Highway 154: Petit Jean Mountain

Highway 154 climbs Petit Jean Mountain from the Arkansas River valley, and this drive starts at Oppelo, at Highway 9. The road gains the mountain in a long curving climb, then enters Petit Jean State Park. The highway runs through the park and carries on across the plateau to Highway 247 at Pontoon.

The park's Mather Lodge is a 1930s stone-and-timber building built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, overlooking Cedar Creek Canyon. From behind it, the Cedar Falls Trail drops to a 90-foot waterfall. Named overlooks along the park roads include Stout's Point, where part of the Trail of Tears route can be seen, and Richter Overlook, with views toward Mount Nebo and Mount Magazine.

Past the park the road is quiet. It crosses rural and farmed land on the plateau, with sweeping curves and little traffic. The 20 miles take about 35 minutes without stops, and a good deal longer with them.