Just about every tiny town in Arkansas has a hidden gem or two to make a day trip worthwhile. One of our favorite out-of-the-way places to visit is Jasper. This itty bitty city may only have a population of about 500 but the number of scenic adventures and places to see make this a spot you'll want to visit again and again. Let's take a drive and head to this middle-of-nowhere town.

If it isn't already, taking a trip to Jasper annually should be one of your family traditions.

This sleepy town has plenty of beautiful nature (this is the heart of the Ozarks after all), delicious grub, and quaint shops to fill your day or weekend excursion. If you'd like to see an interactive map of Jasper, use this one.

Just the drive alone is enough reason to plan a trip.

Jasper is located on Highway 7, which happens to be the first designated scenic byway in Arkansas. Another scenic drive to take in the area is the Jasper Disaster. The name is quite the misnomer since it's actually one of the most beautiful drives to take in the state. You can read more about the drive right here.

Even before you reach the center of town you'll be greeted by one picture-perfect scene after another.

The Arkansas Grand Canyon is on the southern outskirts of town. The vast canyon isn't quite as deep as the one in Arizona but it sure is beautiful nonetheless. You could spend the night on the rim of the canyon by staying at the Cliff House Inn's cabins. To see some fantastic photos of the canyon in every season, and for a few more details - read this article.

There certainly isn't a shortage of good food in this little town.

We mentioned the Cliff House Inn already but there's other places to stop for a bite as well. The Low Gap Cafe is cozy with some mouthwatering comfort food, which you can see right here. Or, taste a bit of history at one of the oldest restaurants in the entire state. The Ozark Cafe opened in 1909 and has continually served the most delicious burgers for generations. If you'd like to see what's cookin', read our full article.

Jasper is surrounded by outdoor adventures if you're needing to walk off that last slice of pie.

The Ozarks are absolutely filled with natural wonders from natural bridges to the Buffalo. One of the more low-key hikes to take is in the nearby Koen Experimental Forest. This living laboratory has a family-friendly trail with tons of informative markers and gorgeous scenery. For more information and directions, read this article.

Other family-friendly nature trips are in the area, too!

Less than 10 miles from the center of town is one of the best waterfalls in Arkansas - Triple Falls. This waterfall is perfect for tiny Arkansans and anyone that enjoys a park-and-we're-here type of hike. Considering how close this waterfall is to town, it's easy to add this little excursion to your Jasper trip. For all the details, you can read this article.

A day trip is all it'll take to fall in love with Jasper but it's easy to turn this visit into a weekend getaway.

You can easily find a campground or cabin anywhere in the surrounding area but if you'd like a place in town we do recommend the Little Switzerland Cabins & Chalets. This quirky lodging is cozy and has quite an extensive history. For booking info you can head right here.

No matter how long you stay or what you do, Jasper is one of best tiny gems in Arkansas.

We would love to see your adventures in and around Jasper in our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.

If you're in the area then you should definitely spend a day or two exploring this tiny town too!