This is a hiking trail which allows mountain biking through remote sections of the Ouachita Mountains. Civilization rarely encroached on the trail. Naomi and I ended up staying the night at the lodge. Freezing rain is a particular concern in the winter. Below are several of its standout features: The Ouachita Mountains felt remote and wild. The Penney Campsite is 0.9 miles off-trail and accessed by a spur trail. 5. The Bluebell Cafe in Story, Arkansas -- near the trail’s halfway point -- is the traditional resupply point for Ouachita Trail thru-hikers. Lori recommends hikers call from the Suck Mountain Shelter (mile 109) to pre-arrange rides. (As this may change from year to year, you’ll want to call to confirm and get details.) The eastern boundary is south of Perryville, Arkansas on Highway 9. The Ouachita Trail offers many open views of the surrounding forest and mountains. 137 miles is now open to both mountain bikes and foot traffic. Long dry stretches. Ouachita National Recreation Trail: Sunshine-- View Entry --Ouachita National Recreation Trail: High Loon: Stealth Campsite: Foothills Trail: JERMS: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter: Appalachian Trail: Star: Clark Mountain Road: Appalachian Trail: Speedy: Two Lads and the Pike : Other Trails: Maj.D.Saster: Just when you think you're there! Read a complete review of backpacks in our story Best Backpacking Backpacks. Our favorite two-person tent since 2019 has been the Six Moon Designs Haven Tarp with a NetTent. Approximately 177 miles of the trail is in Arkansas and 46 miles of the trail is in Oklahoma. The key is to avoid hypothermia even when wet. Ouachita National Recreation Trail - General Map, Ouachita National Recreation Trail - Detailed Map. The eastern third of the trail is extremely rocky and can be slow and sometimes treacherous-especially when wet. Potentially dangerous river fords, especially after storms. Ouachita National Recreation Trail is a 223-mile (359 km) long, continuous hiking trail through the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Naomi added the Gossamer Gear feedbag for easy access to snacks, while I added the Gossamer Gear shoulder strap pocket to hold my camera. Much of the route follows the ridges and crest lines of the Ouachita Mountains, providing outstanding views and a wilderness experience. Below is a list of the clothes Naomi and I wore: A good headlamp is especially important for shoulder season hikes, as hte days are short. This is the only section of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail currently open to mountain biking. We discuss the jackets in our Best Rain Jackets article. The Trail The Ouachita National Recreation Trail spans 192 miles of the Ouachita National Forest between Talimena State Park on U.S. Hwy. These sections are short lived however, and worth the long descents toward Ouachita National Recreation Trail - Segment 02 just northeast of County Road 221. Photo by Mike Unger. The rooms were beautiful and the restaurant was good-there’s a hiker-friendly breakfast buffet. She then drove us back to the Bluebell the next morning for breakfast, and then took us-clean, rested, and very well-fed-back to the trail. For updates on trail conditions as well as information on this group, check out their website. All but the eastern 30 miles travel through the Ouachita National Forest, the oldest and largest National Forest in the Southern United States. The eastern boundary is south of Perryville, Arkansas on Highway 9. The 223-mile Ouachita (pronounced “ Wash -i-tah”) Trail is a National Recreation Trail that runs through the Ouachita Mountains from Talimena State Park in eastern Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park near Little Rock, Arkansas. this happens by insulating under your rain gear. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. We didn’t think to pack bug spray at the start of the trip. The surprisingly not-well-known Ouachita National Recreation Trail stretches 223 miles through the beautiful Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Bluebell Cafe is a highlight of the Ouachita Trail. The easternmost 30 miles are outside the Ouachita National Forest. Copyright © 2018-2020 Treeline Review LLC. The Ouachita Trail Guidebook and trail mileage markers are oriented for a start at the western terminus in Talimena State Park in Oklahoma and a finish at the eastern terminus in Pinnacle Mountain State Park near Little Rock, Arkansas. Distance: 223 miles (375km) from Talimena State Park, Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas, Elevation gain/loss: 34,300’ (10,455m) ascent; 34,900’ (10,648m) descent. FOOT provides a list of trail shuttles. Lingering snow on the Ouachita Trail. Where to Go, Trip Ideas, Rafting Trip Ideas, Route Description, Trip Ideas, rafting trips, water sports. I carried the Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork poles, which are the best, most durable poles I’ve used. Please respect these boundaries. We also carried Patagonia Houdini wind shirts, which are my favorite piece of gear. Elevations range from 600 to 2,600 feet as the trail passes through forested mountains, across sweeping valleys and near clear-running streams. Naomi carried the Westcomb Shift LT men’s jacket. Jessieville, AR Unsurfaced. Short enough for me to complete in its entirety with 14 days 2. 100 Reserve Street Below are the resources we used for our thru-hike: We purchased the Ouachita Trail Guide to get an overview of the trail and trail descriptions. Box 1270 Mena, located 12 miles south of the trail on Highway 71, is a full-service town with motels, restaurants, and a Walmart. We’re working on a best sleeping quilts guide, but for now, check out our our Best Sleeping Bags story, which has some ultralight options. Lori will also accept hiker resupply boxes. This is the longest trail in the Ouachita National Forest spanning 192 miles across its entire length. Get ready for scenic, rocky, single-track as you tour Pinnacle Mountain State Park and the eastern part of the 222 mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail. Photo by Mike Unger. We only want the same thing as you—the best gear at the best price. Blue blazes are painted on trees and every mile is marked both on a tree and on the ground with a survey marker. The maps are formatted to be printed at scale (1:24,000) on 11” x 17” paper. FOOT is a non-profit organization supporting, maintaining, and providing resources for the Ouachita Trail. We hope to include more in the future. Naomi demonstrating how to stay well-fed on the trail. In addition, the Atlas Guides Ouachita Trail app identifies water sources. We had the solitude that is increasingly rare on long trails. In the mid-afternoon, Lori offered to drive us to Mt. Only two were thru-hikers-one eastbound and one westbound. Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT) is a non-profit organization (IRS 501c3) created by trail users to maintain the Ouachita National Recreation Trail as a healthy and enjoyable outdoor recreational asset. The Ouachita Trail is traditionally a west-to-east hike, though it can be hiked in either direction. It also has great battery life, as long as you keep it in extended tracking mode. We often found ourselves packing up or setting up camp in the dark, and occasionally we even hiked in the dark. The Guthook app offers an Ouachita Trail guide with detailed maps, elevation profiles, water reports, and campsites and shelters, as well as campground and trailhead locations. My buff is one of my favorite pieces of gear. Start Location: Trip Miles: 0. With some planning and advanced route-planning, some hikers have connected the Ouachita Trail with the ~170-mile long Ozark Highlands Trail to create a longer thru-hike. It is USB charged, lightweight, comfortable, and has three modes: highly adjustable directed beam, flood light, and red light. Dogs are also able to use this trail. The Ouachita Trail is well-maintained and blazed. However, temperatures rose by around 30 degrees within a few days. Ouachita National Recreation Trail is a 213.9 mile heavily trafficked point-to-point trail located near Roland, Arkansas that features a lake and is rated as difficult. I found a tick on my pant leg on our 4th day on trail. Phone:  (870) 867-2101, Jessieville/Winona/ After that, we wisely decided to do daily tick checks. I carried Frogg Toggs rain jackets and pants, as I have found them to be as good as other lightweight rain gear. The trail had to satisfy a few conditions for me to choose it: 1. Stretches for 233 miles across the Ouachita National Forest from near Talihina, Oklahoma, to Pinnacle Mountain State Park near Little Rock. In the west, the trail begins at Talimena State Park on Highway 271 near Talihina, Oklahoma. It provides excellent rain protection, holds up great in the wind, and is easy to pitch. We printed out color, 11 x 17” maps that are available for free from ouachitamaps.com. In addition to providing emergency rescue notification, I like that I can use it to send text messages. We only saw six other backpackers and very few day hikers until Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ouachita/recreation/recarea/?recid=10804&actid=50, Wolf Pen Gap Trails CLOSED for the season, Tent camping,Picnic tables,Toilets,Drinking water,Parking. Naomi carried the Hyperlite 2400 Junction and I carried the Katabatic Onni V40 65 (which is no longer in production). The map at right is an overview map. Unfortunately, the gift shop only had light snacks and sodas. The 223-mile Ouachita (pronounced “Wash-i-tah”) Trail is a National Recreation Trail that runs through the Ouachita Mountains from Talimena State Park in eastern Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park near Little Rock, Arkansas. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is accessible year-round. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to have the time to do any of the truly large thruhikes, but I wanted so desperately to be able to call myself a thruhiker. Uber and Lyft serve the Little Rock metropolitan area. Please consider joining and supporting FOOT. The trail meanders through the Ouachita National Forest with spurs providing lake vistas. There are even mileage markers along the entire route. We started at Talimena State Park on February 26 and finished at Pinnacle Mountain State Park on March 8 for a total of 12 days on trail. The boulder fields are fairly technical and will require walking the bike for most people. The trail avoids towns and major roads. Mt Ida, AR I used a Montbell Plasma Down jacket and Naomi used the Patagonia Micro Puff. We’re 100% reader-supported publication. No terrain too far outside of my comfort zone - An 11 day hike was more than enough. It has great battery life and provides ABC-altimeter, barometric pressure, and compass functions. Monday, November 16, 2020 Destination: Today's Miles: 0. They do tear very easily, though, so I only use them on trails that are well-maintained and will not require any bushwacking. The 222 mile trail begins at the Visitor Center and winds for 2.5 miles through the park and then for 220 miles through the Ouachita Mountains ending in southeast Oklahoma. Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small percentage of any purchase you make. The Ouachita is a great long trail, worthy of its National Recreation Trail status. A note regarding COVID-19:  Our Ouachita Trail thru-hike occurred just prior to the COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions. The eastern boundary is south of Perryville, Arkansas on Highway 9. The park section travels through upland forests along rocky hillsides and the edge of the scenic Big Maumelle River. I thru-hiked the Ouachita Trail with Treeline Review co-founder and Chief Operations Officer Naomi Hudetz in 2020. The eastern boundary is south of Perryville, Arkansas on Highway 9. Ouachita National Recreation Trail is a 210.9 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Talihina, Oklahoma that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult. Caching water may be necessary. Water is scarce on many portions of the trail especially during dry periods. Ouachita National Forest Applying bug spray to my socks in an effort to thwart ticks and chiggers. You can download both from Ouachitamaps.com. The trail is well-blazed and well-maintained. The Bluebell Cafe and Market in Story, Arkansas. Hochatown, OK It is the longest backpacking trail in the Ouachita National Forest, spanning 192 miles across its length. We purposely started early to avoid ticks and mosquitoes. Ticks, mosquitoes, and chiggers can be an issue. Rain and thunderstorms are a consistent threat on the trail, but Naomi and I got lucky. US Forest Service Ouachita National Recreation Trail Page. The Ouachita National Recreation Trail is 223 miles stretching from Talimena State Park in Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park on the outskirts of Little Rock, Arkansas. What I initially thought were spider bites turned out to be chiggers, and they turned out to be a red, scratchy, unpleasant experience. Naomi and I use an umbrella to supplement our rain gear. The hiking trail avoids towns and heavily traveled roads, which can complicate resupply but results in a true sense of solitude. Photo by Mike Unger. Treat all water before drinking. Without exception, these shelters were meticulously clean and uncrowded. The trail will pass through some boulder fields at times. Kiamichi River Trailhead to Oklahoma border (GPS N 34 39.594, W 94 32.498): As one of the most advanced trails in the Ouachita National Recreation Trail System, the nearly seven mile route from the Kiamichi River to the Oklahoma-Arkansas border begins with an easy to navigate trail scattered with primitive tent sites. Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FOOT) has compiled a list of navigation points including water sources along the entire trail. Trail open to foot traffic only for 55 miles. The Ouachita Mountain range has a similar steepness and rugged feeling as the Appalachian Mountain range. Fortunately, we were able to buy some from the Bluebell Cafe in Story. The Ouachita National Scenic Trail is a 223 mile (359 km) pathway that winds its way through the Ouachita (pronounced wa-she-ta) mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Naomi used this jacket for the extreme conditions of the Great Divide Trail and carries it on all trips where heavy rain/snow and cold temperatures are a possibility. Finally, we carried Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow Carbon trekking umbrellas. It was one of the most pleasant town stops we’ve had over 25,000[TK] miles of thru-hiking. We test. The Bluebell Cafe also has a small market, which is well-stocked with hiker-oriented foods. Phone:  (479) 394-2382, Poteau/Cold Springs There was plenty of water, and we had the trail to ourselves-mostly. While most spring starts are in late March and early April, Naomi and I chose an early start date because we wanted to hike before ticks emerged, temperatures warmed, and seasonal water sources dried out. The route has of a number of trail segments, along with some short out-and-back or loop spurs. We expected and planned for rain, but it missed us. We were fortunate to have dry conditions, as this section could be treacherous when wet or icy. This is the longest trail in the Ouachita National Forest spanning 192 miles across its entire length. Please do yourself a favor and visit the Bluebell when hiking the Ouachita and eat heartily. All rights reserved. Every recommendation we make is chosen by our editors. Highlights of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail available here. It can also be purchased as part of the Arkansas Hiker package, which highlights other longer backpacking trails in the Arkansas trail system. We are proud to be independent. I carry a Garmin in Reach Mini. The Ouachita Trail has shelters nearly every 8-10 miles. We should have carried bug spray and a tick key. 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road Little Rock, AR 72223 Please respect these boundaries. Length 213.9 miElevation gain 32276 ftRoute type Point to point The trail stays in the Ouachita National Forest from Oklahoma to Arkansas Highway 9. The TOAKS 550 ml is reviewed in our Best Backpacking Cooking pots story and the TOAKS spoon is in our Backpacking Essential Accessories story. Summers in Arkansas are too hot, muggy, and buggy. I am notoriously tough on my poles (and all my gear), and I have yet to break these poles over over 6,000 miles miles of use. We carried insulated jackets for use in the tent at night, as it’s essential to have something warm and dry after hiking in cold rain all day. There is no additional cost to you and the decision to buy something is up to you. See our Shoulder Season Backpacking Gear article for ideas. Rain gear will always “wet out” eventually, meaning the amount of moisture on the surface of the jacket won’t allow any more sweat evaporation from the inside, and you start to feel wet. I prefer a two pad system with a short Nemo Switchback closed-cell foam pad and a Therm-a-Rest ProLite self-inflating pad in a size small. The Ouachita Trail has been established for the hiking and mountain biking enthusiast. I have replaced the tips five times, and I typically replace my tips every 1,500 miles or so. We both carried the BioLite 330 headlamp. Lori arranged to have a friend pick us up at 8 am, and we stayed at the Bluebell for breakfast and lunch. High Point: 2,610’ (795m) at Rich Mountain near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border. We did miss the mosquitoes, but a mild winter brought ticks out early. The trail in winter can be subject to harsh storms and frigid temperatures. Resupply along the Ouachita Trail can be tricky. Waldron, AR Ida to do laundry and get a room for the night. This is the longest trail in the Ouachita National Forest spanning 192 miles across its entire length. The Ouachita National Recreation Trail, an approximately 225-mile back country trail, runs east and west the length of the Ouachita Mountains.More commonly referred to as the “Ouachita Trail,” it lies primarily within the Ouachita National Forest.. The eastern boundary is south of Perryville, Arkansas on Highway 9. The trail is very rocky, and stepping safely requires focus. Fortunately, one difference is that the Ouachita Mountain forest is fairly open and often offers nice views along the high ridges. Pinnacle Mountain State Park is a 30-minute drive from Little Rock, Arkansas. The first 70-odd eastbound miles are the most challenging. We’re ad-free and have no sponsored content. For more, read our Best Backpacking Tents story. CLICK HERE for the preferred, more detailed USFS maps for users of the OT. A tick key is a fast effective way to remove embedded ticks. I carried the Garmin Instinct. Shuttles are available from Fort Smith to Talimena State Park (see below for information on shuttles). In the west, the trail begins at Talimena State Park on Highway 271 near Talihina, Oklahoma. But fear not, we don't allow our judgment to be influenced by these arrangements! The Ouachita Trail is a shoulder season hike, meaning it’s best to hike in the spring or fall. It’s a winner Overall Picks in our Best Headlamps story. Ranger District The Ouachita Trail is physically challenging. Sign up with your email address to be the first to know when we release new gear reviews! Our first two days on the trail had highs in the 30s and lows in the teens. This is the only section of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail currently open to mountain biking. Trail Highlights: This is the longest trail in the Ouachita National Forest spanning 192 miles across its entire length. Photo by Mike Unger. Naomi and I chose to carry our 15-degree Katabatic Sawatch quilts. 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