Interior Highlands

Why should it be a National Park?

The Rocky Mountains mark the western boundary of the Great Plains, and the Appalachian Mountains help define the boundaries of a majority of eastern states. The area between these majestic ranges is unfairly considered flat, boring farmland with little geographical interest. This notion would change if people knew about the dazzling Interior Highlands that lie in between these larger mountain ranges.

"Interior Highlands" is the name collectively given to the Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains, which extend from eastern Oklahoma through northern Arkansas to southern Missouri. Although the nearly 4-million-square-mile region is referred to as mountains, it's actually a dissected plateau–an elevated plain whose mountainous features were carved by erosion and waterways. The resulting terrain is made up of hills that roll on for hundreds of miles.

The area's unique natural history is characterized by countless rock overhangs and cliffs overlooking rivers, but almost all of these sites are known only to locals. The Ozarks indeed carry some name recognition with most Americans. Still, few know where to find the mountains on a map, and even fewer have considered vacationing in the region.

The most popular natural sites in the southeast are the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway, which carry surprisingly few similarities to the Interior Highlands. The Ozarks are thought of as a thick, rural thicket of humid woodland, however, the unique geographical features of exposed rock faces and stone formations are in strong contrast to the Appalachians.

The Ouachita Mountains remain a hidden gem. The mountains straddle the border of Oklahoma and Arkansas, making up the southernmost section of the highlands. The most stunning portion of this range is the Talimena Scenic Drive, which extends 54 miles over an impressive series of peaks, providing expansive vistas of both states. Talimena is the biggest missed opportunity in National Park history as legislation establishing the area as a National Park was passed by Congress in the 1920s, only to be pocket vetoed by President Calvin Coolidge. This unfortunate action kept the highlands from becoming one of the iconic natural regions in America.

There are several impressive federal and state protected sites throughout the region, including three national forests. Oklahoma protects the westernmost point of the Talimena range as a state park. A series of parks in Arkansas including Petit Jean and Mount Magazine, the state's highest point, are the best places to experience stunning views and rock formations. Unsurprisingly, the Interior Highlands is also home to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, the highest point in Missouri. Unifying these interconnected lands would be the best way to put the Interior Highlands on the map, protect the land, and make it a destination for travelers.

Federal legislation was proposed which would have created a National Park in the Ouachita Mountains. While the proposal ultimately passed in Congress, supporters were devastated when President Calvin Coolidge, at the last moment of his presidency, pocket vetoed the legislation.