See the Year-Round Beauty of the Ozarks–and Fall Leaves!

Hardy is the Eastern Ozarks’ four-season getaway. Yes, we are famous for the Spring River in summer, but there is something to see in every season. Add one of the hour-long drives below to your next visit to see some of the beauty that surrounds us. These are particularly great routes for fall leaf peeping in late October and early November–they have all of the beauty that the Ozarks have to offer without the long drive to get there or the crowds and traffic of other parts of the Ozarks.

Spring River Country Nature and Leaf Trail

This 48-mile, one-hour drive will take you down some of Spring River Country’s most beautiful highways. It begins and ends in Hardy with a number of scenic stops along the way and is particularly great for leaf peeping.

Don’t miss Mammoth Spring State Park, home to America’s third largest spring; the beauty of the South Fork River at Saddle; and Papoose Falls and Park in Cherokee Village. (A small construction detour on AR-175 in Cherokee Village will be in place through mid October of 2025.) Download PDF of route directions.

Harold E. Alexander Nature and Leaf Trail

This route circles the 13,000-acre Harold E. Alexander Spring River Wildlife Management Area. It is 39 miles long and takes approximately 52 minutes because of the beautiful but winding and narrow roads. It is quite rural, so gas up before you go.

All roads on the route are state highways except for Liberty Hill Road, which has been included for its scenic beauty. If you wish to stay on state highways, simply continue on AR-354 rather than turning onto Liberty Hill. This will take you to US-412 East in Ash Flat, which will lead you back to Hardy. Download PDF of route directions.