The Womble Trail stretches from Northfork Lake to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, and is considered one of the best single track trails in this area. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arkansas/ouachita-national-recreation-trail The Ouachita National Forest provides hunting for Deer, Turkey, Bear, and more. Trail Segments are named according to the location of the trailhead. The shorter Dogwood Trail... We spent a fun day at the state park here. The seventh leg of the LOViT from Little Bear Creek to Brady Mountain Road is a long and rugged hike from Little Bear Creek on the South side of Bear Mountain up to the summit, across the north-facing ridge of Bear Mountain, and then down to Brady Mountain Road. This is also known as “Leg 4” or “Segment 4” of the LOViT. The entire trail segment is a 1.25 mile loop including a level paved area with benches and an Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) elevated walkway allowing users to access a wild wetland area at the south end of the Denby Bay area. Ouachita National Forest: There are Bears In them there Woods - See 210 traveler reviews, 90 candid photos, and great deals for Hot Springs, AR, at Tripadvisor. I've camped, backpacked, and provided services as a guide in grizzly country...and I grew up in the Ouachita Mountains of Southeast Oklahoma where black bears are common and you run into them all the time. The Ouachita National Forest is one of the largest and oldest national forests in the Southern United States. There are some patches that are overgrown, but the entire hike up the ridge is not very difficult. Find out what birds are being seen at the refuge, including the most recent sightings. There are several large and gorgeous rock outcroppings along this trail segment. One day I will hike the whole thing.) The Ouachita Trail begins north of Talihina, Oklahoma on the west edge of the Ouachita National Forest and ends 223 east on Pinnacle Mountain in central Arkansas. One of my goals is to day hike the entire Ouachita Trail in pieces. We will hike over 50 miles (Mile Markers 0-51.6) along the Oklahoma portion of this beautiful and seldom hiked trail that goes between Little Rock, AR and Talimena, OK. Bear Creek Mountain Bike Trail in the Ouachita Mountains in Daisy, Arkansas. Ouachita Trail Talimena State Park to Winding Stair Recreation Area. there were lots of options for places to go - trails to explore and the lake, marina and activities. It is a wonderful place to get in touch with nature, and experience the beauty of the great outdoors. There are no take-outs, amenities, or water supplies along the route. Skip the trail descriptions and jump to the topo maps. Short segments of the trail meander along the bluffs of the Ouachita River providing breathtaking views. // You can click on the following section titles to go to a page where you can find more information about any particular trail segment. Most of the trail (177 miles) is in Arkansas, with forty-six miles extending into Oklahoma. On the Ouachita trail it was two microbrews left trailside by Chris, a local runner whom I had briefly met on the summit of Pinnacle Mountain early on the first day. This portion of the LOViT trail is designed to bring all users, including those physically challenged, closer to nature. This Trail section is the last of the originally-planned segments of the LOViT. Nearest Towns: Daisy, Arkansas. It traverses the only East-West Mountain Range in the lower 48. Some hot hiking, lots of thunder and lightning, and an hour-long thunder shower. The difficulty level is considered “easy”, but the trail is rocky on the segment between the trailhead and Tompkins Bend. 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. Trail segments run generally west to east along the southern shore of Arkansas’ Lake Ouachita. While designed for all age groups, expect more elevation and hills than are along the segment from Denby Bay to this trailhead. ... Blue Mountain & Big Bear Shelters will be upgraded starting with material delivery on Monday, March 1st followed by construction on March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Caddo/Womble Ranger Wider. (FS) 47A. Ouachita National Recreation Trail (Photo: U.S. Forest Service/Wikimedia Commons) Length: ... (Arkansas is black bear country) near road crossings, as resupply options are slim. It is also the key element of the Ouachita Challenge and Womble Classic Mountain Bike Race held each year. This light to medium grade trail leg begins at Denby Bay Trailhead where US Highway 270 crosses the southern end of Lake Ouachita’s Denby Bay recreation area. The Ozark Highlands Trail and its adjacent trail systems could offer an opportunity to see a bear. Short enough for me to complete in its entirety with 14 days 2. Filter. On the MVUMs, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail is shown for reference purposes only. Other than in road accessable areas, I saw five people during the trek. Reporter: He and his girlfriend were mauled to death as their camera rolled. A canopy of old and new growth trees provide shade in the summer heat. Quiet breeze, birds, and natural hot springs were wonderful. And the bears can bite and kill. Rich Mountain: Situated a little more than a mile off-trail in Mena, AR, is Rich Mountain Country Store. Last Saturday I had an eventful hike on the Ouachita Trail. Wildlife enthusiasts can find everything from bobcats to black bears and deer in the forested mountains surrounding the lake, and Bald eagles are often spotted in winter. In addition to Bears, snakes, etc. If you use the Ouachita Trail guide provided by the forest service, this is section nine. Black bears can be found in the wilderness, along with White-tailed deer, bobcat, skunk and Pheasant. We knew this was a trip we would never forget. I completed the Florida Trail, and quit the Ouachita a couple days early because the weather, and the upcoming forecast, combined to make it a bit miserable. (This was the first part of the OT that I hiked. The part of the Ouachita Trail in Oklahoma stretches from the westernmost trailhead in Talimena State Park to the Arkansas state line. The FS47A trail segment crisscrosses FS47 several times as it moves east to the Pipe Spring trail segment. And I saw a bear. Highlights are waterfalls. Box 1270 Hot Springs, AR 71902 Phone: (501) 321-5202 Fax: (501) 321-5305. This is the first trail segment that was built on the LOViT and is referred to as “Leg 1” or “Segment 1”. The swimming beach by the 3 Sisters Springs is the best... function DOMContentLoaded(browserID, tabId, isTop, url) { var object = document.getElementById("cosymantecnisbfw"); if(null != object) { object.DOMContentLoaded(browserID, tabId, isTop, url);} }; Don't feed the bears. The entire section of the trail in Oklahoma is located in the Ouachita National Forest. Why are some routes only open during a specific season? The Bear Cave Trail at Petit Jean State Park (Conway County near Morrilton) is a very short trail—only about a quarter-mile long loop. This is a well-maintained backpacking, hiking trail with overnight shelters in several portions of the trail. Then, one encounters more climbing to Rick’s Road before moving downhill toward a terrific vista overlooking Blakely Mountain Dam. Ouachita Trail close to having a completed shelter system in the Ouachita National Forest. The trail is inhabited by deer, wild turkeys, barred owls, hummingbirds, and if we're lucky, bald eagles and bears. Bees. Going in July, the weather was beautiful. Last Saturday I had an eventful hike on the Ouachita Trail. Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT) Official website:... Jump to. But mostly, there are walking sticks, armadillos and interesting spiders such as tarantulas. The Hickory Nut Mountain Trail segment drops sharply down off Hickory Nut Mountain to the FS47A trail segment, a takeout at Forest Service Rd. At Pipe Spring there is, indeed, a pipe spring with an uninterrupted flow of cold water. The Ouachita National Forest is one of the largest and oldest national forests in the Southern United States. Promoting use of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail and Winding Stair Recreation Area. read more, We spent a fun day at the state park here. The Avery Trailhead is the eastern most terminus of the LOViT trail system. New: A 29 map set of the entire Ouachita Trail. No terrain too far outside of my comfort zone - An 11 day hike was more than enough. All but the eastern 30 miles travel through the Ouachita National Forest, the oldest and largest National Forest in the Southern United States. Length 23.7 mi Elevation gain 4,064 ft Route type Point to point. From rocky bluffs, to deep canyon creek crossings, the Ouachita Mountains has something for all off-road enthusiasts. 39 talking about this. Untouched! The shorter Dogwood Trail... 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.. Oklahoma's Ouachita National Forest offers many beautiful sights. Three black bears. Since the line hangs down, there is nothing for a bear to slash. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. This is the longest trail in the Ouachita National Forest spanning 192 miles across its entire length. Lake Ouachita Shores Resort is across the bay. Stay to the west side of the ridge to avoid most of the dense undergrowth. Motorcycle riding was awesome! The LOViT Crystal Springs trail segment begins at the Crystal Springs Campground pavilion on Crystal Springs Rd., travels across Little Bear Mountain. 0 Star This. It is a spectacular rock formation area to walk around in and explore. I was on Section 4, just east of Highway 71 on East Fourche Mountain. The distance from Crystal Springs Road to Brady Mountain Road is 10 miles. Large animals seen. This trail segment is 40 years old and travels north along the western flank of an unnamed mountain, over the mountain, and then down into The Crystal Springs Recreational Area. The trail was even more beautiful, if that was even possible! This trailhead is the perfect location for group activities on the trail featuring ample parking for up to a hundred vehicles, flush toilets, a covered pavilion with tables, BBQ pits and portable water. The Ouachita Mountains run East to West through Arkansas and Oklahoma. Section 8, or the “eighth leg”, of the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail extends from Brady Mountain Road on the west to the Avery Recreation Area below Blakely Mountain Dam on the east. 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. Ouachita Trail on East Fourche Mountain (Facing West). The LOViT overlaps with the Charlton Trail at Pipe Spring for a 1.9 miles trek to the Crystal Springs trailhead. Directions to Trailhead: Go 9 miles east from Mount Ida, or 25 miles west from Hot Springs, on Highway 270 to Shangri-La Road. The OT is marked with blue blazes. For this featured hike, you start on the infamous Rich Mountain, just below the fire tower peak where the Ouachita Trail meets up with the newer Rich Mountain Trail. This network was constructed in 1924 with the Columbia Lock finding its home in a northern section of the city which bears the same name and close to the more centrally located Monroe. Camp Clearfork was originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Ouachita National Forest 100 Reserve Street P.O. This trailhead is a part of the Corps of Engineers Avery Recreation Area below Blakely Mountain Dam. The eastern boundary is south of Perryville, Arkansas on Highway 9. I like bears, and I'm not scared of them, but I respect them. If you’re looking for a beautiful oasis to check out with family and friends, Jack Creek in Booneville, Arkansas makes for a wonderful day or weekend trip. And I saw a bear. 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