United States Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway Leads Autumn Travellers Towards Arkansas Bugling Elk

Fall travelers can drive through Boxley Valley in Arkansas and witness thousands of elk framed by colorful trees. The drive is 35 miles and winds through the national forest and the Buffalo National River area. Elk are particularly active during the autumn mating season, and can often be seen near the side of the road during the hours close to dawn and dusk. During the mating season, the drive is a great opportunity to see and hear the elk as well as enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Travelers planning a trip during the fall months can expect to enjoy the scenic drive and increase their chances of seeing elk, moose and other wildlife from a safe distance.

A road trip with more than leaves

Where the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway leads

Arkansas offers a different kind of autumn drive. Along Highway 21, wooded ridges give way to the open fields of Boxley Valley. There, a visitor might see the colours of the Ozarks and hear the call of a bull elk on the same trip.

The 35-mile Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway runs through the Ozark National Forest, beginning north of Clarksville and ending near the Buffalo National River. Boxley lies along the route, according to Arkansas Tourism’s guide to elk viewing. The byway itself is a short drive, but a wildlife stop depends on finding a safe place to pull over and waiting quietly. Arkansas.com

That changes how to plan the day. Treat the drive as a journey with time for stops, rather than a 35-mile stretch to finish quickly. A sighting is possible, never certain.

Why Boxley Valley matters

Elk are part of a much longer Arkansas story. The eastern elk once lived in the state, but disappeared from its forests in the nineteenth century. Between 1981 and 1985, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and local partners released 112 Rocky Mountain elk near the Buffalo National River.

The National Park Service says the wider river area now supports a herd of nearly 500. That figure describes elk across the area, not the number a visitor should expect to see in Boxley Valley. The animals range freely and can move out of sight at any time. nps.gov

Boxley’s fields make wildlife viewing possible from the road. They are also part of a lived-in landscape. Visitors must respect private property, stay out of fields and give the animals room.

When to go for colour and elk

Autumn brings two attractions together, but neither follows a fixed timetable. Arkansas Tourism says bulls bugle during the mating season in September and October. The park service says visitors have a better than average chance of seeing elk in Boxley’s fields during October and November. Those descriptions overlap; they do not guarantee a sighting on a particular day. Arkansas.com

Dawn and dusk are useful times to watch. Elk often move into open fields when the sun is off them. A visitor arriving at midday may still enjoy the drive, but should not assume the herd will be visible.

Autumn colour needs the same flexibility. The look of the forest changes through the season, and the strongest colour on a chosen travel date cannot be promised in advance. For this trip, the better plan is to allow time for the road, the scenery and a quiet wait at a viewing area.

Route and wildlife guidance: Arkansas Tourism and the National Park Service. Arkansas.com

The viewing stop is also a road safety decision

The temptation is to stop as soon as an elk appears. That can create a problem for other drivers on a working highway.

The park service advises wildlife viewers to pull completely off the road so traffic can pass. Arkansas Tourism identifies designated pull-offs along Highways 21 and 43. On busy autumn weekends, visitors may need to arrive early to find a suitable space. nps.gov

Keep your distance once parked. Elk are powerful wild animals, even when they appear calm in a familiar field. The park service offers a simple test: if an animal changes its behaviour because you are there, you are too close. Binoculars or a camera with a longer lens let visitors watch without moving towards the herd. nps.gov

This is particularly important around a bull elk during the mating season. Give other visitors room at the pull-off, watch for passing vehicles and never walk into a field to improve a photograph.

What the trip means for local tourism

A short drive can support a longer stay

The byway is only one part of a possible Ozarks visit. Arkansas Tourism lists cabins, campsites and other accommodation in Ponca, Jasper and nearby communities. It also points visitors to the Ponca Elk Education Center for information about the animals and their habitat. Arkansas.com

An overnight stay makes it easier to watch at dawn or dusk without rushing a long return drive. It can also bring spending to local accommodation, food businesses and visitor services. That is a practical tourism opportunity, though no official figure reviewed here measures the byway’s own visitor spending or employment.

The wider state figures show why outdoor trips matter to Arkansas. In a July 2026 announcement on its 2025 economic impact report, the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism recorded 54.3 million visitors, $10.2 billion in visitor spending and 71,860 direct tourism jobs statewide. Its reported $17.4 billion total economic impact is a separate measure and should not be described as visitor spending. None of these statewide figures can be assigned specifically to Boxley Valley or the byway. Arkansas.com

The department also describes outdoor recreation and improved access as part of its statewide tourism work. For this particular journey, the most immediate benefit is clear: an established scenic road links travellers with a place to learn about restored wildlife.

What to check before setting off

This trip is easiest to enjoy when the plan leaves room for uncertainty. Check conditions for the Buffalo National River before travel, especially if adding a walk or river activity. Do not assume that seeing the river from the road means it is suitable for a paddle.

Visitors should also distinguish between the byway, the wider national river area and Boxley’s shorter wildlife viewing stretch. They connect to one another, but they are not all the same 35 miles. That distinction helps drivers plan where they want to spend their time.

For international travellers, the route is a self-drive addition to a wider United States holiday. The official sources reviewed for this story establish no new flight, airport or visa change linked to the byway. Its appeal is the experience on the ground: forest, river country and the possibility of hearing elk across the valley.

Frequently asked questions

Are elk sightings guaranteed in Boxley Valley?

No. Elk roam freely. The park service says October and November offer a better than average chance of seeing them in the fields, often when the sun is off the grass. Visitors should allow time and be prepared to enjoy the drive even without a sighting. nps.gov

Where can visitors stop to watch elk?

Use designated roadside pull-offs along Highways 21 and 43. Park completely off the road, keep traffic moving and do not enter private fields. Watch the animals from a safe distance. Arkansas.com

Is the 35-mile byway the whole Boxley Valley visit?

No. The byway is the scenic Highway 21 route through the Ozark National Forest towards the Buffalo National River. Elk viewing focuses on a shorter stretch around Boxley, including parts of Highways 21 and 43. Plan extra time if wildlife watching is the reason for the trip. Arkansas.com

Conclusion

The Ozark Highlands Scenic Drive draws visitors to sample the autumn colors of the changing trees of the region and offers other attractions along the way. Boxley Valley is home to an elk herd which was reintroduced to the area. The drive takes visitors to the scenic byway, gives opportunities to view the fall colors, and may provide an opportunity to view the elk. The byway leads visitors through the area and provides opportunities to listen to the calls of the elk. Visitors are advised to use the viewing areas and not to approach the elk since the elk are wild animals.

Official sources

1. Arkansas Tourism — Where to See Elk in Arkansas: https://www.arkansas.com/plan-your-trip/plan/trip-ideas-itineraries/where-to-see-elk-in-arkansas
2. National Park Service — Elk at Buffalo National River: https://www.nps.gov/buff/learn/nature/elk.htm
3. Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism — 2025 tourism economic impact announcement, published July 2026: https://www.arkansas.com/media/press-releases/arkansas-welcomes-543-million-visitors-as-tourism-generates-174-billion-in