Adventures

White River Adventures in the Ozarks

There are many fun things to do while staying at PJ’s White River Lodge. You can go fishing, sightseeing (hiking and boat), eagle and bird watching, river kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, mountain bike riding, and explore the Ozarks. In the city of Norfork, you can go antique shopping, visit the Historic Wolf Family Cemetery (the oldest grave in Arkansas,) the Wolf House, (the oldest public structure in Arkansas,) and see a Civil War Reenactment during Pioneer Days.

Boat and Kayak Rentals Coming Soon!

Fishing

There four unique species of trout in our rivers. Rainbow, Cutthroat, Brook and of course our record-setting Brown trout. While there are many ways to catch a trout, only a fishing guide will ensure that you catch the most and the largest our waterways have to offer. Catch and Release areas and 2-foot minimum Brown Trout restrictions means the next Trophy Trout you need to add to your Den or your Office is here, waiting to do battle with you.

Hiking & Biking

A variety of trails can be found in the Arkansas Ozarks. Hiking and backpacking trails meander all through the mountains. Guests can enjoy the 32 acres of lodge grounds and river frontage for that early morning or evening ride.

The Ozark Folk Center State Park

Located in nearby Mountain View is the only state park of its kind in the country as it perpetuates and preserves the Ozark Mountain way-of-life. It features the music, dance, and crafts of Ozark pioneers. In addition, you can learn the Ozark craft ways by taking part in one of the many classes offered at the park.

Blanchard Springs Caverns

Located just north of Mountain View, these massive caverns were named the cave find of the (20th) century when they were discovered in 1973. Today there are three tours offered by the U.S. Forest Service who oversees the attraction. The Dripstone is the least strenuous and can be accessed by those in wheelchairs if they have strong assistance. The Discovery Trail is lengthy and has nearly 700 stairs. The Wild Cave Tour, only for those who are physically fit, offers a view into the undeveloped area of the caverns.

Big Creek Golf Course

Big Creek in Mountain Home has repeatedly been voted as one of the best courses in the country by Golf Digest with a five out of the five-star ranking. It sprawls over nearly 200 acres of rolling Ozark terrain featuring four lakes and Big Creek itself. White sand bunkers, lush zoysia fairways, and L-93 bent grass greens provide a perfect setting for a memorable test of golf. A wide array of hole layouts makes the course challenging, yet enjoyable for all. Five sets of tee boxes ranging from 5,068 yards up to 7,320 yards, along with large greens, ensure that Big Creek offers both a challenge and fun to golfers of every level.

Buffalo National River

Early American landscape artists such as Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran were the first to record the beauty of the Buffalo River. The pristine waters and breathtaking countryside led the movement in which Congress declared it the country’s first national river. It begins in the rugged Boston Mountain section of the Arkansas Ozarks and flows for 135 miles, merging with the White. Its 95,000-acre wilderness area is a favored destination for trail riders, campers, and hikers. We can arrange fishing, canoeing or trail rides with qualified outfitters for guests staying at the lodge.

Norfork National Fish Hatchery

Only nine miles from the Lodge is one of the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service’s largest producing fish hatcheries. On display are eyed eggs and various sizes of rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. Many guests enjoy hatchery tours and off-site presentation lunker fishing for the disabled and for those 15 and under in the adjacent Dry Run Creek.

Norfork Lake

When the U.S. Corp of Engineers completed the construction of the Norfork dam in 1944 it formed a lake of 2 million acre-feet of water covering over 30,000 acres. Its many coves provide the boater privacy even on the busiest holidays. The water clarity has earned the lake the reputation of being one of the best inland water destinations for the scuba diver. Several full-service marinas on the lake provide jet ski, ski boat, diving equipment and supplies, pontoon and houseboats rentals. The Corp maintains several access and launch areas around the lake. The lake is well-known for its population of large freshwater striped bass up to 40 lbs.

Eagle Watching

Many guests find pleasure in a simple stroll through the woods, along the creek, on the gravel bar or just sitting on the banks of the river. Bird watchers use the deck as a home base as they hunt for a Pileated woodpecker or bald eagle searching the river for a trout. Eagles are sighted daily during the winter months and often perch in the trees along the river’s edge. Yes, there are many ways to enjoy the Ozarks and an opportunity to make many new friends while staying at PJ’s.