They’re also very easy to purchase. Just fill out the form, pay, and voila: Instant Beaver Lake vacation!

Sugar Ridge Resort wishes you and yours the very happiest of holidays.

Get Your Vroom On at Porsche Palooza 2025

Eureka Springs Porsche Palooza 2025

Mark your calendar for Eureka Springs Porsche Palooza 2025, November 5th through the 9th. This annual gathering of Porsche enthusiasts is part car show, part driving tour, and part social celebration. Perched above Beaver Lake at Sugar Ridge Resort, you’ll have a tranquil, unforgettable base for it all.

Early November in the Ozarks brings crisp mornings, golden hillsides, and the perfect setting for top-down drives. Porsche Palooza celebrates both the thrill of the open road and the art of slowing down.

Porsche Palooza is more than just another car show. It’s an expanded weekend loaded with events that cater to Porsche owners, fanatics, and casual fans alike. This year’s event already has 426 cars registered from 24 different states!

Sugar Ridge Resort on Beaver Lake is less than a half hour’s drive from the event in Eureka Springs. Spend the day at Palooza 2025, then it’s just a quick drive back to the peace and comfort of your room at our lakeside resort.

What to Expect at Porsche Palooza 2025

Palooza 2025 is scheduled for November 5 – 9, 2025 in Eureka Springs, AR. Though Palooza events are held all around Eureka Springs, the Convention Center at 207 W Van Buren is the official hub.

The event kicks off Wednesday evening with arrivals and registration. A full slate of scenic excursions on Thursday and Friday follows. These popular driving tours allow drivers to experience the unique handling of their cars on some of the region’s most scenic roads. Beyond the tours, attendees can enjoy technical sessions, clinics, and a variety of cocktail parties and meals.

Porsche Cabriolet

Saturday is the highlight of the weekend, beginning with shorter morning drives before the event’s big draw, the Porsche Parade through downtown Eureka Springs. An afternoon car show follows, with rows of gleaming Porsches displayed against the town’s Victorian backdrop. The evening concludes with an awards banquet.

It all wraps up Sunday morning with a farewell breakfast for the participants.

While the Best Western is the event’s official hub, it is expected to sell out fast. Further, staying at Sugar Ridge Resort gives you the best of both worlds: quiet respite away from the crush, but still close enough for daily commutes into town. With ten couples’ cabins, two family cabins, sweeping views, and proximity to boating and hiking, Sugar Ridge Resort offers a perfect escape.

Visit www.pca-palooza.com for a full schedule, registration, and more information.

Ozark Mountain Music Festival 2025

Ozark Mountain Music Festival 2025

Ozark Mountain Music Festival 2025 is just a couple of months away so now is a great time to make your plans to attend.  2025 celebrates OzMoMu’s 11th year and promises an unforgettable lineup of bands, topped by a major headliner! January 16-19th, 2025 at the Basin Park Hotel in downtown Eureka Springs.

Ozark Mountain Music Festival is a lively, four-day event held every winter in Eureka Springs since 2014. Each festival delivers a diverse lineup of 32 bands over four days. A collection of high-energy acts from a variety of genres, including bluegrass, folk, Americana, roots rock, and more.

OzMoMu has earned a reputation as a “music festival in a hotel,” blending the close-knit atmosphere of a house party with the thrill of a full-blown festival. The interactive, relaxed environment allows for spontaneous jam sessions and a chance to meet the performers. This immersive musical experience imbued with an infectious community spirit keeps people returning year after year.

Best of all, Ozark Mountain Music Festival 2025is less than half an hour’s drive from Sugar Ridge Resort! Enjoy hours of mountain music at the festival, then it’s an easy hop back to your Beaver Lake cabin or suite. What fun!

Ozark Mountain Music Festival 2025

While this year’s lineup has yet to be announced, we are assured it includes both returning favorites and fresh faces. Past years have seen such popular acts as Arkansauce, Wood & Wire, and Opal Agafia, to name but a few. With multiple, daily performances and plenty of room to dance, guests are in for a weekend of non-stop entertainment!

Beyond the music, OzMoMu also provides a variety of fun activities to enjoy along with the music. Things like theme nights, whiskey tastings, yoga & mimosas, ice skating, hatchet throwing, macrame, tie-dyeing, and even Door Decorating Contest.

attendees to OzMoMu 2025

Eureka Springs’ historic Basin Park Hotel provides the perfect setting for Ozark Mountain Music Festival. The festival’s venerable venue adds an extra layer of charm to the event with century-old character, stunning architecture, and vintage appeal.

OzMoMu sells out every year and all-access passes are going fast. Don’t miss this opportunity to secure your spot at one of the most anticipated music festival weekends of the year! Spend the weekend enjoying the festival and downtown Eureka Springs, then it’s just a quick and scenic drive back to your Beaver Lake cabin or suite. Great fun!

Visit the festival website to learn more and buy tickets. You can also follow this event on Facebook.

Here Comes War Eagle Craft Fair 2024!

War Eagle Craft Fair 2024

The weather is cooling and the foliage is beginning to change, which means it’s almost time for War Eagle Craft Fair 2024! This popular annual fall tradition attracts artisans, craftsmen, and visitors from all across the country. This year’s fair, scheduled for October 17-20, 2024, marks the event’s 70th annual return and promises to be as captivating as ever.

There are numerous reasons to visit the Eureka Springs area in autumn, including fall foliage, fun festivals, and fewer folks.  The annual War Eagle Craft Fair is a big part of the attraction and has been since 1954.

The annual War Eagle Craft Fair is really three craft fairs folded into one. There’s the War Eagle Mill Fall Arts and Crafts Fair, The Sharps’ Show, and War Eagle Fair. The four-day event features more than 300 artisans and draws an estimated 130,000 people, with annual sales exceeding $1 million.

The setting at the historic War Eagle Mill adds to the fair’s charm. The mill, with its iconic red structure and waterwheel, serves as a stunning backdrop. Located on the banks of the War Eagle River, the event provides a unique opportunity to enjoy fine craftsmanship, natural beauty, and the vibrant energy of a time-honored tradition. The peaceful War Eagle River and fall colors make it an ideal spot for a day of browsing and enjoying the crisp autumn air.

Best of all, the Mill is less than an hour’s scenic drive from our Beaver Lake cabins and suites. Enjoy a day of perusing all the fine offerings at the Craft Fair, knowing it’s just a short drive back to your accommodations at Sugar Ridge Resort.

War Eagle Craft Fair 2024

War Eagle Craft Fair goods

This year’s fair is scheduled for October 17th through the 20th, 2024. Historic War Eagle Mill, site of the craft fair, is located at 11045 War Eagle Road in Rogers, AR. 

Over 250 vendors will showcase their handmade goods at the fair, everything from jewelry and pottery to woodwork and textiles. Whether you’re looking for a unique gift, home décor, or wearable art, the fair offers something for everyone. Both seasoned artisans and fresh creators display their talents here, ensuring a diverse mix of items to explore.

Food lovers will find plenty to enjoy as well. You can snack on kettle corn, funnel cakes, and smoked meats. Fresh apple cider is a must-try, and the mill’s restaurant serves hearty meals made with locally ground flour. Don’t forget to pick up some flour as a souvenir of your visit.

The War Eagle Craft Fair captures the spirit of fall in the Ozarks. The combination of handmade crafts, local food, and natural beauty makes it an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a regular or a first-time visitor, this year’s fair promises to deliver a perfect autumn weekend.

Visit the craft fair website for more information. You can also follow the fair on Facebook.

Take to the Skies at Ozark Mountain Ziplines

Ozark Mountain Ziplines

Looking for a little high-flying adventure during your Beaver Lake getaway? Ozark Mountain Ziplines offers just that and more and is only 15 minutes away from Sugar Ridge Resort!

There’s no end to the ways you can enjoy yourself in the Beaver Lake area. Hiking, biking, caves, theater, shopping, dining, wineries, music, and more. Ziplining is one outdoor option that is guaranteed to get your blood flowing!

Those who’ve had the experience already know but, if never ridden a zipline, you’re in for quite a treat. The activity combines outdoor adventure with the fun of an amusement ride and can make you feel as if you’re flying like a bird.

Ozark Mountain Ziplines

Ozark Mountain Ziplines  (OMZ) is located on 66 forested acres at 208 West Van Buren, in Eureka Springs, AR. As we mention above, this is just a little over 10 minutes from the Beaver Lake cabins and suites at Sugar Ridge Resort.

Activities include a zipline course, on-site e-bike trails and rentals, and gem panning.

OMZ’s zipline course consists of 10 separate cables and a swinging bridge, stretching over 1.5 miles between the treetops. No man-made towers here! Helmeted zipliners safely glide from point to point along the cables, enjoying forested views from as high as 250′ off the ground. Choose from the full, two-hour canopy tour or the express, 40 minute tour.

e-mountain biking

Visitors can also rent e-mountain bikes to explore the center’s two-mile loop trail. While you still need to pedal, the e-bikes make getting over the rugged and bumpy hills that much easier. The trail includes streams, bridges, unique rock formations, and zipliners soaring overhead. There’s even a picnic area to stop, eat, and take in the scenery.

You can also pan for gems at OMZ’s Ozark Mountain Mining Company. Panners pay for a bag of “mining rough” to put through an authentic mining sluice. This washes the sand and dirt away to reveal what is hidden within. What treasures will you find? A fun-filled, all-ages activity and lesson in both history and geology.

Spend a few hours zipping from tree to tree, riding the trails, and panning for gems, then it’s just a short, scenic drive back to your comfy, lakeside cabin or suite at Sugar Ridge Resort. The makings of a perfect day!

Visit www.ziplineeurekasprings.com for hours, reservations, and more information. You can also find OMZ on Facebook.

Explore Roaring River State Park

Roaring River Spring
“Roaring River Spring” by Jeff Weese is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Those looking for a truly unique outdoor attraction will enjoy a visit to Missouri’s Roaring River State Park. Best of all, this popular destination is less than a half hour’s drive from the Beaver Lake cabins and suites of Sugar Ridge Resort!

You could easily spend a busy week in the Eureka Springs area and still not experience all there is to see and do here. Between all the local festivals, shopping, entertainment, history, and natural attractions, there’s never a need to stray too far afield.

Eureka Springs isn’t the only interesting place in the area, however. The entire region is loaded with fun things to do and see! Roaring River State Park is a great example of what we’re talking about.

The park is in a deep, narrow, river valley, carved out over the centuries by the Roaring River. In fact, one of the park’s most fascinating features is that it’s home to the source of the Roaring River!

Not only is Roaring River one of Missouri’s most popular state parks, it’s only a scenic, 25 minute drive away!

Roaring River State Park

This fantastic State Park can be found at 12716 Farm Road 2239 in Cassville, Missouri, only ten minutes or so past the Missouri/Arkansas border.

Roaring River Spring, located beneath a high limestone cliff, produces 20+ million gallons of water a day, on average. The water flows out into a deep blue pool that, while only 10 feet across, has been explored to a depth of 223 feet!

Another, smaller spring, located at the top of the cliff, cascades down into the main pool below. The water flows out of the deep pool, through a fish hatchery, then out to form the Roaring River. Fascinating!

Roaring River State Park Dam and Spillway
“Roaring River State Park Dam and Spillway” by Keith Snyder is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

As you can imagine, with the hatchery right there, fishing at the park is excellent. The waters offer year ’round, rainbow trout fishing but anyone 16 years of age or older will need a Missouri fishing permit to wet a line. Many prefer to simply watch and feed the many trout found swimming in the deep blue of the spring pool.

Roaring River State Park also offers 7 hiking trails. Trails that explore the 4,294 acre park, including hardwood forests, small streams, and strange geological formations.

Other park features include a historic CCC and WPA structures, the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center, a park store, restaurant, picnic tables, and more.

Visit the park website for more information.

Spend the day exploring the park, then it’s a just a a short and scenic drive back to your Beaver Lake cabin or suite at Sugar Ridge Resort. A great way to spend a vacation day!

Visit Onyx Cave Park – Arkansas’ Oldest Show Cave

Onyx Cave Park

The Eureka Springs area is home to a wide number of rare, unique, and historical attractions, including Onyx Cave, Arkansas’ oldest show cave. In fact, Onyx Cave Park is only a half-hour’s scenic drive from the Beaver Lake cabins of Sugar Ridge Resort!

There’s no end to the fun you can get up to here at Beaver Lake, Arkansas. Sugar Ridge Resort is perched high above Beaver Lake for breathtaking, 180 degree views. Visitors come to enjoy fishing, scenic drives, boating, hikes, and many other outdoor activities.

We’re also just next door to Eureka Springs and its cornucopia of activities, events, and attractions. Must-see destinations and happenings like Blue Spring Heritage Center, Christ of the Ozarks, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, the Original Ozark Folk Festival, War Eagle Craft Fair, Eureka Gras, and so much more.

One type of attraction that you can find all over the area is caves. Arkansas is riddled with fascinating caves that you can visit and tour.  As I mentioned above, the area is home to Arkansas’ oldest show cave: Onyx Cave.

Onyx Cave first opened to the public in 1893, making the attraction over 130 years old in 2024.

Show caves were not always as well understood, respected, or protected as they are now. In the early days, visitors didn’t think twice about taking a souvenir home with them. Consequently, Onyx shows a lot of past wear and tear. Why, the cave even had scenes from a movie shot in it: “It’s Alive,” a 1969 B-Movie thriller. Despite this fact, Onyx Cave still has plenty to reveal to those willing to explore it.

The cave gets its name from the many weird and fascinating flowstone formations found within. Flowstone, once commonly referred to as “cave onyx,”  is a smooth, sheet-like deposit of calcite found in limestone caves. It forms over thousands of years, deposited by flowing water and often resembling the flow that deposited it.

Onyx Cave Park

Visitors to the park can enjoy a self-guided, 30 minute audio tour of the cave. Paths in the cave are smooth and level, with steps and handrails where necessary. You’ll see stalactites, stalagmites, and lots of flowstone in chambers with names like the Witches Fireplace and the Friendly Dragon.

The audio guide will direct your attention to notable cave features and provide other interesting facts about the cave’s history, geology, and wildlife. You may even be luck enough to see a bat, salamander, or other natural cave denizen. Fascinating – but don’t forget an extra layer! Onyx Cave’s temperature stays around 57° F (13.8° C) all year ’round, no matter the season or weather.

Beyond the cave tour, park visitors may also enjoy semi-precious gem-panning, axe-throwing, and a host of unique items for sale in the gift shop. They even have snow cones, the perfect treat on a hot day. Yum!

Onyx Cave is located in Onyx Cave Park at 338 Onyx Cave Lane, Eureka Springs, AR 72632

Visit the cave website for seasonal hours and other information. You can also visit the cave on Facebook.

Spend your day out exploring the natural wonders of the Eureka Springs area, then head back to the supreme comfort of your Beaver Lake cabins and suites at Sugar Ridge Resort. Who could ask for more?

stalactites inside Onyx Cave
axe-throwing at Onyx Cave Park
cavern inside Onyx Cave

Experience the 2024 Solar Eclipse on Beaver Lake

2024 Solar Eclipse path of totality over North America

Make your 2024 Solar Eclipse experience even more spectacular with 180 degree views over the Ozarks, here on the shores of Beaver Lake, at Sugar Ridge Resort.

As you likely already know, there will be a total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024, visible diagonally across the US, from Texas to Maine, including a large swath of Arkansas. Though our portion of Northern Arkansas is not directly under eclipse, we’re just next door, so can still expect a fantastic show.

Partial and total solar eclipses aren’t actually all that rare. In fact, there’s one visible somewhere on the planet just about every 18 months.  What makes them seem so rare is that an eclipse’s “path of totality,” the band of darkness it creates, is actually fairly narrow. If you’re not under that “path of totality,” you see only a partial eclipse – or even nothing at all if you’re too far away.

As I say above, Beaver Lake is not directly under the path of totality, so what we’ll see is a partial eclipse – still an amazing natural show to experience over the lake! Especially with the 180 degree views available from our Beaver Lake, AR cabins and suites.

2024 Solar Eclipse Over Beaver Lake

2024 Solar Eclipse Over Beaver Lake

Solar eclipse totalities, when the moon completely obscures all but the sun’s corona, can last from 10 seconds to nearly 7 and a half minutes. Here in northern Arkansas, the 2024 solar eclipse totality will last as long as 4 minutes.

On Beaver Lake, we can expect partial coverage of the sun to begin on April 8th, 2024, at around 12:37pm. The eclipse peaks at about 1:54pm, and everything will be back to normal by around 3:15pm. That’s nearly three hours of out of this world, natural phenomenon to enjoy!

They say that 180,000 eclipse watchers are coming to Arkansas for this historic, astronomical event. Most, of course, will head deeper into the state to enjoy the full path of totality. For those unable to find accommodations inside the path of totality, or maybe looking for a less crowded, lakeside experience, we suggest a stay at Sugar Ridge Resort.

Not only are our Eureka Springs cabins and suites located high above Beaver Lake with 180 degree views of the surrounding Ozarks but Eureka Springs is just next door. Consequently, our guests can enjoy fishing, boating, hiking, scenic drives, stunning sunsets, shopping, dining, festivals, theater, and more!

So go ahead and book your stay at Sugar Ridge Resort for the 2024 Solar Eclipse over Beaver Lake – but do it fast before we’re all booked up!

Learn more about the upcoming 2024 total solar eclipse over Arkansas at www.greatamericaneclipse.com.

Don’t Miss Original Ozark Folk Festival 2023

Original Ozark Folk Festival 2023

Original Ozark Folk Festival 2023, America’s longest continuously running folk festival, is just weeks away! The 76th annual return is set to occur November 9th through the 11th, 2023 in Eureka Springs City Auditorium.

Original Ozark Folk Festival 2023 celebrates the American Songwriter with 2 days of live music from rising stars of the folk world. This year’s lineup includes John Fullbright, Matt the Electrician, and Trout Fishing in America. There will also be a special performance by the Kelly Willis, Brennon Leigh and Melissa Carper super trio! All appearing at The Aud in downtown Eureka Springs.

The festival also includes the annual Barefoot Ball at Eureka Springs’ Basin Park Hotel. This year’s lineup for the Ball includes opening act The Nightimers (Shilah Molina and Doc Hopper), followed by Jumpsuit Jamey & the Can’t Wait To Play Boys.

Attendees on Friday and Saturday will also want to check out The Ozark Folk Faire in the Auditorium Basement, 11am to 4pm, Friday and Saturday. This is an annual arts and crafts show featuring wonderful handcrafted goods and live folk music. This year’s Folk Faire promises a variety of free performances by the Korey McKelvy Duo, Opal Agafia and DeAnna Smith, Trout Fishing in America, and many others.

The festival’s main aim is keeping the traditional folk music and traditions of the Ozarks alive. and many performers come to the festival with homemade instruments. In fact, many attend the festival hoping to buy genuine, Ozark instruments.

Best of all, Sugar Ridge Resort is less than a half hour’s drive from all the Folk Festival fun in downtown Eureka Springs!

Original Ozark Folk Festival 2023

banjo player at Original Ozark Folk Festival 2023

This year’s festival is scheduled for November 9th through the 11th, at the Eureka Springs City Auditorium. Nearby Basin Spring Park will be a site of free concerts and jam sessions throughout the weekend.

Thursday, November 9
6:30pm to 7:30pm – Hedgehoppers
8pm to 11pm – Barefoot Ball at the City Auditorium. NightTimers, featuring Shila Molina and Doc Hopper, and Jumpsuit Jamey and the Can’t Wait to Play Boys

Friday, November 10
11am to 4pm –  Ozark Folk Fair. The Kory McKelvey Duo, Opal Agafia and DeAnna Smith, and Mountain Alice & Dylan Hawf
7pm to 8:30pm – Trout Fishing in America and Matt the Electrician

Saturday, November 11
11am to 4pm – Ozark Folk Fair. Jesse Dean, Still on the Hill, Trout Fishing in America, and the Luthier Bayard Blain Trio.
7pm-9:15pm – John Fullbright and The Melissa Carper, Brennen Leigh, Kelly Willis Trio

So go ahead. Spend the day in Eureka Springs enjoying folk music, crafts, and other Ozark Mountain traditions, then it’s just a quick, scenic drive back to your Beaver Lake cabin or lake view suite at Sugar Ridge Resort. Perfect!

Visit the Ozark Folk Festival’s Facebook page for more information.

Take In the Arkansas Fall Foliage at Beaver Lake

Arkansas Fall Foliage at Beaver Lake
The view from Sugar Ridge Resort

Spring has sprung, summer has come and gone. Now it’s time for fall – and what a glorious fall it will be! This year’s autumn colors are going to be especially vibrant and Beaver Lake is the perfect Arkansas fall foliage destination!

It’s always beautiful at Beaver Lake but it’s also true that some seasons are more striking than others. While it’s hard to beat the greening in spring and sunny summer, autumn’s colors have it, hands down.

Here in Northern Arkansas, notable color change begins working its way down the mountains in late September or early October. Peak color typically appears late October. That means now is the perfect time start planning your Arkansas fall foliage getaway at Sugar Ridge Resort!

Our location, perched high above Beaver Lake, means non-stop leaf-peeping, with 180 degree views of the Ozarks and Beaver Lake. Plus we’re surrounded by endless opportunities for scenic drives, hikes, and other fall activities.

Arkansas Fall Foliage Drives

One of the easiest and most pleasant ways to take in as much Arkansas fall foliage as possible is with a relaxing, scenic drive.  The winding mountain roads of the Ozarks are always entrancing but, come fall, they verge on the fantastic. Head out and take in all those amazing fall colors, stopping whenever you like to really take in all that majestic beauty.

Autumn road trip possibilities in and around Eureka Springs are nearly endless. Many of the area’s scenic byways are absolutely stunning in fall. We suggest checking out the drive between highways 23 and 16 and highways 7 and 62, for starters.

Ozark National Forest in autumn
Ozark National Forest

Another good option is Scenic 7 Byway, one of the area’s – and the country’s – most popular fall drives. The 290 mile route, located in Ozark National Forest, just south of Eureka Springs, offers varied geography and scenic views.

Pig Trail Scenic Byway is also particularly brilliant in both spring and fall. Pig Trail is a 19 mile long tunnel of foliage that crosses the Mulberry River and the 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail.

Pea Ridge National Military Park is another fine, fall destination. Visit the park and drive the self-guided tour to experience both the historic battlefield and the area’s amazing fall foliage.

Fall Foliage Hikes and Biking Trails

Scenic drives are great but there may be no better way to enjoy the Arkansas fall foliage than to simply get out in it. Luckily, both Beaver Lake and Eureka Springs are loaded with excellent hiking and mountain biking opportunities.

Whitaker Point, aka Hawksbill Crag, is considered the most romantic spot in the Arkansas. Come autumn, it’s also an incredible vantage point for viewing an absolute sea of fall colors. The moderately challenging, 2.7-mile round-trip hike on Whitaker Point Trail takes around 2 hours but pays off in fantastic, panoramic views.

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is another worthy fall foliage destination. The park offers 10,000 acres hiking, biking, fishing, and exceptional views of the Ozark Mountains.

Hawksbill Crag in Autumn
Whitaker Point, aka Hawksbill Crag

Nearby Hobbs State Park is Arkansas largest state park with over 12,000 acres of dense Ozarks forest, Beaver Lake shoreline, bike trails, and walking paths. Be sure to check out the Visitor Center and Van Winkle Hollow, too.

Eureka Springs’ Lake Leatherwood City Park is another fun leaf-peeping destination. The popular park has picnic spots and lovely paths and trails for hiking and biking.

And More …

We’ve only touched on a few of the fall drives and hikes near our Beaver Lake AR cabins and suites. We didn’t even mention all the nearby shopping, dining and museums.

Nor did we talk about all the fun, fall season festivals. Things like the Bikes Blues and BBQ Weekend, Eureka Springs Oktoberfest, Corvette Weekend, War Eagle Craft Fair, the Original Ozark Folk Festival, and did I mention Halloween?

Is it any wonder that Eureka Springs is one of the best fall foliage getaways in the country. Come share it with us, on Beaver Lake, at Sugar Ridge Resort.

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