Arkansas Educational Television Network

Exploring Arkansas Episode Summary Guide

#101 –Buffalo River Float/ Mt. Nebo Hang Gliding/ Lost Spur Dude Ranch

A float trip down America’s first national river is an adventure to say the least. This particular trip also combines a hike to Hemmed-In-Hollow Falls –featured in National Geographic – it’s actually the tallest waterfall in mid-America. Greek mythology comes alive at Mt. Nebo near Dardanelle, where modern-day Icaruses hang glide off the mountain. The Lost Spur Dude Ranch near Harrison offers a trip back to the cattle rustling days of the old West.

#102—Camden Daffodils/Civil War Cannons/ ATV Park/ Buffalo River Fishing

In early spring the town of Camden blossoms in a sea of yellow. The Camden Daffodil Festival offers not only pretty flowers though, but a Civil War Cannon firing reenactment as well. The Superlift ATV Park near Hot Springs is not only a 4-wheeler haven, but also provides a playground for “rock crawler” vehicles too. Smallmouth bass fishing on the Buffalo River concludes this episode.

#103—Buffalo River Hot Air Ballooning/ Trail Riding/ Goat Trail Hike/ Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge

Floating high above the Buffalo National River in a wicker basket begins this exciting episode. Then it’s back on the ground and on horseback for a trail ride; then on foot scaling the 500 ft. bluffs of the river along the popular “Goat Trail.” A winter drive through Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge near Dardanelle finishes out the episode.

#104—Spanish Treasure Cave/ Jacksonport St. Pk./ Newport Pearls/ Ghost Town of Rush

Spanish Conquistador soldiers of long ago, leave behind a legend of hidden gold in a cave in northwest Arkansas. Since then, many a folk have spent their own fortune trying to find that treasure. Civil War history at Jacksonport State Park near Newport is explored, along with the one-time pearl industry there. The only ghost town protected by the federal government happens to be in Arkansas – the old zinc mining town of Rush.

#105—Fly-Fishing/ John Boat Trout Fishing/ Mtn. Biking

The Little Red – a world class trout stream near Heber Springs, is the setting for a fly-fishing outing followed by the flat-bottom john boat technique of fishing for the elusive rainbow trout. Mountain biking along the Mulberry River in the Ozark National Forest, concludes the program.

#106—War Eagle Mill/ Cane Creek St. Pk./ Mystic Caverns

It’s one of only a handful of working grist mills left in the country. War Eagle Mill along the War Eagle River in northwest Arkansas, attracts thousands of visitors every year. Taking home a sack of stone-ground corn meal is the number one sought-after souvenir. Cane Creek State Park near Star City offers a trip down the world’s longest bayou – Bayou Bartholemeau. Mystic Caverns south of Harrison offers two separate caverns – the other only 400 feet away is Crystal Dome Caverns – a spectacular eight-story dome wonder !

#107—Ozark Railway Journey/ Gentry Safari

The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad offers an unforgettable trip through the northwest Arkansas Ozarks – 100 ft. tall railroad trestles offer a unique look at this countryside. In Gentry, a drive-through safari is Arkansas’ answer to a similar-type adventure that one would take in the wilds of Africa. Two-hundred species of animals can be experienced – some literally on the roof of your vehicle !!

#108—Duck & Pheasant Hunt/ Lost Valley/ Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail/ Bull Shoals Caverns/ White Rock Mountain

Grand Prairie’s finest hunting grounds provide the perfect setting for a duck and pheasant outing at Wildlife Farms. Lost Valley in the Buffalo National River area, definitely lives up to its name – the only thing missing is maybe T-Rex and pterodactyls. The Ozark Highlands Trail is rated as one of the most scenic trails in the United States –and is probably the granddaddy of all the state’s trails – 210 miles long. We join a campout with some hikers. Near the town of Bull Shoals, Bull Shoals Caverns is one of the oldest in the region at more than 300 million years. Hiking the rim of White Rock Mountain provides some spectacular scenery of the Ozarks, especially at sunset.

#109—Rappelling/ Mountain Man Campout/ Pea Ridge Nat’l Military Park

It’s called Hawk’s Bill Crag and also Whitaker Point –photographed many-a-time for the state’s travel brochures. Rappelling off of it, is another story. The pioneer, Dan’l Boone/mountain man history of America is re-visited at a campout atop Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. Pea Ridge National Military Park in extreme northwest Arkansas near the Missouri state line remains much the same as it was after the Civil War –including the cannons, which are still lined up – it’s a history lesson that grasps and overcomes you…and stays with you when you leave.

#110—Wildcaving—Hurricane River Cave & Blanchard Springs Caverns/ Quartz Crystals/ Talimena Nat’l Scenic Byway

The undeveloped sections of Hurricane River Cave and Blanchard Springs Caverns are explored in the true fashion of spelunking – this is caving at its finest !! Phantom and clear quartz crystals are the sought-after gems at the Quartz Crystal Capital of the world in Mt. Ida. Stretching from Talihina, Oklahoma into Mena, Arkansas – The Talimena National Scenic Byway offers spectacular views from Rich Mountain at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

#111—Horseshoe Canyon Ranch/ Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Trail riding, gun slinging and rock climbing – experience it all at a popular dude ranch near Jasper. There’s also a visit to one of the first designated national wildlife refuges in the nation – Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Blytheville, where an airboat tour offers a unique glimpse at all the wildlife.

#112—Eureka Springs & N. Arkansas Railway/ New Holy Land/ Crowley’s Ridge Parkway

A dining car excursion aboard a restored steam passenger train from the historic depot in Eureka Springs offers a railroad journey back in time unlike any other trip. A tour through the New Holy Land in Eureka is also a memorable and quite moving experience. A drive along Crowley’s Ridge Parkway in eastern Arkansas explores the erosional remnant known as Crowley’s Ridge, dating back to 40 million years.

#113—Crater of Diamonds/ Bladesmith School/ Mtn. Village 1890/ Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail

The only diamond mine in the world where it’s “finders-keepers” is at Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Also, the only bladesmith school in the world is featured at Old Washington Historic State Park. Mountain Village 1890 in Bull Shoals offers an educational experience of a 19th Century Ozark community. Mountain biking on the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail near Mountain View concludes this episode.

#114—Arkansas Air Museum/ Lake Chicot St. Pk. / Sugarloaf Mtn. Trail

The Arkansas Air Museum in Fayetteville is an actual flying museum, since all the planes are in working condition. All of the vintage aircraft are housed in a historic 1940’s wooden hanger. A barge tour through Lake Chicot’s cypress swamps is also in store, which is the largest oxbow lake in North America. A hike up the Sugarloaf Mountain National Recreation Trail on Greers Ferry Lake near Heber Springs is also featured.

#115—Prairie Grove Battlefield/ Cedar Falls/ Cosmic Caverns

The Battle of Prairie Grove is looked into with a driving/walking tour at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park – recognized as one of America’s most intact Civil War battlefields. During the battle, 2700 casualties resulted in just one day of fighting. A hike to Cedar Falls at Petit Jean Mountain State Park near Morrilton is also in store, as well as exploring Cosmic Caverns near Berryville, where the bottom of two lakes has yet to be discovered.

#116—Team Roping/ Pinnacle Mtn. St. Pk. Canoe Float/ Chuckwagon Races

Team roping and chuckwagon racing – both, fast gaining popularity are featured in the Ft. Smith area, as well as a canoe float down the Little Maumelle River at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

#117—School of Whitewater Paddling/ Ouachita River Whitewater Park/ Cossatot River Voyage

This episode explores the adventures of whitewater kayaking/canoeing, including recreational kayaking. The show begins with the basics during a whitewater school on the Mulberry River in the Ozarks, and then ending with a maiden run down the Cossatot River in southwest Arkansas.

#118—Sailplane Soaring/ Snorkeling/ Camp Winnamocka

Enjoying air, water and land is the subject of this show, which begins with the sport of soaring with airplanes without engines, then snorkeling on DeGray Lake, and finally, some good ol’ fashioned summer camp fun at Camp Winnamocka near Arkadelphia.

#119—White River National Wildlife Refuge/ War Eagle Cavern/ Long Creek Float Fishing

The state’s largest national wildlife refuge is explored in southeast Arkansas. A trip into War Eagle Cavern near Rogers is also featured –(home to one of the largest bat colonies in the state) as well as a float-fishing excursion down Long Creek near Harrison.

#120—Arkansas River Keelboat Expedition

One of the ways “exploring Arkansas” was accomplished 200 years ago, was by keelboat – similar to the kind Lewis & Clark used on their expedition. This entire episode offers a journey in such a boat with the Early Arkansas Reenactors Association, down the Arkansas River from Conway to Little Rock.

#121—Arkansas Hot Air Balloon Champinships/ Ivory-Billed Woodpecker/ Polo In The Ozarks (Premier- 1/2/06)

In the image of the Albuquerque, New Mexico National meet, the Arkansas Balloon Championships begin with an evening “balloon glow” followed by two days of flights along the countryside surrounding Harrison. The re-discovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is being called a rare second chance to preserve what was thought to be lost forever. We go and seek out for ourselves the largest woodpecker in the United States. It’s not quite exactly the place where you’d expect a polo match to be held, but on a farm near Fayetteville, it’s become quite the tradition as a fund raiser for persons with disabilities. Players from across the country gather for --“Polo In The Ozarks.”

#122—Rock Climbing—Sam’s Throne/ Power Parachuting / Kayak Touring (Premier- 1/9/06)

Deep in the Ozark National Forest near Jasper, is a rock formation that’s worshipped by rock climbers far and near. The story of Sam’s Throne goes back to the 1820’s when Sam Davis would preach from atop this rock. The region remains as one of Arkansas’ premier rock climbing destinations. Take a glider chute and attach it to a contraption which looks like half of an airboat with wheels, and you have a relatively new sport called power parachuting – and it’s fast becoming the way to experience the Natural State from the air. The flipside of whitewater kayaking is kayak touring. We joined a group of kayakers that went on a kayak campout on Lake Ouachita near Hot Springs.

#201—Trumpeter Swans / Hurricane River Cave / Eagles (Premier – 5/1/06)

On a small lake near Heber Springs there’s an interesting phenomenon that takes place every year. More than a hundred Trumpeter Swans migrate to Magness Lake from their habitat in the northern most sections of the country. The tour section of Hurricane River Cave near Harrison is also explored –(previously on EA the “wild cave” section was featured). The bald and golden eagles at Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge south of Russellville close out this show.

#202—Buffalo River Trail / Pedestal Rocks / Richland Falls-Twin Falls (Premier- 6/5/06)

Hiking is the theme of this episode – first on the Buffalo National River Trail. Unique sandstone columns, resembling huge pedestals are explored at the Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area near Pelsor, as well as Richland Falls and Twin Falls at the Richland Creek Wilderness Area in the Ozark National Forest.

#203—Ozark Waterfalls/ Wolf Pen Gap ATV Trail / Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (Premier – 7/3/06)

With a name like “Glory Hole”, you know it’s got to be awesome ! It’s one of many secluded and spectacular waterfalls in the Ozarks. The Wolf Pen Gap ATV Complex in the Ouachita National Forest south of Mena is one of the more popular of its kind, attracting 10,000 users annually from a four-state area. The Lake Ouachita Vista Trail near Mount Ida, when completed will contain some 40 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails along the shores of Lake Ouachita.

#204—Devil’s Den State Park / Steam Train / Geocaching (Premier – 8/7/06)

The cave and crevice area are explored at Devil’s Den State Park – the largest such area in the country. We’ll then hop aboard old No. 844 – the last steam locomotive delivered to Union Pacific Railroad in 1944. 21st Century treasure hunting known as geocaching is also explored.

#205—Underwater Arkansas / Mount Magazine State Park / Stonecreek Ranch (Premier – 9/4/06)

We’ll explore the depths of Lake Ouachita through a program offered by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Then, it’s off on a trek to the highest point in the state atop Mount Magazine in west Arkansas. The episode concludes with riding, roping and “punching doggies” at a dude ranch near Mountain Home.

#206—Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge / Elephant Sanctuary / Copperhead Cave (Premier – 10/2/06)

Lions and tigers and bears! Plus elephants! Two popular animal sanctuaries in the Natural State are explored – near Eureka Springs and near Guy. Then it’s off to a spelunking adventure in a wild cave in the Buffalo National River Region.

#207—Collier Homestead / Indian Rockhouse / Spring River Fly-Fishing (Premier- 11/6/06)

The Homestead Act of 1862 gave many families a chance to acquire land and begin a new life in the Ozarks. The Collier family from Kentucky settled near the Buffalo National River, as many did. The restored homestead gives those of us in the 21st century a look at the way life once was in this part of the country. Exploring a Native American bluff shelter at Buffalo Point is also on tap, as well as trout fly-fishing on the Spring River near Hardy.

#301—B-17 / Winding Stairs Trail / Lake Maumelle Regatta (Premier- 1/1/07)

The B-17 “Flying Fortress” was one of the most famous planes ever built. The legacy it left behind is unmatched in aviation history. We’ll take you flying in one and talk to some of the men who flew the plane during World War II. The “Winding Stairs” area along the Little Missouri River Trail is the most popular trail in the Ouachitas – and we’ll show you why. This episode concludes with the U.S. Championship of Champions Regatta on Lake Maumelle.

#302—Bayou DeView Big Woods Tour / Womble Trail / Lake Chicot (Premier – 2/5/07)

Canoeing down Bayou DeView near Brinkley provides a wonderful adventure viewing cypress trees estimated to be 450 to 1200 years old. The Womble Trail near Mt. Ida in the Ouachita National Forest offers some of the best mountain biking opportunities in the entire mid-South. Lake Chicot in the southeast corner of the state is the perfect place to experience the Mississippi Delta region – especially with a sunset swamp tour.

#303—Best of Exploring Arkansas –Pledge Special (Premier – 3/5/07)

Arkansas Hot Air Balloon Races / Ivory-Billed Woodpecker / Buffalo National River Homestead / Spring River Trout Fly-Fishing / Elephant Sanctuary / Ozark Waterfalls / Trumpeter Swans

#304—Lost Valley / Rock House & Bear Cave –Petit Jean Mtn. / Jacksonport State Park (Premier – 4/2/07)

One of the gems of the Ozarks is in the Buffalo National River Region – Lost Valley – offering unique features found nowhere else. The other popular trails at Petit Jean Mountain State Park are the ones that lead to a Native American rock shelter and the sandstone/crevice area to Bear Cave. The old riverport town of Jacksonport is explored near Newport, along with the last paddlewheeler to travel the White River – Mary Woods No.2.

#305— Coleman Quartz Mine / Crowley’s Ridge (Premier—(5/07/07)

It’s one of the oldest and largest quartz crystal mines in Arkansas –the Coleman Quartz Mine north of Hot Springs – and it’s where you and I can dig for our own treasure. White Oak Lake State Park near Prescott offers abundant wildlife and hiking within the boundaries of the state’s only state forest. A new look at the unique geological formation known as Crowley’s Ridge in eastern Arkansas can be explored at the Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro. Episode concludes with a drive along Crowley’s Ridge Parkway.

#306—Haw Creek Falls / 7 Devils Swamp / Tanyard Creek Nature Trail (Premier – 6/4/07)

The Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area in the Ozark National Forest northeast of Clarksville offers, waterfalls, cascades and towering bluffs. Seven Devils Swamp near Monticello may sound eerie, but it’s a picturesque example of the original habitat that existed in the Delta. The Tanyard Creek Nature Trail in Bella Vista offers a wilderness experience complete with a waterfall right in the city limits.

#307—Beauty Cave / State’s Largest Tree / Rafting- Big Piney (Premier- 7/2/07)

Wildcaving in Arkansas’ largest cave – Beauty Cave in the Buffalo National River area. The state’s largest tree happens to be in the White River National Wildlife Refuge at St. Charles. We’ll close it out with a rafting expedition on the Big Piney north of Russellville.

#308 – Owens & Ricketts Mtns. / Cane Creek Lake Kayaking / Kings River Falls (Premier- 8/6/07)

The Owens and Ricketts mountain areas south of Jasper near Cowell, offer some of the most spectacular rock formations in the state. Centuries old pictographs are also located here, which were drawn by prehistoric Native Americans. Kayak touring is becoming more and more popular, and a kayak excursion on Cane Creek Lake near Star City has an added attraction – giant water lily blooms. The Kings River Falls Natural Area in the Ozark National Forest is one of those pristine secrets of the Natural State. The beauty along this clear mountain stream really is something to behold.

#309-- WW II Amphibious Ducks / B-17 / USS Razorback (Premier – 9/3/07)

Named after a whale and not the Arkansas Razorbacks – the submarine called the “Razorback” is quite an enlightening experience into the “silent service” of WW II. Tours of it are provided daily at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum at North Little Rock. Our tour is with a crewmember who knew the sub all too well. The B-17 “Flying Fortress” was one of the most famous planes ever built. The legacy it left behind is unmatched in aviation history. The so-called amphibian duck boats were used in most of the major battles during WW II, including D-Day. They now serve as tourist attraction rides in quite a few cities, including Hot Springs. The duck boats’ transformation though from a military vehicle to a tourist ride, is quite the story.

#310 – Smith Creek Nature Preserve / Spelunking at Cosmic Cavern / Bayou Bartholomew Nature Trail (Premier – 10/01/07)

The Nature Conservancy’s newest preserve south of Boxley in northwest Arkansas is a haven for endangered bats and other wildlife. We’ll take you on a hike through a portion of the 1200-acre tract. A wild cave tour at Cosmic Cavern near Berryville includes two underground lakes, the bottoms of which have never been found. A unique trail in Pine Bluff takes hikers along the world’s longest bayou – Bayou Bartholomew, which stretches all the way into Louisiana.

#311—Fern Gully / Rock Creek Natural Area / Robe Bayou (Premier—11/5/07)

Fern Gully northeast of Ft. Smith is one of the many “special interest” areas that can be found throughout the Ozark National Forest. The many bluff features and ferns make this a unique area. Rock Creek Natural Area is actually within the Spring River Wildlife Management Area south of Hardy. Under the protection of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, here you’ll find one of the clearest streams in the Ozarks, which leads to Bubbling Spring. Robe Bayou in the Dagmar Wildlife Management Area near Brinkley, offers both—a scenic auto tour and a canoe route, either one which will give you a wonderful experience of this pristine and picturesque setting.

#312—Buzzard Roost / Round Top Mountain / Winona Forest Drive (Premier—12/03/07)

Unique rock formations resembling huge molars, crevices and a natural bridge are all what await you at a place known as Buzzard Roost in the Ozark National Forest near Pelsor. The history of Round Top Mountain south of Jasper is quite intriguing, especially what happened there in 1948. The Winona Forest Drive in the Ouachita National Forest in west-central Arkansas is referred to as the “Grandaddy Auto Tour of the Ouachitas.”

#401—Talimena Nat’l Scenic Byway / War Eagle Mill / Devil’s Eyebrow (Premier—1/07/08)

The Talimena National Scenic Byway offers some of the most breathtaking sights of the Ouachitas near Mena. War Eagle Mill near Rogers is a storybook setting that takes you back in time – “..down by the old mill stream.” It’s been referred to as “The Land That Time Forgot” – an extremely remote area deep in the Ozark National Forest that’s called the Devil’s Eyebrow.

#402—Stack Rock / Wapanocca Nat’l Wildlife Refuge / Hobbs St. Pk. (Premier – 2/4/08)

The Stack Rock Special Interest Area in the Ozark National Forest near Witts Spring is known for its geologic and scenic qualities. Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge situated along the Mississippi Flyway in east Arkansas has been referred to as a “wetland paradise in a sea of agriculture.” The Historic Van Winkle Trail is featured at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area, which is actually Arkansas’ largest state park near Rogers.

#403—Lake Fort Smith St. Pk. / Mystic Caverns / Rush- Ghost Town (Premier – 3/3/08)

After being closed for quite a number of years, Lake Fort Smith State Park has reopened bigger and better than ever near Mountainburg in northwest Arkansas. We’ll take you on a kayak tour of this 1490-acre reservoir. Mystic Caverns south of Harrison offers two caverns only 400 feet apart from one another – the other is Crystal Dome Cavern. The only Federally protected ghost town in the country is Rush, in the lower portion of the Buffalo National River region.

#404—Home Valley Bluff / Arkansas Post / Snow Geese & Trumpeters -- Holla Bend NWR (Premier – 4/7/08)

It’s been called the most spectacular bluff line in all of the Ozarks—Home Valley Bluff near Nail – you’ll see why in this episode. The cradle of Arkansas history is also explored at Arkansas Post near Gillette. Trumpeter Swans and snow geese at Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge near Russellville display their grace and beauty in the third segment.

#405—Sweden Cr. Falls Nat. Area/ Boxley Valley/ L. Ouachita Eagle Kayaking (Premier – 5/5/08)

The Sweden Creek Falls Natural Area is one of many that’s protected by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. Hole-In-The-Rock Falls and Azalea Falls are also featured. Boxley Valley Scenic Drive offers a wonderful experience with elk, plus Arkansas heritage and history. A kayaking excursion at Lake Ouachita State Park provides a unique up close look at bald eagles.

#406—AR-OKLA Astronomical Soc./ Kayaking- Little Buffalo/ Uno Cave (Premier—6/2/08)

This episode begins by exploring the heavens with the Arkansas Oklahoma Astronomical Society at the Coleman Observatory northwest of Van Buren. Then it’s off to the east fork of the Little Buffalo for some whitewater kayaking adventure. Episode closes out with a wild cave venture into Uno Cave west of Fayetteville.

#407—Sailplanes/ Alum Cove Rec Area/ Buffalo Gap Auto Tour (Premier—7/7/08)

Sustained flight without an engine is what the art of soaring is all about. We’ll take you for a flight in a glider or “sailplane” near Wynne. One of the state’s largest natural bridges is at the Alum Cove Recreation Area south of Jasper – where you can also find eerie cave-like rooms. The Buffalo Gap Auto Tour offers a unique back-roads look at the Ouachita National Forest.

#408—Indian Creek Canyon / Ouachita River Float / Mt. Nebo Mtn. Biking (Premier – 8/4/08)

It’s one of the most rugged and treacherous terrains of all the Ozarks – Indian Creek Canyon just south of the upper portion of the Buffalo National River. Hiking the canyon is recommended for experienced hikers only. We’ll take you through it and show you all the spectacular sights. Then it’s off on the Ouachita to re-live the Hunter/Dunbar expedition with a group of Ouachita Baptist University students. Episode closes out with mountain biking atop Mt. Nebo near Dardanelle.

#409—Longpool Falls / Lake Ouachita Snorkeling / Nars & Skull Bluff (Premier – 9/1/09)

The Longpool Falls Recreation Area northwest of Dover is well-known for its camping and swimming opportunities – but not too many folks are aware of the falls behind the camping area – until now. It’s not quite the Caribbean coral reef, but the rock reefs in one of the clearest lakes in the country – Lake Ouachita make for quite a snorkeling outing at Crawdad Island. The Nars and Skull Bluff along the middle portion of the Buffalo National River are two very unusual rock formations which are explored in the closing segment.

#410—Parker-Hickman Farmstead / Pilot Rock / Blanchard Springs Recreation Area (Premier—10/6/08)

The oldest structure along the Buffalo National River Park system is the Parker-Hickman log home, built in 1840. The site is actually an entire farmstead that’s been preserved. The Pilot Rock area near Clarksville in the Ozark National Forest, is quite a success story dealing with woodland ecosystem restoration. The Blanchard Springs Recreation Area north of Mountain View offers a wide array of outdoor adventure – hiking, mountain biking, trout fishing, camping, swimming, a bluff shelter and a historic mill site.

#411—Blue Hole / Black Swamp / Hideout Hollow (Premier – 11/03/08)

Special interest areas within our national forests are just that – special. We’ll explore the Blue Hole Special Interest Area north of Jerusalem in the Ozark National Forest and show you why this area has received that “special” designation. Then it’s off on an excursion through the Rex Hancock/ Black Swamp Wildlife Management Area south of Augusta. Episode closes out with a hike to the storybook setting of Hideout Hollow in the upper portion of the Buffalo National River near Compton.

#412—Exploring Arkansas—Chuck’s Top Ten Favorite Places – (Pledge Special) (Premier – 11/30/08)

Host Chuck Dovish reveals his ten favorite places in Arkansas. Based on either the spectacular scenery, their uniqueness or the adventure that’s available, these ten locations cover all four seasons. From a drive-through safari, to a working grist mill, to a dinner train excursion, a snowy mountaintop, to a wild cave journey – Chuck takes us through each special place all the way up to his number one pick.

#501 – White Rock Mountain / War Eagle Cavern WildCaving / Poteau Mountain (Premier – 1/5/09)

The White Rock Mountain Recreation Area north of Mulberry offers some of the best views in the state along the rim loop trail. A wild cave trek through War Eagle Cavern near Rogers provides a unique look at bat colonies. The Poteau Mountain Rustic Road Tour is yet another wonderful opportunity to experience the wilderness of the Ouachita National Forest.

#502—Lake Dardanelle Eagles / Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge / Mammoth Spring (Premier—2/2/09)

Braving winter’s cold temps in a kayak one is rewarded by magnificent sights of Bald Eagles on Lake Dardanelle near Russellville. Speaking of eagles…Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Arkansas was instrumental in the recovery of the bald eagle from its endangered status. We take you on an airboat and driving tour of this tucked away refuge along the Mississippi Delta. Mammoth Spring near the Missouri state line is not only the largest spring in the state, but the tenth largest in the world !

#503—Pea Ridge National Military Park / Lakeport Plantation / Beaver Lake Eagles – (Premier—3/2/09)

The Battle of Pea Ridge is viewed as the most decisive Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. It’s also the most well preserved Civil War battlefield in the U.S. The Lakeport Plantation is the only remaining antebellum home along the Mississippi River in Arkansas. Beaver Lake near Rogers boasts of having the most bald eagles of any lake in the state.

#504—Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park –wildlife viewing/ Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources / Fort Smith National Historic Site (Premier – 4/6/09)

You wouldn’t normally expect to find wildlife viewing opportunities at an archeological park, but that’s not the case at Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park near Scott. A hidden gem in the southern part of the state near Smackover, is the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources which portrays the 1920’s oil boom in that area. Fort Smith National Historic Site is a special place where you can walk where Mexican War and Civil War soldiers drilled, pause along the Trail of Tears and witness where justice was served.

#505—Triple Falls / Lincoln Lake / Buffalo National River (Premier – 5/4/09)

Triple Falls is a spectacular waterfall area in the upper portion of the Buffalo National River. These fifty-foot falls rival any of those seen in Hawaii. Lincoln Lake is a wonderful hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and kayaking gem tucked away in the northwest portion of the Natural State. Episode concludes with a float trip down the Buffalo National River showing exactly why this special river earned its place in 1972 as America’s first national river.

#506—Richland Creek Wilderness Falls / Arkansas Post National Memorial / Wattensaw Bayou Float (Premier – 6/1/09)

Richland Creek Wilderness in the Ozark National Forest near Ben Hur, contains many picturesque waterfalls and we’ll take you to a couple of our favorites. Arkansas Post National Memorial near Gillette was not only the site of the first European settlement in the lower Mississippi Valley, but also a Civil War battleground and Arkansas’only Revolutionary War battle site. A float trip down Wattensaw Bayou near Hazen closes out the episode.

#507 – Kings River Float / Leatherwood Wilderness Falls / Hot Springs National Park(Premier – 7/6/09)

The Kings River in northwest Arkansas – like the Buffalo, is one of those few remaining pristine, free-flowing streams in the country. A float trip on this river is truly an unforgettable experience, as you meander through the bluffs of the high Ozark Plateau. The various waterfalls in the Leatherwood Wilderness south of Mountain Home will also astound you with their beauty as you hike above, below and behind them. Episode concludes with a special look at “Valley of Vapors” – the hot springs that were set aside as a federal reservation in 1832 and eventually became – Hot Springs National Park.

#508 – Exploring Arkansas’s National Parks – (pledge) (Premiere—8/2/09)

Host Chuck Dovish takes a special look at Arkansas’s six national parks in this one hour presentation. From Hot Springs, which was actually the first federal reservation set aside in 1832 to protect a natural resource…to America’s first national river -- the Buffalo National River. to Pea Ridge National Military Park to Arkansas Post National Memorial to Fort Smith and Central High National Historic Sites – you don’t have to go far to experience your America in the Natural State !

#509—Horseshoe Canyon Rock Climbing / Falcon Bottoms Natural Area / Bayou Bluff (Premiere—9/7/09)

One of the best places to go rock climbing east of the Rockies happens to be at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch near Jasper – and it’s where we’ll take you to conquer the rock ! Visiting one of the many Natural Areas under the protection of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission is a great way to explore a “wilder” version of the Natural State. Falcon Bottoms Natural Area near Magnolia with Bayou Dorcheat, offers a unique adventure in the state’s original wild landscape. Bayou Bluff in the Ozark National Forest near Hector is one of those tucked away gems with picturesque bluffs, a cool mountain stream and breathtaking scenery.

#510—Grandview Prairie / Shady Lake / Millwood Lake (Premiere – 10/5/09)

The largest tract of protected blackland prairie in the nation happens to be in southwest Arkansas near Hope. The Grandview Prairie Wildlife Management Area contains 5000 acres of what once spanned from Missouri all the way down to Texas. Shady Lake Recreation Area in the Ouachita National Forest near Mena provides a remote picturesque mountain lake setting with plenty of fishing, camping and hiking opportunities. The great abundance of birds and other wildlife at the Millwood Lake area north of Texarkana has been a favorite with many wildlife photographers. Not to mention the perfect sunset location at Beard’s Bluff Overlook.

#511— Mountain Biking - Cane Creek / Trail Riding – Horseshoe Canyon Ranch / Jack Creek Recreation Area (Premiere – 11/2/09)

The Cane Creek Lake Trail at Cane Creek State Park near Star City offers a unique mountain biking adventure through rolling terrain which includes suspension and timber bridges. The open range experience of the old West can be accomplished with a breakfast cookout trail ride at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch near Jasper. pAcapulco style cliff diving into a natural pool is a popular activity at the Jack Creek Recreation Area in the Ouachita National Forest south of Booneville.

#512 — Hang Gliding / Sugarloaf Mountain Trail / Devil’s Knob-Devil’s Backbone Natural Area (Premiere – 12/7/09)

At the tallest peak in the state – Mt. Magazine -- men and women with wings soar like eagles with the extreme sport of hang gliding. Sugarloaf Mountain Island in the middle of Greers Ferry Lake is a popular destination with hiking enthusiasts to enjoy the Sugarloaf Mountain National Nature Trail. Devil’s Knob- Devil’s Backbone Natural Area near Melbourne offers a chance to explore an unusual sandstone glade and unique plant species.

#601 — Hawksbill Crag / Global Village Experience / Calico Rock Trout Fishing (Premiere – 1/04/10)

One of the most photographed spots in the Natural State is a unique rock outcropping called –“Hawksbill Crag” in the upper portion of the Buffalo National River Wilderness. In living the lives of others, global hunger and poverty become a harsh reality at the Global Villages experience at Heifer International near Perryville. World-class trout fishing can be enjoyed on the White River near Calico Rock.

#602 — Ozark Adventure Race / Lake Enterprise / Ozark Railway Adventure (Premiere – 2/01/10)

From orienteering to mountain biking, canoeing, trekking and zip lining – it’s the Ozark Adventure Race which finished up at Devil’s Den State Park. Lake Enterprise by the town of Wilmot in south Arkansas is a not-too-well known gem of the Natural State filled with picturesque cypress trees. The Arkansas-Missouri Railroad offers a scenic passenger train trip into the past unlike any other.

#603—Forked Mountain/ Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge/ Mountain Biking – Devil’s Den/ North Sylamore Creek Hiking Trail (Premiere – 3/1/10)

Forked Mountain east of Hollis in the Ouachita National Forest is one of the more unique mountains in the Natural State with twin peaks. Situated along the Mississippi Flyway, a onetime elite hunting club, now the Wapanocca NWR is an important sanctuary for migratory waterfowl. Devil’s Den State Park in northwest Arkansas is well known for its crevice and cave area, but a little known fact is that this park also has one of the state’s first mountain biking trails. Hiking along the North Sylamore Creek Hiking Trail near Mountain View takes you through three fantastic camping areas along its fifteen mile route.

#604 – Pedestal Rocks Ice Caverns / Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge/ Big Creek Natural Area (Premiere – 4/5/10)

The Pedestal Rocks area near Pelsor is scenic as it is – but, if you hike in during the winter in the snow and cold – you’re rewarded with an extra added attraction – all the ice caverns below the bluffline. Taking the driving tour at Holla Bend NWR south of Dardanelle, you can see bald and golden eagles snow geese and trumpeter swans. The Big Creek Natural Area east of Wilburn offers a woodlands hike to a crystal clear mountain stream with diverse populations of fish and other aquatic organisms.