Leave yourself plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery at Dogwood Canyon. These two pictures, both taken at the Glory Hole, show the meticulous care taken to enhance the natural beauty with man-made contributions. Those dark shapes in the sparkling clear water are some of the many trout living within the preserve.

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park straddles the Arkansas-Missouri border, and it takes two states to encompass this much natural beauty.

Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shop, began acquiring the 2,200 acres of Dogwood Canyon in 1990. In developing the canyon, the natural beauty was preserved, and the improvements only served to make it easier to get around in the park.

The man-made features bring out the natural beauty, and it's easy to imagine how this valley looked when Indians hunted here.

Everywhere you look at Dogwood Canyon, you'll find attention to detail. The handrail above the Glory Hole includes ironwork like the section at right, with a hummingbird, flowers, and leaves wrought into the railing. [Click to enlarge]

The three-mile paved path winds back and forth across the sparkling creek over a variety of bridges. The stone bridges complement the natural rock formations occurring throughout the park. A covered bridge was built with hand tools by Amish craftsmen.

A tram tour is a great way to experience the park, but walking or biking really gives visitors more time to savor the stunning beauty.

We rode on single-speed bikes with wide tires and wide seats, with a "tag-along" attached to one of the bikes for our two-year-old granddaughter. Tandem bikes are also available.

A variety of bridges cross the winding creek. This covered bridge was built with hand tools by Amish craftsmen. A display next to the bridge contains some of the tools and a description of the project. The path through Dogwood Canyon is level and shady, making it accessible to anyone. This is a camera-friendly attraction, and you can almost close your eyes and point your camera anywhere. Some of the small waterfalls along the creek are natural, and some have been engineered to create pools for trout habitat.

The trail is almost flat, and almost anyone should be able to walk or bike the distance, especially with a stop along the way for a picnic lunch. Even in the summer, the park has a lot of shade, but naturally, it will be cooler in the early morning.

Bring some quarters to buy trout chow from the machines along the way. The kids will love it, and you will, too. The trout will literally swim over the top of each other to get at the food.

There are opportunities to fish for the trout in the canyon, with or without guides. The park also offers horseback trails, although reservations are suggested for riders.

The entrance to Dogwood Canyon is located on State Highway 86 in Missouri. From Eureka Springs, take Arkansas Highway 23 north to Hwy. 86, and turn right (east). When you cross State Highway 39 in Carr Lane, continue on Hwy. 86 for another seven miles.

Hours and activities vary with the season. More information is available at (417) 779-5983, or at the website www.dogwoodcanyon.org.