Interpretive Guide to the Talimena Scenic Drive

The Talimena Scenic drive winds 54 miles along the crest of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain in the Ouachita National Forest (pronounced Wash-i-tah). If you can resist stopping to enjoy the many vistas and attractions along the way, the route takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to drive. A leisurely drive can take all day.

Along the drive are several historic sites and numerous turnouts with panoramic vistas. Many of the sites have exhibits that explain the natural and historical significance of the area. Learn about the prehistoric Caddoan people, early settlers of Rich Mountain, the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Choctaw Nation (tribe) in Indian Territory. Discover interesting facts about the natural environment while absorbing the beauty of shortleaf pine and hardwood forests.

The Talimena Scenic Drive Association in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service developed an interpretive guide to the Talimena Scenic Drive. The original printing was in 1974 and the guide has been updated and re-printed numerous times over the years. Today that information is available to you online.

On each of the pages will be navigation links that will take you to the next page or help you jump to the section that interests you most. You can follow through the pages like a book or move around to the sections that interest you. We hope you find this information useful and easy to access.

Talimena National Scenic Byway © 2006 Talimena Scenic Drive Association
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