The Talimena Scenic Drive
Nature’s quiet solitude, the Talimena Scenic Drive, falls gently like a ribbon over the Winding Stair and Rich Mountains. Cresting the highest points between the Appalachians and the Rockies, the landscape appears almost untouched. One breathtaking panorama follows another along this 54 mile, National Designated Scenic Byway, as it winds along forested mountain tops between Talihina, Oklahoma and Mena, Arkansas. From this vantage point you can enjoy the four distinctive seasons of the Ouachita National Forest at their best.
Once the Wild West the byway blazes through territory rich in history. Visit the treacherous Indian Territory where renegades and outlaws hid from the law. Learn about early settlers and the Native Americans who once called this land home. Discover the fascinating stories of famous frontiersmen and immigrants who passed through this wilderness.
A Land of Fascinating Extremes over 2,500 species of native plants and beautiful wildflowers decorate the terrain with brilliant displays of colors and smells. Wildlife such as bear and deer find haven here and can be spotted crossing the road. Outstanding rock features pose roadside, revealing the underlying compressional forces that created these mountains.
This mountainous, densely forested region boasts some of the state’s most spectacular scenery; the Talimena National Scenic Byway (SH-I) is the only road in Oklahoma built expressly for its view and is a favorite of motoring sightseers. The 37-mile route climbs across sky-high ridges and spirals to the top of the Winding Stair Mountains’ highest peaks, with a number of turnout vistas along the way.
The Kerr Nature Center is located midway on the scenic drive. Offering drinking water, flush toilets, self-guided interpretive trails, and an exhibit pavilion.
Queen Wilhelmina State Park offers a lodge with restaurant, RV Sites, Excursion Train, Put-Put Golf, Petting Zoo, and live entertainment.
Spectacular fall color brings visitors to the drive and National Forest from the middle of October through the middle of November.
For more information on the drive and the surrounding area, visit the Talimena Scenic Drive Association’s website at talimenascenicdrive.com.
