Local photographers share favorite Arkansas spots

With temperatures rising to a balmy 50 degrees next week, Northwest Arkansas is thawing long enough for some much needed outdoor adventures.

If you are looking for new places or ideas, check out what a few nature enthusiasts turned photographers have to say about their favorite Arkansas spots. Follow their @Instagram feeds for motivation to get outside more in 2014.


Trent Sugg – @gotsuggphoto



Lincoln Lake is one of my favorite places to go if I need a quick outdoor fix, since it is only about 25 minutes from Fayetteville. The lake is a great place to do a ton of different activities, from bouldering, sport climbing, mountain biking, trail running, and fishing. Practically the only thing you can’t do here is camp, which is fine with me because Arkansas has a nearly unlimited amount of beautiful camping spots. So if you are looking for a place to get out, that isn’t too far from town, Lincoln Lake is your place.”




Kyle’s Landing is a great hub for people who are trying to experience the Buffalo River and its wilderness area. One can hike to many famous spots from Kyle’s Landing, such as Horseshoe Bend, Hemmed-in-Hollow, and, one of my favorites, Indian Creek. If you are not a huge hiker don’t write off Kyle’s Landing yet, there are many other activities to do such as canoeing, swimming, cliff jumping (at your own risk), fishing, and of course a grand place to camp.”



Horseshoe Canyon Ranch is, well to put it bluntly, a climbing haven. As far as climbing in Arkansas goes you are not going to find any better. The Ranch is a place that climbers from all around the nation come year round to camp and climb on hundreds of different sport and bouldering routes. It is truly a place everyone in Arkansas should experience. It may cost a bit of money, but it is well worth it. The Ranch is located a stones throw away from the Buffalo River so if you camp there you can hit several amazing hikes in a day. Not only is there great climbing and camping, but the Ranch also hosts many outdoor competitions and outdoor classes for those who really want to get serious about their outdoor recreation.”


Clark Baldwin – @ozklaaak


“Took this picture the morning of Feb. 9, 2010 after me @gotsuggphoto and @dgood08 hiked through a foot of heavy snowfall into, up and around Hemmed-In-Hollow Falls. At a height of 209 feet, it’s the largest waterfall between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains! It was cold. Our pants literally froze. It is one of my favorite locations in Arkansas because of how easily accessible it is from Kyle’s Landing Campground (about an hour and a half hike up the Buffalo on the Old River Trail). No matter how many times I hike to Hemmed-In-Hollow, I always get the same sense of awe.”



“Tis a successful spring day of climbing, hula hoopin, creek walking, and hammock lounging down in Fern Gully with @khandc @btyler @gotsuggphoto Taylor and Molly dog!”. — Clark’s Instagram caption.

“Fern Gully is another one of my favorite places in Arkansas because of all the activities it offers, such as climbing, bouldering, hiking, hammocking and camping.”


Daniel Mitchell – @birdnamedpelikan


“This is a shot that I took a few months while filming some fly-fishers on Greers Ferry Lake. The lakes in Arkansas have always proven to be great places to shoot and this particular evening was no exception.”



“The great thing about living in the Natural State is that you don’t have to travel far to find a secluded location to shoot. In fact, I took this photo of my girlfriend in an undeveloped neighborhood just up the street from my house. It has great lighting around dusk and the view makes for some great times with the camera.”