Watch carefully for areas where shared trail splits so you dont miss a turn (or take one you shouldnt). One friend was limping due to a foot injury and had been hiking quite a few paces behind. If you can manage the long carry from here to Woolum, the simplest way to thru-hike the Ozark Highlands Trail is to only resupply at this location. . The two possible termini on the east side are both remote and difficult. I think I could find some sort of ride from the Fort Smith Airport to the lake, potentially an Uber? In one day hiking you can experience rocky peaks, numerous waterfalls, pine and hardwood forests, and stream crossings. Good river crossings during which you will get wet depending on the time of year. Where does the Ozark Highland trail end? Explore Ozark Highlands Trail - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Does Ohiopyle have bears? complete, the OHT will stretch 320 miles across northern Arkansas from Lake Fort Smith State Park to Lake Norfork - where it will connect to the Ozark Trail in Missouri. But maybe they should: The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT), currently 270 miles long (with 50 more trail miles in the works), travels through a stretch of American wilderness in the northern half of the state that doesn't see nearly the crowding of major trailheads on the coast. Section 6 runs through the Hurricane Creek Wilderness area, and section 8 parallels Richland Creek for several miles. Trail was generally rocky and narrow. This linear footpath is 1 of 3 segments (mile-points 17-23) of the Lower Buffalo Bushwhack on topo maps, so-called because the trail is unmarked and not maintained by the National Park Service. Many other pieces of gear can be purchased at discount rates or second hand, but proper hiking shoes are essential. For more information on the long trails in Arkansas, enjoy our reader poll results on Favorite Arkansas Long Trails. We had just hiked our longest day on the trail, marking 22 miles, and we were exhausted. Save 33% off our Arkansas hiking trails with the Arkansas Hiker Special! I was able to hitch across the state to Fayetteville but there are also some bus options and the opportunity to rent a car to get to a major city. Dont worry so much. However, we didnt move on that plan quickly and life, jobs, and other hobbies got in the way. As we are both grade-school teachers, the summer is our only opportunity to take extended trips (even though its certainly not the best time to be out in the Arkansas woods). If you prefer maps that you can use on a mobile device or print yourself, download this 4-page PDF. Ozark Mountains. I plan to come back and hike a lot more of it but in pieces. Its a paved trail but so much exploring to do! Section hikers can pick from rocky ridgelines looking out across rolling, fog-hung hills; limestone canyons bursting with waterfalls; or river valleys where elk, black bears, bobcats, and armadillos roam. This Arkansas state location article is a stub. Camping: Camping is dispersed and plentiful on the OHT. Lots of elevation, as well as most of the trail being quite technical. I hiked this trail eastbound and was able to get a ride to the trailhead from a friend, but there is a very active Facebook group and numerous resources for getting to the trail on the Ozark Highlands Trail Association website. Its a beautiful area that Id love to visit again. There is also a FarOut guide. Well maintained. The trips are open to the public (work parties require membership for insurance reasons). Is the Ozarks a good place to live? The 218-mile (350-kilometer) trail winds through mountains, waterfalls, and riverways [source: Ozark Highlands Trail Association ]. Over the course of one day, the elevation may change several thousand feet as it climbs to the top of a mountain, along a ridge, and back down to a creek. Will do a number on your ankles and knees. Difficulty Level: Easy to Difficult: Alerts & Warnings. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 69 h 41 min to complete. We had Spirits Creek campsite to ourselves. #mergeRow-gdpr {margin-top: 20px;}
View full map. But I'm sure a couple strong kids could do it! Because the trail starts across the Buffalo River from the parking area, we immediately had to add fifteen miles in hikingthe Buffalo River Trail from Highway 65 to Woolum to avoidfording the Bufffalo with all of our gear. About Us 1. Read about the next section hikes here: Considering the obstacles to indoor activities over the past couple of years, our preferred outdoor recreational activities were vital to maintaining contact with friends as well as maintaining our mental well-being. Lots of water crossings, but that just means lots of scenic creeks, rivers, waterfalls, and water features! [2], .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}354322N 933029W / 35.72278N 93.50806W / 35.72278; -93.50806. (479)964-7200 Death Valley Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop, CA, Smoky Mountains National Park Loop, NC / TN, Hike this trail? That is not the BRT. View of the lake off and on. A Guide to Hiking the Ozarks | MapQuest Travel Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. If you prefer maps that you can use on a mobile device or print yourself, download this 16-map set (maps 1-8, maps 9-16). The Ozark Highlands Trail fits snuggly into the shoulder seasons when the weather is tamer in Arkansas and without the sticky heat and humidity that the region experiences during the summer. Luckily we have no lingering side effects because we caught it early and started antibiotics. Eastern terminus: Tyler Bend Campground on the Buffalo National River; U.S. 65 at Silver Hill, Devils Canyon Scenic Area Trail and Bushwhack, Ozark Highlands Trail: Western Terminus to Frog Bayou, Ozark Highland Trail: Lake Fort Smith to White Rock Mountain, Ozark Highlands, Rock Shores Lake East Trails Loop. Where can I hike in Ouachita National Forest? I was able to cross Froggy Bayou safely despite the swollen waters, but it took me awhile until I found a spot downstream where the water level didnt get above my crotch. An official website of the The trail crosses the forest to Woolum near Little Rock, Arkansas. The other option at this crossing of Highway 21 is Clarksville. Hare Mtn is a pretty steep i cline. That is actually an equestrian trail. A tiny Burger Barn that accepts thru-hiker packages is only 2 miles off the trail. The Fane Creek crossing was a bit treacherous for us at first, but we were eventually able to find a safe way across. About230 miles of trail arebuilt as of 2017, not including about 15 miles of trail route in the Lower Buffalo Wilderness. Recreation Areas. A second edition was published December 18. Over the course of the last several months we have been adding to our gear list, with the goal of decreasing our pack weight in every purchasing decision we made. The heat influenced our decision to wait for cooler weather before our next trip. 400 + waypoints, 450+ photos. Second half was much better tread with some pine trees making soft areas to walk and sleep. We didnt expect that the trail would be so overgrown that wed spend hours bushwhacking and frantically hunting for a glimpse of the white blazes marking the trail. Particularly eastern end .should not need to spend 20 min trying to find trail or next blaze , when standing by one. Ozark Highlands Trail | List | AllTrails Ozark-St. Francis National Forests - Ozark Highlands Trail It is one of the premier long-distance hiking trails in the Southern United States. The Woolum campground is just a grass field with a pit toilet. Other activities may include oil or gas exploration and production. The 55-mile Teton Loop is an alternative to the popular Teton Crest Trail, with fewer logistical hurdles, and an opportunity to experience the full diversity of Grand Teton National Park. Dogs, where permitted at all, need to be leashed. Most thru-hikers travel north to south, but the route works in either direction. But maybe they should: The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT), currently 270 miles long (with 50 more trail miles in the works), travels through a stretch of American wilderness in the northern half of the state that doesnt see nearly the crowding of major trailheads on the coast. #mc-embedded-subscribe-form input[type=checkbox]{display: inline; width: auto;margin-right: 10px;}
After leaf-off the views and vistas really open up to a classic Ozark scene, complete with rolling hills, waterfalls, deep turqoise colored creeks and rivers, and many limestone bluffs and crags. As far as food went, we had to get used to the fact that fresh produce would become a thing of the past. If taking the trail on in the summer months, be prepared for heavy overgrowth, obscured in several places by fallen trees. That's a 17-mile hike that includes a couple creek crossings, so you may not want to do that all at once. Photo: White Rock Mountain by mabecerra is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, Photo: Misty Mountain Hop by FreeWine is licensed under CC BY 2.0. half a dozen other campgrounds and trailheads. Butlots of rocky treadhard on feet FarOut Unlimited (subscription) At times our maps failed us, and we got lost. Keep an eye on the weather and the current levels of the rivers and creeks. The Ozark Highlands Trail is absolutely gorgeous. The trail is white-blazed along most of its route and is fairly straightforward to follow. Photos (554) Directions. The front person allowed the back person an opportunity to rest their mind, more or less. FarOut Scouts The Ozark Highlands Trail extends 165 miles from Lake Fort Smith State Park to Woolum, a canoe launch point on the middle Buffalo. Ozark-St. Francis National Forests - Hiking:Day Hiking - US Forest Service You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Also it may be helpful to note that our first day we wanted to make it to Fane Creek campsite (which is awesome!) This trail can be completed all at once taking or by breaking it up into . With little thru-hiker traffic, you can have ridgelines, peaks, and valleys all to yourselfprovided youre willing to work for them. We discussed a slight concern of bears in the backcountry, but our only sighting was less than half a mile from a busy highway with lots of humans and the food sources that come with them. Starting at Lake Ft. Smith State Park on Arkansas 71, the trail crosses the forest to Woolum near the Buffalo National River and into the Sylamore Ranger District. How long does it take to hike the Ouachita Trail? You can finish (or start) at any of four more trailheads along the trail: Moccasin Springs (mile 9), Cripple Turkey (mile 14.4), Brush Creek (mile 18.1), or Matney Knob (mile 31.6). Ticks and mosquitoes plagued us. 605 West Main Overall was a good trip. At that paceit wrecks plans.