Ozark Mountain Regions

America’s first national river, the Buffalo is still one of the wildest, purest nature experiences you can have anywhere. All around are waterfalls, hiking trails and campsites. The river rises in spring, and the flow picks up considerably before settling down again in July, making this the perfect time for float trips. Hiking and camping are extremely popular. The Riverview Trail to Tyler Bend is especially scenic and always worth the trip.

Spanning nearly 46,000 acres with 1,000 miles of shoreline, Bull Shoals Lake is an outdoor playground. Its wide-open waters and surrounding bluffs make Bull Shoals a seasonal hotspot for boating and water sports of every kind. A prolific fishery, Bull Shoals Lake is very popular with anglers. Bull Shoals Lake is especially popular with anglers, offering abundant bass, crappie, and walleye. The lake is also intersected by the winding White River, home to multiple species of trout.

Nestled in the heart of the Ozarks, Norfork Lake offers 22,000 acres of crystal-clear water and over 550 miles of shoreline. This quiet, scenic lake is a favorite for anglers, boaters and anyone looking to relax and get away from the crowds. Water sports, tubing and parasailing are popular in the late spring and summer. Fishing, particularly for bass and crappie, is good pretty much any time of year, and the scenery never disappoints. The Norfork Lake Tailwater is a great place to fish for many species of trout too.

Cotter, Arkansas is known as the “Trout Capital in the USA” for good reason. The White River is a year-round fishing destination that contains multiple species of trout, including Brown, Rainbow, Brook and Cutthroat trout. Flyfishing and reel fishing are equally popular. A lesser known fact about White River is the terrific bass fishing, with smallmouth, largemouth and white bass showing up in abundance. Guided and self-guided fishing trips are available, and lodging ranges from tent camping to full-on resort stays.