Nature & Trails
About
The experience of and appreciation for nature is central to the mission of Crystal Bridges. The museum is situated on 134 acres of native Ozark forest which include natural springs, streams, geographical features, and a host of native plants and animals. Our dedicated Trails and Grounds team are committed to the use of native plants in the landscape, and work year-round to keep the grounds beautiful and healthy for all to enjoy.
In 2024, Crystal Bridges was awarded Level I Accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program. The stunning arboretum at the museum is defined by areas of native, managed forest, flowering and specimen trees, and display gardens well-known for joyful spring displays of dogwoods, redbuds, and magnolias. Crystal Bridges is the only museum in Arkansas that’s also an arboretum.
Senderos y terrenos
The trails and grounds of Crystal Bridges are a must-see part of the museum experience. More than five miles of trails wind through the museum's 134-acre site, providing guests with access to the beautiful Ozark landscape. Designed to spark the imagination, the trails help guests form connections to the land and its history, as well as enjoy outdoor artworks.
Crystal Bridges Trails
A scenic loop through the heart of the museum grounds, passing along the ponds and connecting the main museum buildings.
Follows the natural spring that gives the museum its name, winding through native woodland and past the spring source.
1.1 miles · Crushed granite and paved sections · Moderate
0.5 mile · Paved · Easy, accessible
0.4 mile · Natural surface · Moderate to strenuous
0.3 mile · Paved · Easy
0.8 mile · Natural surface · Moderate
0.5 mile · Crushed granite · Easy to moderate
0.4 mile · Natural surface · Strenuous
0.2 mile · Paved · Moderate
0.3 mile · Paved · Easy, accessible
Connecting Trails
Connects to the Slaughter Pen mountain bike and hiking trail system in Bentonville.
Connects to the Back 40 trail system near Crystal Bridges.
Plant Guide
Most of the plants at Crystal Bridges are native to our region. Others are cultivars of native species bred to provide a wide variety of bloom, foliage, and color from spring through fall. This searchable guide will provide information on many of the plants blooming at Crystal Bridges, along with tips from museum horticulturalists for using these species in your home garden.
Arkansas Quartz Crystals
Beside the walkway that runs along the west side of Crystal Bridges' upper pond is a stone grotto made of boulders, ranging in weight from 3,000 to 10,000 pounds, that are covered in natural quartz crystals. These boulders were excavated from a mine in west central Arkansas, an area that produces some of the largest and clearest quartz crystals in the world.
These Arkansas quartz crystals were formed deep underground over millions of years. When two of the earth's tectonic plates slowly collided around 300 million years ago, the pressure caused an uplift that formed the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas and Oklahoma. As stone was pushed upward, the high pressure and heat allowed these crystals to form in the cracks and hollows deep within the Earth as it cooled.
For many years, quartz crystals were mined for use in radios and watches, because they can be used to transmit frequencies without distortion. In the 1950s, General Electric Co. patented a process for making synthetic crystals, and quartz crystals were no longer in demand for manufacturing. Now they are enjoyed for their beauty, and some people believe they have healing properties.
We invite museum guests to explore and enjoy this fascinating and beautiful exhibit of some of Earth's natural artworks. You may touch gently, but please don't climb on the boulders. Help us preserve these crystals for generations to come.
Digital Guide on Bloomberg Connects
Enhance your nature and trail experience with the Crystal Bridges digital guide on Bloomberg Connects — a free app featuring trail maps, plant identification, and audio content for outdoor artworks.
