Mount Magazine State Park is located SE of Paris Ark and encompasses the entire “cap” of Mount Magazine, which features the highest point in Arkansas at 2753′. There are several trails around the rim and connectors to create loops of various lengths, and a longer trail that runs 10.5 miles north and east down the mountain to the Cove Lake Recreation Area.
In addition to the trails, there is a visitor center, picnic areas, campground, lodge, cabins, amphitheater, and even a hang-glider launch. The mountain rises about 2000′ above the surrounding area so it is a very prominent feature where “on a clear day you can see forever”.
The State Park covers 2234 acres and lies entirely within the Ozark-St Francis National Forest’s 6375-acre Mount Magazine Special Interest Area, which itself is just a small part of the 113K-acre Mount Magazine Wildlife Management Area.
Here are trip reports from some May ’13 sightseeing and an Aug ’14 hike.
Maps
Here’s some general info about my maps. Every time I update the map the file will have a different name so if you want to bookmark or share it, link to this page – not the file. This map set is a 2-page PDF that covers all the trails in the state park and will be about 1:12000 scale on 11×17″ paper. I used a larger scale for the mountain-top trails to avoid crowding the features but I might rethink the arrangement.
Map version 3, published April 30 2024, added mileage between key trail points and various styling tweaks.
Trail Heads
Benefield 35.1630°N 93.6060°W
Quarry / Horse Camp 35.1769°N 93.5926°W
Visitor Center 35.1745°N 93.6194°W
Brown’s Spring 35.1698°N 93.6504°W
Signal Hill 35.1705°N 93.6449°W
Trails
Bear Hollow 2.7 miles, orange blazes. Runs from the Quarry trail head to the Benefield area on top of a bluff. Many great easterly views. The crossing of Big Shoal Creek is a great place for a picnic.
Benefield East Loop 1.0 mile, blue blazes. Crosses to the south side of AR-309 and runs along the top of the bluff with many great southerly views. The bluff segment is also accessible from the Petit Jean Valley Overlook. The northern segment has a 0.15-mile loop that runs along a narrow ledge at the top of a bluff.
Benefield West Loop 0.9 miles, blue blazes. Crosses AR-309 to a small wildlife pond at the junction with the Mossback Ridge trail.
Dripping Spring 2 miles (one way), begins at the Brown’s Spring Picnic Area and goes west along the north rim, ending at a radio tower. You can road-walk a bit south to the main road then west to Sunset Point at the west rim (0.5 miles). This is a nice trail with many scenic picnic spots but it’s not described in any of the park’s current trail literature. The visitor center has an old write-up available that describes it and the many points of interest along the north rim that are accessible from here. Sep ’14 trip.
Greenfield 0.9 miles, green blazes. Runs north & south as a connector between the Mossback Ridge trail and the Greenfield picnic area across the road from the Visitor Center. A 0.3-mile spur runs from the picnic area down an old wagon road to Turkey Springs.
Huckleberry Mountain A 35?-mile network of multi-use trails, mostly east of Mount Magazine. The western end is at the Quarry / Horse Camp area.
Mossback Ridge 1.9 miles, yellow blazes. Runs high along Mossback Ridge.
North Rim 2.4 miles, red blazes. Runs between the Visitor Center and the Cameron Bluff Campground, mostly along the top of a bluff. Many great north & west views.
Signal Hill 1.4 mile loop, with a 0.1 mile spur toward the lodge, and a 0.13 mile connector to the Mossback Ridge trail. This leads to the high point at 2753′ elevation where there is a monument and some benches. The area is wooded so there are no big views.
Will Apple’s Road 1.6 miles. An old road that runs between the Visitor Center and Quarry areas. I believe it is open to mountain bikes. A short spur leads steeply down to a spring and the remains of a swimming pool that were part of the Tom Buckman homestead and inn.
Some ideas for loops, assuming a start at the Visitor Center:
- “Short East”, 7 miles: Will Apple’s Road east to the Quarry, Bear Hollow trail south through the Benefield area to the Mossback Ridge trail, west to the Greenfield junction, north to the Visitor Center. Could be lengthened by adding the Benefield East Loop.
- “Long East”, about 10 miles: Will Apple’s Road east to the Quarry, Bear Hollow trail south, Benefield East Loop, west on Mossback Ridge to the North Rim Connector, east on North Rim trail back to the Visitor Center.
- “West”, about 6 miles: North Rim Trail west to Cameron Bluff Campground, south to Signal Hill trail and over the high point, east to the Mossback Ridge trail, continue east to the Greenfield junction, north to the Visitor Center.
- “The Big Loop”, about 11.25 miles. Will Apple’s Road east to the Quarry, south on Bear Hollow, around Benefield East Loop and west on Mossback Ridge, north on Signal Hill and through the campground, North Rim east to the Visitor Center.
Photos
Last review/update: Oct 29 2025
The Compulsive Hiker 