Talimena National Scenic Byway
more than a road, it’s a destination.

The Talimena National Scenic Byway, a breathtaking 54-mile route in southeast Oklahoma, is known for its breath-taking panoramic vistas and spectacular fall foliage.

The two-lane road features hiking trails scattered along the way beginning at various points along its stretch and 22 scenic vista pull-outs. The trails allow you to get up close to the natural world and see the delicate flowers, native birds and wildlife. Five historic sites explore the lives of the early settlers, soldiers, American Indians, and horse thieves who once lived in, or traveled through, this area.

Designated a National Scenic Byway by the America’s Byway Program in 2005, the road travels within the Ouachita National Forest along the highest peaks of the Winding Stair Mountains, part of the Ouachita Mountain chain, including the second tallest peak in Arkansas, Rich Mountain, 2,681 feet in elevation.

The current route opened in 1969 and formed a stretch of what would become Oklahoma State Highway 1. The roadway was designated as a National Forest Scenic Byway on February 8, 1989. It was later made an Arkansas State Scenic Byway on January 7, 1998, and an Oklahoma State Scenic Byway on October 10, 2002. The National Scenic Byway status was conferred on September 22, 2005

Make your way to this winding road nestled in the heart of Oklahoma’s Choctaw Country to view one stunning panorama after another as you wind through scenic natural beauty and historic sites travelling along the crests of forested peaks between Talihina, Oklahoma and Mena, Arkansas.

Few travelers finish these 54 miles in an hour and 15 minutes. You could, but your curiosity will require several stops, depending on your interests and as new vistas unfold. Roadside overlooks along the route are your invitation to pull over and take-in the breathtaking vistas of mountains as far as 60 miles in the distance.

The Talimena National Scenic Byway will take you to unique places as it winds along the ridges of one of only two, east-west trending mountain ranges in the U.S. It’s more than a route. This is a destination, too.

Talimena Scenic Drive Fall Foliage photos by Alex Butterfield.

Peak Fall Foliage Season:

Last 2 Weeks of October through First 2 Weeks of November

Fall Foliage Hotline:

1-800-652-6552