Mena, AR

1. Hike in Queen Wilhelmina State Park

• Where is Queen Wilhelmina State Park located?
  • The Queen Wilhelmina State Park is located on top of Rich Mountain, the second highest mountain peak in Arkansas.
• What makes Queen Wilhelmina State Park special?
  • The park provides visitors with some of the state's most awe-inspiring views from its lodge.
• What is the history of the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge?
  • The original lodge, now fully renovated, was constructed back in the late 1800s.
  • It was named Wilhelmina Inn after the Netherlands' Queen.
• What is the main attraction at Queen Wilhelmina State Park?
  • The main attraction is the latest inn, which serves as the park lodge today.
• What dining options are available at the park?
  • The Queen’s Restaurant serves Southern fare with first-class hospitality.
• What outdoor activities can visitors enjoy at Queen Wilhelmina State Park?
  • The park features forty-one campsites, as well as hiking trails and a picnic area.
• Where can I watch a video about Queen Wilhelmina State Park?
  • You can watch a video about the park here.
• What is the contact information for Queen Wilhelmina State Park?
  • Address: 3877 Highway 88 West, Mena, AR 71953
  • Phone: 479-394-2863

2. Explore the scenic Wolf Pen Gap Trail

• What is the Wolf Pen Gap Trail?
  • The Wolf Pen Gap Trail in Mena, Arkansas, consists of a trail network spanning a total of forty-one miles.
• What type of vehicles can use the Wolf Pen Gap Trail?
  • The expansive network of trails was developed and is maintained for off-road vehicles and mountain bikes.
• What types of trails are found in the Wolf Pen Gap Trail network?
  • The trail is a combination of:
    • Short sections of constructed single-track
    • Abandoned double-tracks
    • Gravel road
• What is the difficulty level of the Wolf Pen Gap Trail?
  • The Wolf Pen Gap Trail ranges in difficulty from easy trails to extreme.
• Are there scenic views along the Wolf Pen Gap Trail?
  • Visitors can take a break and find panoramic views while traveling along the trail.
• Where is the Wolf Pen Gap Trail located?
  • The trail network is located approximately twelve miles northeast of Mena, just past the Caney Creek Wilderness.

3. Learn about local history at the Mena Kansas City Southern Depot

The Mena Kansas City Southern Depot in the city of Mena is a railroad station constructed back in the year 1920. Located on Sherwood in the heart of the city, the single-story long building was built using brick, and features a Mediterranean style and a roof made out of tile. The Mena Kansas City Southern Depot is one of the state’s most elaborate surviving railroad stations from the early twentieth century, and is noted on the National Register of Historic Places. The station is now the home of a museum dedicated to local history, as well as the Mena Chamber of Commerce.

Address: 524 Sherwood Ave, Mena, AR 71953, Phone: 479-394-2912

4. Discover crystals at the Board Camp Crystal Mine

The Board Camp Crystal Mine in Mena is open to the public every day, with the exception of being closed typically from the beginning of January through the middle of February. Visitors can join one of the UnXplained Tours and explore the Crystal Mine, dig for crystals, and even stay at the “Crystal Cottage.” Guests can take an UnXplained tour either during the day or at night. Day tours are offered most days of the week, with the exceptions of Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Guests must be at least twelve years old to join the tour, and tours typically last around two hours.

Address: 110 Hickory Ridge Rd, Mena, AR 71953, Phone: 479-243-0771

5. Stroll through Janssen Park

Janssen Park is located in the heart of Mena, and is one of the city’s municipal parks. The park is bordered by Port Arthur Avenue and Janssen Avenues, as well as 7th Street and 9th Street. Janssen Park is an expansive, grassy space featuring mature trees, and walking paths that radiate out from a central walkway that circles the oldest building in the city, a Shelton log cabin dating back to the 1850’s. In the southern area of the park, visitors will find two ponds, and a clock tower is situated inside of the circle near the old cabin.

Address: 7th St, Mena, AR 71953, Phone: 479-394-8355

6. Admire local artworks at the Mena Art Gallery

The Mena Art Gallery supports community and individual involvements in creative mediums of art, and strives to serve and inspire artists of any age. The gallery offers art exhibits, art shows, art classes, field trips, seminars, workshops, and more. Art shows are hosted often throughout the year, several of which open entries to anyone. Mena Art Gallery is run by the Southwest Artists organization, a local non-profit that has devoted itself to the promotion of the arts in the city since 1945.

Address: Mena Art Gallery, 607 Mena St, Mena, AR 71953, Phone: 479-394-3880

7. Visit the Wolfpen ATV Campground, Inc.

The Wolfpen ATV Campground, Inc. is the largest and first of the Wolfpen campgrounds to open in the area, making this campground truly an “original.” The campground gets its name from the World-Famous Wolf Pen Gap ATV Trails located near the city of Mena, and it provides an authentic outdoor experience of Arkansas.Wolfpen ATV Campground offers a range of camping options, from basic tent sites for anyone who likes “roughing it” to cottages fully-furnished with bathrooms, kitchens, heat, air conditioning, and satellite television. There are also full RV sites with hook-ups and rustic camping cabins as other options for camping.

Address: Wolfpen ATV Campground, Inc., 559 Polk Rd 61, Mena, AR 71953, Phone: 479-394-0404

8. Stop by the Arkansas River Valley Visitor Center

The Arkansas River Valley Visitor Center provides information about Lake Dardanelle and the surrounding Arkansas River Valley region, including Petit Jean State Park, Mount Nebo, and Woolly Hollow. Open during the weekends, the center also offers maps and rates for the state parks in the area. The landscape of Arkansas boasts a natural beauty, including the Arkansas River Valley, which offers plenty of recreational activities for everyone. The area includes several interesting sites, museums, and outdoor activities, and visitors can find information on all of them and places beyond Mena at the Visitor Center for the Arkansas River Valley.