What You'll See Along Oklahoma's Little Smokies

Oklahomans call southeastern Oklahoma's rumpled terrain the "Little Smokies." Not so lofty as the Great Smoky Mountains, these rugged green mountains boast an abundance of tall timber, splashing streams, and crystal-clear lakes.

Oklahoma's Little Smokies is a drive both for outdoor lovers who simply want to savor the views and for those more active travelers eager to tackle a hiking trail, paddle a canoe, or test their skill at fly-fishing. Swimming beaches at several lakes provide an inviting break from touring.

For much of the way, the north-to-south route traverses sprawling 1.8-million-acre Ouachita National Forest, which drapes across the Ouachita Mountains on the border of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Deer and black bear are abundant--this part of Oklahoma claims to be the "deer capital of the world." Ouachita is the French version of an American Indian word that means "good hunting grounds." Colorful wildflowers carpet the meadows along the road. The fall foliage is renowned as some of the finest.

A part of the forest, called the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area, has been designated primarily for outdoor fun. Trails range in difficulty from the rigorous--for example, the 192-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail, which intersects this drive--to the comfortably easy. Almost anyone can manage a trio of short, gentle nature trails at the Robert S. Kerr Memorial Arboretum.

Unless you are a resident of the Sooner State, signs that declare this corner of the state Kiamichi Country may puzzle you. The official Oklahoma Travel Guide also uses the phrase. Kiamichi, tourism officials explain, is a French word for a "water bird." French explorers, fur trappers, and traders were early visitors here.

The drive begins among the farmlands and orchards of Spiro, where a dozen ancient mounds display evidence of the people who lived here from A.D. 850 to 1450. And it ends in the state's far southeast corner at Idabel, the state's "dogwood capital" and home to the Museum of the Red River. The museum houses what is considered some of the finest art and artifacts from the earliest residents here.

Find more useful information related to Oklahoma's LIttle Smokies:

• Broken Bow, Idabel, Poteau, Spiro: Find out what there is to do in these cities along Oklahoma's Little Smokies.
• Scenic Drives: Are you interested in scenic drives beyond Oklahoma? Here are more than 100 scenic drives throughout the United States.
• How to Drive Economically: Fuel economy is a major concern when you're on a driving trip. Learn how to get better gas mileage.

Highlights of Oklahoma's Little Smokies

Begin your tour of Oklahoma's Little Smokies in the prehistoric Spiro Mounds Archaeological Park. Travel through history to the Museum of the Red River.

Spiro Mounds Archaeological Park: An important prehistoric American Indian site, the park harbors 11 grass-topped mounds. They formed a complex that began as a small farming village and grew to become an important trading, religious, and political center flourishing between A.D. 850 and 1450. Workers hauling basket loads of dirt constructed the mounds in layers. Initially there were 12 mounds, but a burial mound was excavated haphazardly in the 1930s for its numerous artifacts of stone, copper, shell, basketry, and fabric.

Robert S. Kerr Museum: The mansion of former U.S. Senator Robert S. Kerr, who was the state's first native-born governor, is a grand home built of such materials as stone, oak, pine, and cedar. Adjacent to it is a museum of eastern Oklahoma pioneer history.

Robert S. Kerr Memorial Arboretum and Botanical Area: An 8,000-acre preserve, the arboretum shelters special plant communities. At the Kerr Nature Center, three short interpretive trails provide an introduction to the region's natural heritage.

Cavanal Hill: Dubbed "the world's highest hill," this pine-draped knob rises to 1,999 feet, just 12 inches short of being officially designated a mountain. It stands within the city limits of Poteau, a onetime pioneer outpost--Poteau comes from the French word for "post." Cavanal is visible from almost anywhere in town. A 41⁄2-mile paved road climbs past beautiful new homes edging up its slopes. At the summit, a grand panoramic view of the Poteau River Valley is spread before you.

Lake Wister State Park: Wrapped by mountain slopes cloaked in dogwood, spruce, and ponderosa pine, the park takes full advantage of 7,300-acre Lake Wister. Park officials claim the fishing is among the best in the state. A beach invites swimming, and concessionaires provide bike rentals and water skiing options.

Heavener Runestone State Park: A historical curiosity, the Heavener runestone is a 12-foot-tall slab of stone onto which eight letters have been carved. Research suggests the stone is a Norse land claim dating back to the 8th century. The theory is that Norse explorers entered the Gulf of Mexico, found the Mississippi River, and sailed up two tributaries, the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers, about A.D. 750. A visitor center at the 50-acre park on Poteau Mountain provides details.

Peter Conser House: Built in 1894, the twostory, whiteframe house was the home of Peter Conser, a Choctaw statesman, wealthy landowner, and leading member of the Choctaw Lighthorsemen. A law enforcement group, the Lighthorsemen are considered the Choctaw equivalent of the Texas Rangers; they patrolled the Choctaw region of the old American Indian Territory. The house, restored to pre-statehood condition, displays antiques and photographs of Oklahoma history.

Talimena Scenic Drive: This 54-mile drive (Oklahoma Route 1/Arkansas Route 88) winds along mountain ridge tops through the Ouachita National Forest. Cross this scenic drive as it dips between Winding Stair and Rich Mountains--about 18 miles south of Heavener. Make a detour west here to enjoy some of the panoramic vistas.

Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area: A part of Ouachita National Forest, the 26,445 acres of the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area were set aside in 1988 for recreational purposes by the late President Ronald Reagan. A place of forestclad mountains and majestic vistas, it is also noted for odd geologic formations, an abundance of lakes and streams, a rich natural and cultural history, and plentiful wildlife. The Ouachita is the South's oldest national forest.

Beavers Bend State Resort Park: Overlooking huge Broken Bow Lake, which boasts a 180-mile shoreline, the park is a popular vacation destination. A 40-room lodge and 47 cabins provide overnight lodging, and there's a wide choice of recreational activities, including paddleboating, horseback riding, hayrides, miniature golf, and trout fishing. The Forest Heritage Center Museum features dioramas describing the evolution of local forests.

Gardner Mansion: The antebellum-style mansion south of Broken Bow, completed in 1884,was the home of Jefferson Gardner, principal chief of the Choctaw Nation from 1894 to 1896. Choctaw artifacts and pioneer relics are displayed in the mansion.

Little River National Wildlife Refuge: A wet bottomland, this 15,000-acre refuge is habitat for waterfowl, principally mallard and wood duck. Ancient American Indian mounds exist on the refuge, but they have been disturbed by early forestry practices. A threemile graded road leads though a forest to the hardwood bottomland and Little River.

Museum of the Red River: The museum houses a collection of more than 20,000 Native American objects. They focus both on the local mound-building groups and the Choctaw Indians. The Choctaws were moved into Oklahoma from their Mississippi homelands in the 1830s. The collection also includes contemporary native arts and crafts from throughout the Americas.

Oklahoma's Little Smokies feature a wide range of natural wonders, with beautiful rivers, lakes, and forests. This drive is a chance to see why the first Americans were happy to call it home.

Find more useful information related to Oklahoma's LIttle Smokies:

• Broken Bow, Idabel, Poteau, Spiro: Find out what there is to do in these cities along Oklahoma's Little Smokies.
• Scenic Drives: Are you interested in scenic drives beyond Oklahoma? Here are more than 100 scenic drives throughout the United States.
• How to Drive Economically: Fuel economy is a major concern when you're on a driving trip. Learn how to get better gas mileage.