Hello and happy Friday, y’all! What a week it has been for me! Lots going on, lots coming up that I’m so excited to share about. Today we are actually heading to Dallas on a quick weekend trip to attend a gender reveal party for some friends. Usually when we visit Texas we stay with my parents who live in a small town south of Fort Worth, but this time we rented a place with some friends in Dallas and will get to explore the city a little more. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you all about it in an upcoming post!
Today’s blog post is a really fun one that I have been wanting to do for a while, and today is finally the day! If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you surely know that I love hiking. Well, now I have compiled a list of my favorite hiking trails in Northwest Arkansas and I have included why they would be perfect for your photo session or elopement!
*While I do love photographing sessions and elopements in nature, most of my go-to photo spots are not on well known hiking trails. This post is not meant to be a photo session location guide. Rather, it is an attempt to inspire you to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty of our world. And if you happen to get inspired to book a photo session with me in one of these locations, so be it!
**Even though I hike three to four times a week when the weather is cool and less frequently but still consistently during the warmer months (I opt for long walks with my weighted vest during the summer!), I am still not a super fast hiker. If you want photos from an epic location that can only be reached by hiking but you feel insecure about your hiking abilities, just know that I like to take frequent breaks to drink water, rest, look at tiny flowers, etc.
Devil’s Den State Park
I love Devil’s Den SP. It’s truly a Northwest Arkansas institution. There are so many trails for hiking and mountain biking, fascinating rock formations to explore, and gorgeous overlooks to enjoy. The park is one of the places that I try to bring everyone who comes to visit me from out of town because everyone just loves it.
Yellow Rock Trail
This trail has been described as a more accessible Hawksbill Crag (see below). It is a loop trail with a stunning scenic overlook. It would be a really great spot for a photo session.
Devil’s Den Trail
This is one of my favorite trails for photo sessions in the park because there are so many features that photograph really well. Caves, rock formations, an overlook, a waterfall, a bridge … this trail truly has it all.
Hobb’s State Park
Located on the south side of Beaver Lake, this park has several areas for lake access. There are also lots of hiking trails to choose from, but I have only included my very favorite trail in the park.
Pigeon Roost Overlook
Pigeon Roost Overlook is about a mile and a half from the trailhead of the Pigeon Roost Trail (this trail is an eight mile backpacking loop so make sure you look at the map at the trailhead so you don’t go the wrong way!). The view from the overlook is so unique and the water in that cove is always such a beautiful shade of dark blue and green – even on a cloudy day like it was when I visited. I have never done a session here, but I can’t wait to!
Hawksbill Crag
I have hiked Hawksbill Crag to Whitaker Point twice, and each time I leave I can’t wait to return! The first time I hiked it with my husband it was Fall and it was raining, and that was such a magical experience. The second time was very sunny and warm, and while not as magical in my opinion, it was still such a memorable experience.
Whitaker Point
Legend has it that Whitaker Point is the most photographed spot in Arkansas, and for good reason. In the Spring and Summer but especially in the Fall, the rock outcropping offers stunning views. It’s the perfect spot to take sunrise photos, since the sun comes up right behind it as you are walking up the trail towards it. The trail is a must-hike for all Northwest Arkansans, in my opinion. I can’t wait to return and shoot a session there!
Mount Magazine State Park
I got to visit Mount Magazine SP with my husband on a work trip he had there, which was awesome because I just got to frolick around and explore. It reminded me a lot of when I was a child and we would go on my dad’s work trips with him. Stunning in any season, but if you haven’t figured it out yet I am extremely partial to Fall, and I got so lucky that that is when I was able to visit.
Inspiration Point/Benefield East Loop
There are so many gorgeous views to be had in Mount Magazine SP, and many of them don’t even require hiking! But I think my favorite hike I did there was to Inspiration Point on the Benefield East Loop. There are so many beautiful viewpoints and lookouts that I was just itching to photograph a session at.
Natural Falls State Park
While not technically in Northwest Arkansas, this park gets an honorary mention since it is so close to where I am based (I am based out of the Siloam Springs area, and this park is just over the Arkansas-Oklahoma border in West Siloam Springs).
Dripping Springs Trail/Bear Trail
Fun fact: Natural Falls SP used to be named Dripping Springs Park after the waterfall. The hike down to see the namesake waterfall and then continuing down Bear Trail to see the fishing pond and the dam is so gorgeous. And then if you complete the loop by hiking up to the field by the yurts you will find one of my favorite all-seasons scenery spots with evergreen trees galore.
Final Thoughts
What was the point of this blog post? To share beautiful photos of some of my favorite hiking trails in the area? Sure. To get people to book a photo session with me? Yeah, that would be great. But right now, in 2025, it is so important for people to be getting outside and falling in love with parks and hikes and nature. It will do you good, and maybe you will do it good too.
*Before scheduling a session at any outdoor location, I always reach out to local park rangers or governing bodies to ask about permits and fees associated with that location. These fees help protect the beautiful places we love.
*All my blog posts contain a selection of images that I’ve taken. This blog post contains images that I took myself for personal use and enjoyment and are not intended to be used for marketing purposes. Many of them were taken on a cell phone, and many of them are unedited. If you are interested in viewing some galleries of my couples, intimate wedding, and elopement photography, click here. If you’re interested in booking a wedding or session with me, I am more than happy to send you a full gallery upon request!
I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a couples/intimate wedding/elopement photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook and sign up for my monthly newsletter to get exclusive wedding planning advice and access to all of my new (and old) freebies! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!
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