Artist Point in Arkansas
The famous overlook is on
U.S. Highway 71 between
Fayetteville and Mountainburg.
The famous overlook is on
U.S. Highway 71 between
Fayetteville and Mountainburg.
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Artist Point and Artist Point Falls, Arkansas
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Artist Point and Artist Point Falls, Arkansas
| View from Artist Point The overlook at Artist Point provides one of the most stunning views to be found along the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop. |
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Artist Point Falls
Down a trail from the Artist
Point store and museum can
be found Artist Point Falls, a
beautiful waterfall that
cascades down the mountain.
Down a trail from the Artist
Point store and museum can
be found Artist Point Falls, a
beautiful waterfall that
cascades down the mountain.
View from Artist Point
The tallest rise in the distance
is White Rock Mountain, one
of the most beautiful spots in
Arkansas.
The tallest rise in the distance
is White Rock Mountain, one
of the most beautiful spots in
Arkansas.
Artist Point Falls in Winter
The waterfall tumbles over
cascades as it makes its way
down the mountain.
The waterfall tumbles over
cascades as it makes its way
down the mountain.
Artist Point and Artist Point Falls - Boston Mountains, Arkansas
Stunning Mountain Beauty
Named because it has been a favorite spot
for artists and photographers for decades,
Artist Point in the Boston Mountains of
Northwest Arkansas offers one of the most
spectacular views to be found in Arkansas.
The point, with its folksy museum and gift
shop, is located along the U.S. Highway 71
segment of the Boston Mountains Scenic
Loop. This section of the loop was once a
major route for traffic making its way through
the mountains between Fayetteville and the
Arkansas River Valley. It was bypassed by
Interstate 540 and now provides a much
more leisurely and traffic free drive through
the mountains.
The Boston Mountains are part of the famed
Ozarks and hold an important place in
Arkansas history. These hills and valleys
long provided a natural divide between the
growing cities of Northwest Arkansas and the
communities of Fort Smith, Van Buren and
Alma to the south.
Confederate troops used the mountains as a
natural fortification during the Civil War. The
rough terrain made it difficult for the Union
army to locate and track the movements of
Southern forces as they made their way back
and forth through the mountains. This
provided both security and an opportunity to
advance without detection for Confederates.
The mountains played key roles in the Pea
Ridge and Prairie Grove campaigns of 1862.
An overlook at Artist Point provides visitors
with a spectacular vista of the mountains and
valleys. A coin-operated telescope makes it
possible to get a close-up view of distant
White Rock Mountain, one of the most scenic
spots in the Ozark National Forest.
In addition to its spectacular view of the
mountains, the overlook at Artist Point also is
a great place to see an outstanding crop of
kudzu. Sometimes called the "vine that ate
the South," kudzu is a remarkable non-native
plant that was introduced into the United
States in 1876.
A nursery in Chipley, Florida, became
interested in the plant because of its
potential use in feeding cattle (it is high in
nitrogen) and the rest is history. Kudzu now
covers more than seven million acres of
Southern land and its spread is continuing. It
has recently been discovered growing as far
north as the Great Lakes. The entire
mountainside below the Artist Point overlook
is covered with it.
for artists and photographers for decades,
Artist Point in the Boston Mountains of
Northwest Arkansas offers one of the most
spectacular views to be found in Arkansas.
The point, with its folksy museum and gift
shop, is located along the U.S. Highway 71
segment of the Boston Mountains Scenic
Loop. This section of the loop was once a
major route for traffic making its way through
the mountains between Fayetteville and the
Arkansas River Valley. It was bypassed by
Interstate 540 and now provides a much
more leisurely and traffic free drive through
the mountains.
The Boston Mountains are part of the famed
Ozarks and hold an important place in
Arkansas history. These hills and valleys
long provided a natural divide between the
growing cities of Northwest Arkansas and the
communities of Fort Smith, Van Buren and
Alma to the south.
Confederate troops used the mountains as a
natural fortification during the Civil War. The
rough terrain made it difficult for the Union
army to locate and track the movements of
Southern forces as they made their way back
and forth through the mountains. This
provided both security and an opportunity to
advance without detection for Confederates.
The mountains played key roles in the Pea
Ridge and Prairie Grove campaigns of 1862.
An overlook at Artist Point provides visitors
with a spectacular vista of the mountains and
valleys. A coin-operated telescope makes it
possible to get a close-up view of distant
White Rock Mountain, one of the most scenic
spots in the Ozark National Forest.
In addition to its spectacular view of the
mountains, the overlook at Artist Point also is
a great place to see an outstanding crop of
kudzu. Sometimes called the "vine that ate
the South," kudzu is a remarkable non-native
plant that was introduced into the United
States in 1876.
A nursery in Chipley, Florida, became
interested in the plant because of its
potential use in feeding cattle (it is high in
nitrogen) and the rest is history. Kudzu now
covers more than seven million acres of
Southern land and its spread is continuing. It
has recently been discovered growing as far
north as the Great Lakes. The entire
mountainside below the Artist Point overlook
is covered with it.
Boston Mountains Scenic Loop
Devil's Den State Park
White Rock Mountain
The Ozarks of Arkansas
Waterfalls of Arkansas
Historic Sites in Arkansas
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Devil's Den State Park
White Rock Mountain
The Ozarks of Arkansas
Waterfalls of Arkansas
Historic Sites in Arkansas
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
The store at Artist Point sells handmade
crafts and is noted for the hummingbirds that
swarm to the feeders on its back deck. The
store also houses a museum featuring
unique artifacts from such places as Spiro
Mounds.
Immediately behind the store is a trail that
leads down the mountain to Artist Point Falls.
This beautiful waterfall begins with a 15-foot
fall from which the water then tumbles over a
series of cascades and other falls as it
makes its way down the slope.
The trail to the waterfall is 1.2 miles round
trip, but be aware that it is very steep and that
the trip back up the mountain is strenuous.
As with all waterfalls, be cautious as the
rocks surrounding them are often very
slippery.
Artist Point is located right on U.S. Highway
71 about 8 miles north of Mountainburg,
Arkansas. It is a short drive from either the
newly expanded Lake Fort Smith State Park
or the Fayetteville - Northwest Arkansas
Metro Area. There is no charge to visit the
overlook or waterfall.
crafts and is noted for the hummingbirds that
swarm to the feeders on its back deck. The
store also houses a museum featuring
unique artifacts from such places as Spiro
Mounds.
Immediately behind the store is a trail that
leads down the mountain to Artist Point Falls.
This beautiful waterfall begins with a 15-foot
fall from which the water then tumbles over a
series of cascades and other falls as it
makes its way down the slope.
The trail to the waterfall is 1.2 miles round
trip, but be aware that it is very steep and that
the trip back up the mountain is strenuous.
As with all waterfalls, be cautious as the
rocks surrounding them are often very
slippery.
Artist Point is located right on U.S. Highway
71 about 8 miles north of Mountainburg,
Arkansas. It is a short drive from either the
newly expanded Lake Fort Smith State Park
or the Fayetteville - Northwest Arkansas
Metro Area. There is no charge to visit the
overlook or waterfall.
| Photography by Dale Cox and Rebecca Friddle |
Photo by Rebecca Friddle
Photo by Rebecca Friddle
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| Copyright 2011 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |