3 Days in Mountain Home: Your Hub for Family-Friendly Adventure in the Ozarks

Basecamp: Mountain Home | Length: 3 days, easily stretched to a week | Day-trip range: mileage varies | Good for: families, anglers, boaters, hikers and mountain bikers | Season: swimming and boating in summer, fall color, eagles in winter, scuba diving and dogwoods in spring

In northern Arkansas, Mountain Home sits between two lakes and two rivers, all close enough to fish, paddle or swim in the same afternoon. Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes draw boaters, swimmers and anglers. Below their dams, the cold, clear waters of the North Fork and White rivers teem with trout. The surrounding Ozark Mountain terrain is filled with trails for hikers, mountain bikers and wildlife watchers.

Make Mountain Home your hub for day trips that let you maximize your time on the water and trails. This itinerary fills three days with outdoor activities that could easily stretch into a week.

Pick your lodging, then get ready to unplug and play.

Where to Stay

Resorts, cottages, campgrounds and hotels in and around Mountain Home make a great home base for this Ozark Mountain getaway. Tucked into forests, along waterways or on hillsides, many are still only minutes from stores, restaurants, and attractions. Each offers distinct amenities.

On Norfork Lake, Fish & Fiddle Resort has a game room, playground with a pirate ship, and outdoor fireplace and lounge area for families to come together. Only 8 miles from town, Rocking Chair Resort welcomes families and dogs on 70 forested acres. It’s known for its large swimming pool, boat rentals and general store. Anglers love the resort’s illuminated covered boat dock in a secluded cove and central location to fishing hotspots for bass and crappie.

Anedodi is a luxury rental home on 12 acres overlooking the lake. Teal Point Resort has cottages and executive houses of all sizes, plus a rental fleet of bass, ski and pontoon boats. Three Oaks Resort has cottages built from native stone, plus a pool, pavilion, 9-hole mini golf course, hiking trail access, swim platform, and electric trolley down to a covered boat dock.

About 30 minutes from downtown Mountain Home, White River Resort is perfect for multigenerational families, with deluxe lodges, camper cabins, and RV and tent camping. It has a park-like setting along the White River and just 400 yards from the mouth of the Buffalo National River. The resort also offers johnboat, canoe, and kayak rentals, plus fishing guides.

Cranfield Park is the closest campground to Mountain Home. Just 5 miles away, it has 69 well-shaded campsites, two playgrounds, an amphitheater, day-use group shelters, plus a marina and boat ramp for easy access to the water. Eighteen more U.S. Army Corps of Engineers parks line the lake. Traditional hotel chains dot the city along with unique properties in the entertainment district, such as the Bradley House and The Block Vacation Rental.

Day 1: Hiking, Boating and BBQ

Morning

Get moving with a hike on Robinson Point National Recreation Trail. This 3-mile, out-and-back is a beautiful hike any season. You’ll see flowering trees, shrubs and wildflowers in spring and oak and hickory ridges ablaze with color in fall. Dogs are allowed on a leash. Look for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, migratory songbirds, eagles and waterfowl. The trail is part of the larger Trans-Ozark Trail system crossing the region for those who want extended backcountry hiking through the Ozark Mountains. Access the main trailhead from the parking lot on the right just before the entrance to Robinson Point Campground.

Other trails in the area, each offering different habitats from wooded ridges and limestone bluffs to shoreline coves and creek bottoms, include Big Tree Trail, Cranfield Trail, Bidwell Point Trail and David’s Trail. Pigeon Creek Trail System has 20 miles of stacked loop trails for mountain bikers.

Lunch

Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at a scenic stop on your hike. Or drive about 3 miles to Fred’s Fish House for fried catfish and hush puppies or steaks and burgers on a covered patio with a view of the lake. Ole Mill Tavern is a few minutes further down the road for a post-hike meal of pizza, burgers, wings and handmade cream sodas. It’s known for its Reuben sandwich and large portions. You can also eat at your next stop - Norfork Lake.

Afternoon

Head to Lake Norfork Marina, located at Twin Bridges, to spend your afternoon cruising the lake in a pontoon boat or Sea-Doo watercraft. Rent a tube to pull behind your boat for lots of laughs or a water mat for lounging on in your favorite cove. The marina store carries everything from snacks, pizza, ice cream and adult beverages to coolers, sunscreen, clothing and blow-up floats. If you’d rather not rent a boat, designated swim beaches are located at Cranfield, Gamaliel, Bidwell Point, and Panther Bay parks. No lifeguards are on duty, though.

It doesn’t have to be summer to enjoy boating on Norfork Lake. Fall cruises offer double the color, with brilliant foliage reflecting off the water. With the crowds gone, it's a quieter lake to have to yourself. By winter, bald eagles move in along the shoreline, making a cold-weather trip on the water one of the better ways to spot them. Spring brings the leafing out of trees and blooming dogwoods, plus it’s the start of dive season.

Jordan Marina is a full-service dive shop with PADI Scuba instructors and more than 30 marked dive sites within 2 miles. Divers see natural formations, like pinnacles, walls or swim-throughs, as well as home foundations and farm sites from before the lake was built. There are also boat wrecks, including a school bus turned into a houseboat.

Several other full-service marinas are found around the lake and offer similar rentals, public bathrooms, and other amenities. Tracy Ferry Marina is about 20 minutes away from Sand Island, known for its white sandy beaches. (Note: the island is underwater when lake levels are high).

Dinner

Holy Smokes BBQ on Ark. 201 north of downtown Mountain Home serves up barbecue brisket, pulled pork, ribs, burnt ends and sausage. You can also order family packs and meats by the pound. Save room for peanut butter pie.

Day 2: Stripers, the Hatchery and Dry Run Creek

Morning

Catch the morning bite, fishing from a boat or shore. Norfork Lake is known for massive stripers. Bidwell Point is noted as one of the best striped bass fisheries in northern Arkansas, according to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers website. Stripers in the 30-pound and 40-pound class are caught every year.

The lake is also prized for walleye, which you can catch year-round. The clear waters make it ideal for sight-fishing bass in the spring. Crappie are also found in abundance. Black bass fishing is at its best from September through May, while crappie fishing is prime in November and December.

If you’re not an avid angler, hire a local guide for a stress-free experience. These experts know where the fish are biting, provide the right gear, bait and tackle, can teach you techniques to become a better angler and ensure a safe trip. Guides know the local fishing regulations, including the White River Border Lakes License area.

Numerous guides service the area. You can find verified guides through Guide ARK, the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation's guide certification program.

Lunch

Drive to the small town of Norfork, about 14 miles south of Mountain Home. Eat at Heidi’s Ugly Cakes and Sandwich Shop, the Lazy Enchilada or Norfork Brewing Co. If you’re looking for a thick sandwich and legendary baked goods, go with Heidi’s. For family-style Tex-Mex, pick the Lazy Enchilada. Norfork Brewing Co. is known for wood-fired pizzas and craft beer.

While you’re downtown, check out Norfork Adventure Supply, carrying hiking boots, technical apparel and trail nutrition. It has a full-service bike shop and offers on-site rentals for paddleboards, canoes and kayaks if you want to float the river. Nearby, the Two Rivers Fly Shop is a full-service outfitter for fly fishing.

The Jacob Wolf House is also worth a stop. Built in 1829, it’s the oldest public structure in the state, and the last remaining two-story public dog-trot structure in the U.S. The grounds are open for exploration.

Afternoon

From downtown Norfork, travel about 5 miles on Ark. 177 to Norfork National Fish Hatchery near the base of Norfork Dam. The hatchery has 96 raceways full of fish of various sizes that you can feed. See how the hatchery raises trout from eggs, find out how big they grow, and how the fish are stocked in Arkansas waters.

Head outdoors to Dry Run Creek, located next to the hatchery. The creek carries the hatchery effluent of more than a million gallons per hour of cold, highly oxygenated water, and runs roughly 3/4 mile to its confluence with the North Fork River below Norfork Dam.

This excellent habitat for rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout serves as a top trout fishing stream for mobility-impaired anglers and youth under the age of 16. It’s narrow and shallow, with specially designed walkways, ramps and fishing platforms for easy access to fishing right from the hatchery parking lot. The upper end of the stream remains natural with banks that are easy to walk.

Across the street from the hatchery is the road to Dam-Quarry Park, which provides tailwater access below Norfork Dam for anglers of all ages. The North Fork River is only five miles long between the dam and the White River, yet attracts anglers from around the world.

Dinner

Just 3 miles from the hatchery and 15 miles from Mountain Home, The Grill at Whispering Woods has extensive lunch and dinner menus with gourmet entrees, fresh seafood, steaks, pasta, and vegetarian options. Choose to sit in the 100-seat dining room or outdoors in the courtyard with a fire pit overlooking the lake.

Head back to your overnight hub and get ready for another fun-filled day.

Day 3: Trout, the State Park and the Baker District

Morning: Start your morning in a johnboat on the White River directly below Bull Shoals Dam, located about 14 miles from Mountain Home. This tailwater draws anglers from across the country to fish its cold, clear water for rainbow, cutthroat, brook, and brown trout. Setting the hook on golden rainbow and tiger trout is possible in these waters, too.

Anglers spin fish or fly fish from boats or the bank. Guide services are numerous. Book one and they’ll do more than find fish. They’ll bait your hook, show you how to handle fish, and walk beginners through the basics. Independent outfitters are numerous. Most offer half-day or full-day trips. Consult Guide ARK for a list of verified fishing guides or book through a resort, such as Gaston’s White River Resort, White River Trout Club, Cranor’s White River Lodge or The White River Inn.

If you want to get on the water without a guide, the riverside marina and store at Bull Shoals-White River State Park, located just below the dam, sells bait, tackle, supplies and general merchandise, and rents canoes, kayaks, and boats and motors. In addition to the state park, public access points for walk-in wading, bankside fishing, and boat ramps include Jim Griffin Access, Wildcat Shoals Access, Rim Shoals Access, White Hole Access, and Buffalo City Access.

Lunch

Head to a popular local spot, 178 Club Restaurant in Bull Shoals. The large menu features starters such as fried mushrooms and Italian nachos, as well as salads, burgers, and lunch specialties like fried walleye plates, Reuben sandwiches, and prime rib French dips. The dinner menu includes steaks, chicken and pasta, fish and seafood, and weekly evening specials. Other local options include Beacon Point Restaurant and Gaston’s Restaurant.

Afternoon

Take the afternoon to explore Bull Shoals-White River State Park, located on both Bull Shoals Lake and the White River. The park’s visitor center highlights the area’s history and the construction of Bull Shoals Dam, the fifth-largest concrete dam in the United States. Look out from the observation tower for views of the river, lake and dam. The center has interpretive exhibits, an audiovisual theater and a gift shop. The park also has picnic areas, playgrounds and trails, found both beside the lake and below the dam.

The Heritage and Habitat Trail is ADA accessible. The Bluebird Trail takes walkers along a grassy lawn to observe the nesting and feeding behaviors of bluebirds. Other trails are more traditional paths through the Ozark landscape. The Oakridge Mountain Bike Trail takes hikers and mountain bikers to remote areas of the park. Campsites, a modern bathhouse for all park visitors, and the marina (a Wi-Fi hotspot) are along the river.

Check with the park about guided hikes, trout fishing workshops, lake cruises, kayak or jon boat floats, and other programming. The park is located six miles north of Mountain Home on Ark. 5, then eight miles west on Ark. 178.

Dinner

Head back to Mountain Home. Take your pick of dining options in the downtown Baker District, the city’s open container entertainment zone. From Rio Burrito to Parker’s Pub and Rapp’s Barren Brewing Company, there’s a taste to satisfy everyone in your party. Or just go for drinks and house-made small bites at The Abby (21 years old and up only).

Make time to park, walk and explore the district before dinner. You can shop the Mountain Home Mercantile, boutiques, vintage and thrift shops, Gregory Jewelers and Treat Yo Shelf Books. Try your skill at Sharp Locals Axe Throwing or Mountain Mystery Escapes, which has an arcade room and table games in addition to its escape room. After-dinner entertainment includes live music at The Square Piano, or you belting out songs at The Karaoke Barn, an all-ages, family-friendly venue. You can also opt to end the night hanging out at Stories Whiskey Bar or Crush Wine Lounge and Tasting Room.

When you’re ready to head home the next morning, stop by the Baker District to fuel up for the drive at Emma’s Early Bird Cafe, Cove Coffee or Petite Patisserie.

Note: Before heading to any restaurant or attraction, double-check their hours of operation for the specific day that you are there. Some close one or two days a week or have shorter hours depending on the season.