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 CENIC HIGHWAY DRIVING TOURS
SWIMMING HOLES,
LAKES,
CRAFTS, VALLEY FEST ,
ANTIQUES, RESTAURANTS,
LODGING....IT'S ALL HERE!
TOUR
TWO:
Russellville,
home of Arkansas Tech University, is
the starting point for this tour. Russellville is
near our region's geographic center.
Local handmade crafts, excellent restaurants and
lodging, and outdoor recreation are among
Russellville's many attributes. Here, you'll find
the shop of the late custom knifesmith, Jimmy Lile,
famous for his Bowie knives and blades seen in the
"Rambo" movies. Talented knifemakers
carry on the Lile tradition. Just east of
Russellville via I-40 or Highway 64 is Atkins,
"Pickle Capital of Arkansas," which celebrates its
famous pickle-packing industry each spring with the
Picklefest.
Take Highway 27 south at Russellville to visit
Dardanelle, just across the Arkansas River. This
historic riverport city shares popularity with
Russellville as host communities for fishing
and recreation on nearby Lake
Dardanelle.
Take Highway 22 from Dardanelle to reach the lake.
Seven miles west of Dardanelle on Highway 155 is
Mount Nebo, site of Arkansas' second
highest state park. The mountain has been
attracting travelers and settlers for over 100
years.
Highway 27 and Scenic 7 Byway are two popular
routes to travel the southern portion of Tour Two.
Both ultimately take you into the beauty of the
Ozark National Forest.
Take Highway 27 from Dardanelle to visit Danville,
a picturesque community on the Petit Jean River at
the northern edge of the Ouachita National Forest.
Danville is home to festivals, Chamberlyne
Country Club golf and easy access to area
state parks and lakes. Then, take Highway 10 east
along the edge of the forest to the little town of
Ola. There, you can take Scenic 7 Byway south to
Fourche Junction and nearby Nimrod Dam and
Nimrod Lake, famous for its crappie
fishing. From Fourche Junction, turn west on State
Highway 60 to tour the lake's shoreline and check
out the many recreation areas. Soon you'll be in
Plainview, where a turn south onto Scenic Highway
28 will take you through the Fourche River
Valley.
Backtrack on Highway 28 and Highway 60 to Fourche
Junction to return to Dardanelle and Russellville
via Scenic 7 Byway north. You'll pass through
Centerville on this route, where a side-trip on
Highway 154 will take you to Petit Jean
Mountain.
For scenic touring north of Russellville on Tour
Two, take Scenic 7 Byway to Dover, crossing
Illinois Bayou and on to Long
Pool on Big Piney Creek. Illinois Bayou and
Big Piney Creek are two excellent streams for
canoeist. Highway 164 off Scenic 7 Byway provides
additional access to these streams, as well as
great views of the Ozark Mountain
countryside.
Return to Russellville on Scenic 7 Byway to
conclude Tour Two.
MORE ARKANSAS
RIVER VALLEY DRIVING
TOURS
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