Witness Oklahoma's Best Fall Foliage On This Underrated Scenic Byway Bursting With Color

One of the best ways to see fall colors in the U.S .is on an epic road trip on one of the country's scenic byways. And one fall road trip you should definitely not miss is the Talimena National Scenic Byway, which travels between Oklahoma and Arkansas in the gorgeous Ouachita Mountains. The route packs a ton of stunning scenery into its 54 miles, with 22 pull-out points where you can stop to ooh and ahh at the reds, golds, and oranges exploding out in every direction. The particular mix of trees in the Ouachita National Forest sets the stage for a brilliant contrast, with the vibrant foliage of the hardwoods set against the deep greens of the shortleaf pines. While the leaves' colors begin emerging as early as September, they peak later in October, the perfect month for a rejuvenating fall getaway. 

On the Oklahoma side, the route begins near the town of Talihina, where Highway 271 meets Oklahoma State Highway 1 (OK-1) and then continues eastward on OK-1 / AR-88 all the way to Mena, Arkansas. While this journey only takes about an hour of continuous driving, you can stretch that out by stopping at the viewpoints and rest areas along the way. There are also hiking trails at some of these stopping points, providing opportunities for close-up views of the fall foliage and maybe even a few wildlife sightings, as turkey, bear, quail, fox, raccoons, opossums, groundhogs, chipmunks, gray squirrels, armadillos, coyotes, and roadrunners are plentiful in the Ouachita Mountains. 

While the whole journey is amazing, there are a few specific spots you should hit on your Talimena Scenic Byway adventure. One of these is a gas station, which you can find in Talihina, on the west end of the byway and Mena, on the east end, since you won't find any along the route. Also at the byway's ends are the East and West End Visitor Information Centers, which are recommended if you want to learn more about the region. If you happen to miss the visitor centers, signposts at the byway's viewpoints also provide meaningful historical information, including about Native People such as the Choctaw Nation Indian Tribe.

One not-to-miss stopover on the Arkansas side of the byway is Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Here, you can stretch your legs and get even closer views of the fall foliage on one of the park's walking trails, such as the 1.3-mile Lover's Leap trail, which features a striking overlook. The park also has picnic areas, 41 campsites, and interpretive programs on the park's history, flora, and fauna. Besides the nature, one of the most interesting things in this park is its historic lodge, located at the summit of Arkansas' second-highest mountain, Rich Peak. If you're hungry after all that driving, the restaurant at the lodge serves chicken and dumplings, pie, and other hearty southern dishes throughout the year, even in non-peak season. Want to keep driving? Check out our article on yet another scenic road trip in beautiful Arkansas, this one in the Ozark Mountains.