There’s no better way to celebrate spring than by taking an awesome wildflower road trip. This flower-powered tour will be the perfect chance to see the Natural State in an explosion of color. Let’s frolic through these nine fields that are bursting with wildflowers.
Here’s a map of today’s lovely wildflower trip.
Google Maps Don’t feel like you have to tackle the whole thing in a day. Pick an area closest to you or take a weekend to explore each field. Use this link for detailed directions.
- Cherokee Prairie Natural Area - Charleston
Facebook/Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission The first two stops can be enjoyed at the same time since their right next to each other. Both were originally part of the 135,000-acre Cherokee Prairie Complex that covered the valley. This area is the larger of the two and has an excellent mix of colorful wildflowers.
- H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area - Charleston
Facebook/Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission This one is the smaller remnant of the Cherokee Prairie Complex but is still an Instagram-worthy stop. The 500-acre natural area has an jaw-dropping field of Blazing Star flowers.
- Baker Prairie Natural Area - Harrison
Facebook/Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission Baker Prairie is a small preserved piece of what was once a 5,000-acre tallgrass prairie covering Harrison. The natural area has two loop trails and a nifty cell-friendly audio tour.
- Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area- Lonsdale
Facebook/Arkansas Native Plant Society The shale glades, woodlands, and barrens of Middle Fork is a wonderful mix of habitats. In addition to the river and forest of the area, Middle Fork also has lovely fields of white and purple wildflowers.
- Allsopp Park Trail - Little Rock
AllTrails/Matthew Corbello If you’re wanting more structure than just an open field, head to Little Rock for a family-friendly hike. The trail is surrounded with lovely wildflowers and is perfect for dogs or bikes.
- Downs Prairie Natural Area - De Valls Bluff
Facebook/Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission The Downs Prairie Natural Area is positively filled with beautiful Indian paintbrush wildflowers. There’s also a surprisingly large amount of evening-primrose and white wild indigo. In addition to being colorful, this field is also quite musical. The area has the largest population of an threaten species of cricket, whose chip can be heard up to 400 meters away!
- Byrd Lake Natural Area - Pine Bluff
Facebook/Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission One of the more unique places to see the blooming wildflowers of Arkansas is at Byrd Lake. The bayou is punctuated with giant cypress trees as well as swatches of yellow wildflowers. There’s a short paved trail that tours the natural area that’s perfect for young ones.
- Terre Noire Natural Area - Arkadelphia
Facebook/The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas If you’d like to see the gorgeous flora and fauna of a true blackland prairie, head to Terre Noire. This natural area has a ton of purple wildflowers from blazing star to coneflowers. It’s also home to a fairly rare bird, the Bachman’s sparrow.
- Rick Evans Grandview Prairie - Columbus
Google/Dylan Morse We’ll end this road trip with one of our favorites, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie. The nearly 5,000-acre prairie is perfect for curious explorers since it’s also home to a fantastic education center.
Where’s your favorite place to sit in a field of wildflowers? It’s too small to be added to this list but we do love the red clover fields in Hackett! Share your favorites with us in the comments below!
Google Maps
Don’t feel like you have to tackle the whole thing in a day. Pick an area closest to you or take a weekend to explore each field. Use this link for detailed directions.
Facebook/Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission
The first two stops can be enjoyed at the same time since their right next to each other. Both were originally part of the 135,000-acre Cherokee Prairie Complex that covered the valley. This area is the larger of the two and has an excellent mix of colorful wildflowers.
This one is the smaller remnant of the Cherokee Prairie Complex but is still an Instagram-worthy stop. The 500-acre natural area has an jaw-dropping field of Blazing Star flowers.
Baker Prairie is a small preserved piece of what was once a 5,000-acre tallgrass prairie covering Harrison. The natural area has two loop trails and a nifty cell-friendly audio tour.
Facebook/Arkansas Native Plant Society
The shale glades, woodlands, and barrens of Middle Fork is a wonderful mix of habitats. In addition to the river and forest of the area, Middle Fork also has lovely fields of white and purple wildflowers.
AllTrails/Matthew Corbello
If you’re wanting more structure than just an open field, head to Little Rock for a family-friendly hike. The trail is surrounded with lovely wildflowers and is perfect for dogs or bikes.
The Downs Prairie Natural Area is positively filled with beautiful Indian paintbrush wildflowers. There’s also a surprisingly large amount of evening-primrose and white wild indigo. In addition to being colorful, this field is also quite musical. The area has the largest population of an threaten species of cricket, whose chip can be heard up to 400 meters away!
One of the more unique places to see the blooming wildflowers of Arkansas is at Byrd Lake. The bayou is punctuated with giant cypress trees as well as swatches of yellow wildflowers. There’s a short paved trail that tours the natural area that’s perfect for young ones.
Facebook/The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas
If you’d like to see the gorgeous flora and fauna of a true blackland prairie, head to Terre Noire. This natural area has a ton of purple wildflowers from blazing star to coneflowers. It’s also home to a fairly rare bird, the Bachman’s sparrow.
Google/Dylan Morse
We’ll end this road trip with one of our favorites, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie. The nearly 5,000-acre prairie is perfect for curious explorers since it’s also home to a fantastic education center.
Another flower-powered trip to take is to this massive tulip garden.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
