Polk County: Shady Lake, Mountain Trails and History

Polk County invites you to bring water, mountain scenery, and local history together in one vacation. At Shady Lake, the lake and Civilian Conservation Corps facilities take center stage; the Ouachita Mountains reveal themselves through hiking trails, sharply defined ridges, and a scenic driving route. In Mena, a historic park, a log cabin, and other traces of local culture add to the outdoor experience. These offer different ways to shape your trip: days by the water, longer hikes, a drive through the mountains, or local history.

Shady Lake: Lake, Trails, and Construction History

Shady Lake covers 25 acres and was created in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps along the Saline River in Polk County. The recreation area currently has four camping areas with a total of 54 campsites; this number may change. It provides access to the lake for non-motorized boating and has a swimming beach. The foot-access entrance to Caney Creek Wilderness begins in Loop C at the Tall Peak Trail, which branches off from Shady Lake Trail.

The lake's construction history is also part of the story: the Shady Lake CCC Bridges were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. Together with the road, the bridges continue to provide access to numerous camping and picnic areas around the lake in the 21st century.

Ouachita Mountains: Hiking and Scenic Drive

Queen Wilhelmina State Park is located on Rich Mountain, Arkansas's second-highest mountain, in the Ouachita Mountains. The park has trails open to hikers and mountain bikers. The Talimena Scenic Drive climbs Rich Mountain and passes through the state park. From Mena, it follows Arkansas State Highway 88 to Oklahoma; the Arkansas section is 18 miles long. The route offers views of forested peaks and valleys, as well as lakes and streams.

The Ouachita National Recreation Trail is 192 miles long overall and crosses the pine- and oak-covered Ouachita Mountains, with clear streams, rock outcrops, and sharply defined ridges. One trailhead is on the Talimena Scenic Drive, just past the western end of the campground in Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

The Wolf Pen Gap Trail Complex comprises approximately 35 miles of loop trails; this approximate mileage may have changed. The northern trailhead is accessible via Highway 8 and Polk County Road 61. The complex is part of the Ouachita National Forest and is regulated and maintained by the Forest Service. Check its current operating status before your visit.

History in Mena and Polk County

In Janssen Park in Menastands a log cabin built in 1851, which later served as a museum and the town hall. The park was established in 1906 after Arthur Stilwell and his partners, Mena's original founders, donated four city blocks; the land was used exclusively as a park. The Ebenezer Monument includes the names and brief stories of many citizens of Mena, Polk County, Arkansas, and the United States.

St. Agnes Catholic Church is an architecturally significant building in Polk County, constructed from natural stone blocks from the mountains and hills around Mena. The history of the original lodge at Queen Wilhelmina State Park also goes back a long way: it was established in the late 19th century as a Victorian resort called Wilhelmina Inn.

If you're looking for a vacation rental in Polk County, first decide what you want to focus on: water and boating at Shady Lake, the trails at Wolf Pen Gap or the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, or cultural history in Mena.

Discover more destinations: Crittenden, Ashley County, Faulkner, Clark County, Union County, Chicot County, White County.

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