Things to Do in Jasper, Arkansas
The best things to do in Jasper, Arkansas, are floating the Buffalo National River, watching elk in Boxley Valley and driving Highway 7 through the Boston Mountains. Jasper is a town of 547 people and the seat of Newton County.
Congress made the Buffalo the country’s first national river on March 1, 1972. Nearly all of Newton County sits in the Boston Mountains, where the ridges top 2,500 feet.
Buffalo National River
The Buffalo runs 153 miles, and the National Park Service manages the lower 135. The upper river near Jasper runs narrow and fast between tall sandstone and limestone bluffs. The Pruitt access, at the Highway 7 crossing, is the closest put-in to town.
★ Good to know The upper Buffalo usually has enough water to paddle only in spring; check the Ponca and Pruitt gauges on the park site before you go.
Boxley Valley elk
Boxley Valley holds Arkansas’ largest elk herd, which grazes the open pastures along the river. The valley itself is a historic district of old farms, listed on the National Register in 1987.
★ Good to know Come at dawn or dusk, and in fall if you can, when the bulls are bugling; Boxley has no restaurants, so pack food.
Hemmed-In Hollow
Hemmed-In Hollow Falls drops 209 feet, the highest waterfall of its kind between the southern Appalachians and the Rockies. It’s in the park’s upper district, and you reach it on foot.
★ Good to know Trailheads here, including Compton, fill up on fall weekends, so arrive early.
Lost Valley and Whitaker Point
Lost Valley Trail and Whitaker Point, also called Hawksbill Crag, are two of the best-known hikes around Boxley. Both sit in the upper district, a short drive west of Jasper.
★ Good to know Backcountry camping isn’t allowed on Lost Valley Trail, so plan to camp at Steel Creek or another park campground.
Boxley Grist Mill
The mill, also called Villines Mill, dates to about 1840 and was rebuilt as a larger mill in 1870. It stands in the Big Buffalo Valley Historic District near Ponca and has been on the National Register since 1974.
★ Good to know The mill is usually open only on ranger-led tours, so check with the park for current dates.
Steel Creek
Steel Creek is about 3 miles east of Ponca off Highway 74, with a campground and a separate horse camp. The Buffalo River Trail runs between Ponca and Steel Creek, and dogs are allowed on that stretch.
★ Good to know Sites can be reserved on recreation.gov up to six months ahead.
Scenic Highway 7
Highway 7 runs straight through Jasper and is often rated one of the most scenic drives in the country. This stretch is part of the Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway.
★ Good to know Pair the drive with a stop at the Pruitt river access.
Newton County Courthouse
The Works Progress Administration built the county’s two-story courthouse from concrete and limestone in 1939. Its restrained Art Deco style stands out on the Jasper square, and it joined the National Register in 1994.
★ Good to know It’s a working courthouse, so admire it from the square.
Also in town
Jasper and Ponca, 10 miles west on Highway 43, have the nearest cafes, diners, pizza places and country stores; smallmouth bass fishing is good on the Buffalo; and the park became Arkansas’ first International Dark Sky Park in 2019.
Where can you see elk near Jasper, Arkansas?
In Boxley Valley, west of Jasper near Ponca. The elk graze the open pastures, and dawn and dusk are the best times to look.
When can you float the upper Buffalo River?
Usually in spring, when rain brings the water up. The park lists safe maximum levels for the Ponca and Pruitt gauges, so check them first.
What was the first national river in the U.S.?
The Buffalo National River, designated on March 1, 1972. It runs 153 miles through the Arkansas Ozarks.
Is Jasper close to Eureka Springs?
Both are in the Ozarks and make a good pair for a longer trip. See Eureka Springs and our small towns in Arkansas.
Where to find them
- Buffalo National River Pruitt access, Hwy 7, Jasper, AR 72641 Website Directions
- Boxley Valley elk Hwy 43, Boxley, AR Website Directions
- Hemmed-In Hollow Compton trailhead, Buffalo National River Website Directions
- Lost Valley and Whitaker Point Lost Valley Trailhead, Boxley, AR Website Directions
- Boxley Grist Mill Hwy 43, Boxley, AR Website Directions
- Steel Creek off Hwy 74 near Ponca, AR Website Directions
- Scenic Highway 7 Hwy 7, Jasper, AR 72641 Directions
- Newton County Courthouse Courthouse Square, Jasper, AR 72641 Directions
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Where to stay in Jasper
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