This Tiny Home Airbnb Is the Perfect Home Base for Arkansas’ Best Hiking Trails

Do you consider yourself a hiker, spending endless hours in nature, exploring trails through the mountains, forests, or both? Perhaps no better place for hiking in Arkansas is around the Buffalo National River. As the first designated national river in the U.S., 135 miles of which are under the National Park Service, you can spend your days on or around the water. If you want to hike some of the best trails in Arkansas over the course of several days, a week, or longer, you'll need a base camp, and I think I found one you'll love—a tiny home in the remote community of Hasty.

Surrounding the Buffalo National River are 96,000 acres, and adventure is a key draw to the area, whether you come to paddle the river, camp, or explore more than 100 miles of trails. With an extensive network of hiking and equestrian trails, exploring it all could take quite a while. The best thing to do? Book a stay at a vacation rental to act as a base camp for your daily excursions into the wilderness, and I believe that the Carver Ridge Paddle Palace is the perfect place.

Though opposite in size compared to a palace, this tiny home in Hasty is quite roomy. The main living space has an open-concept living room with comfy armchairs, a couch, and a TV. Leading into the kitchen, you'll have a full fridge, oven, and microwave, plus barstool counter seating to enjoy meals. The open space allows you to socialize with your fellow guests as you discuss plans for the day.

The one-bedroom, one-bath home has two beds for up to four guests. The bedroom, painted dark gray and adorned with sophisticated decor, is a sanctuary. How could you not get a good night's sleep here? The second bed is a pullout couch in the living room area.

Carver Ridge Paddlers Palace is a mere ¼-mile from Buffalo National River, so you don't need to hop in the car to get there. A quick walk will lead you right into the area surrounding the river, and numerous trails, including a portion of the 35.5-mile Buffalo River Trail and several spurs off it. If you prefer to take a paddle, take your watercraft down to the Buffalo River Paddle Route, an easy 7-mile, point-to-point water trail. This trail on the Buffalo National River is quite serene, and you can go birdwatching and fishing from your vessel if you choose.

To access additional trails in the area, you can drive to Ponca, where you'll find the trailhead to the Lost Valley Trail. This 2.3-mile trail is moderately challenging, kid-friendly, and has waterfalls along the route. Drive to Compton, Arkansas, and you can explore the picture-perfect Thunder Canyon Falls trail, yet another waterfall trail because you can never get tired of seeing a waterfall, right? You can view additional hiking trails near Hasty, AR, on AllTrails+.

When you're done exploring the wilderness for the day, return to your home away from home for a soak in the hot tub. Talk about a relaxing place to be after hiking or paddling for hours on end. It's also a fantastic spot for stargazing.

If you need a basecamp close to some of the best trails in Arkansas, I think you'll want to stay at this tiny home in Hasty. The Carver Ridge Paddle Palace is a supreme getaway for a relaxing nature experience while enjoying all the comforts of home. So, do yourself a favor and book your stay on Airbnb.