A spectacular mountaintop setting. Breathtaking panoramic scenery.   Wildlife galore.  Royal hospitality.  A spectacular RV Park.  If this sounds like heaven to you, head for the Natural State – Arkansas and the Queen Wilhelmina State Park.  No matter what season you travel to this park, you will find something unique and special. 

Queen Wilhelmina State Park

High atop a windswept mountain near the western edge of Arkansas you will find the Ouachita Mountains. The name "Ouachita" (Wash-it-taw) is derived from an Indian word meaning "good hunting". The Ouachita Mountains are Arkansas's southernmost mountain range; to the north lie the Ozarks. The Ouachitas are one of only two mountain regions in the U.S. that run east/west.

The campground and RV park at Queen Wilhelmina State Park is your home away from home where you'll find peace and quiet, fresh mountain air and unforgettable natural beauty. A park campsite is your front row seat to all this natural beauty. Choose from 35 Class B campsites with Wi-Fi, cable TV, water and electricity. 

The campground includes a modern bathhouse with hot showers. A trailer dump station is located at the entrance to the campground. Campsites are available by reservation or a on a first-come basis. However, it is necessary to register at the park lodge before occupying a campsite. All sites are assigned.  There’s a small playground for children, a swimming pool and a volleyball court.  For a fee you can ride a minature train or play minature golf.

The park hosts many special events including the Butterfly Festival, the Mountainfest craft show and Christmas on the Mountain. But the main attraction here is the natural beauty of the mountains and the National Recreation Trail.  Stretching 223 miles through the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma, this premier trail is enjoyed by hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, and hunters. It is a non-motorized, single track trail open to foot traffic and only partially to mountain biker. It lies primarily in the Ouachita National Forest administered by the USDA Forest Service. 

While visiting Queen Wilhelmina State Park join the programs and guided hikes led by the park interpreter and learn more about this fascinating landscape. Learn about the trees and wildflowers that grow here.  Wildlife viewing opportunities abound here, too. Raccoons, deer, skunks, rabbits, and even black bear live in these mountains. This is a special place for birdwatching enthusiasts, too.  Eagles are active in winter and spring; turkey vultures and a few black vultures are permanent residents; and red-tailed and red shouldered hawks are year round residents of the Ouachita National Forest but are especially noticeable on the drive during migrating periods. Strong updrafts and turbulence above the mountain entice these birds to perform fascinating and entertaining aerial acrobatics.

Well known as a hot spot for watchable wildlife - bears are at the top of the list. Spring is when the bears are on the move, which increases the odds of the public catching sight of one of these normally elusive bruins. While they can be seen most of the year, late April through May is best.

Rich Mountain is a prime bear habitat. The bears can easily meet all their needs for food and water. Plus, the vast expanses of Ouachita National Forest land provide plenty of room for these big mammals to avoid human development.

The best way to increase your odds of seeing a bear is to travel the Talimena Scenic Drive around dusk. Imagine rounding a curve and coming upon the ultimate symbol of wilderness, the black bear. It happens around here almost every spring day to some lucky visitor.

The Talimena Scenic Byway falls gently like a ribbon over Winding Stair and Rich Mountains.  A favorite road for motorcyclists the byway stretches for 54 miles between Talihina, Oklahoma and the city of Mena, Arkansas.

The route takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to drive – or it could take you all day if you stop to enjoy the many vistas and attractions along the way.  Cresting the highest points between the Appalachians and the Rockies, this byway showcases nature's quiet solitude.  Information stations are located at each end of the drive; just outside Mena in Arkansas and the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 271 northeast of Talihina in Oklahoma.