The Natural State of Arkansas:

 Hiking, AR...

There are 81 public hiking and wilderness areas for use in the State of Arkansas.  They range from 1/2-hour trips to multi-day excursions.  Some are rated easy, so easy that they are brick-paved, to very strenuous.  They are divided up into 6 geographic locations, and the scenery can range from high-cliff overlooks to cypress swamps.

  For safety, please ensure that you are in good enough physical condition to take on the challenge of the area you choose to hike and explore.  The trails in the Ouachita and Ozarks Mountains can be quite a bit more strenuous than most in the Delta.  Always carry the recommended safety equipment for the area you are using, and follow the other safety suggestions posted in these areas.

  The nationally-designated wilderness areas usually do not have established trails, but make a great area for those who like to choose their own path, and are experienced hikers.  These are generally the most rugged and unused areas of the state, and are the most physically challenging.

  There are trail guides available for Arkansas, with many of them free of charge.  This packet will not mention all 81 areas by name, but will give you contact information to research all public access areas.  Information on all the State Parks is available at www.arkansasstateparks.com.

  The 6 physiographical regions in the state are; the Mississippi Delta, Crowley's Ridge, West Gulf Coastal Plain, the River Valley, Ouachita Mountains, and Ozark Mountains.  A description of each is available in the packet to help you decide which region you would like to hike.

Trail Guides

  Trail Guides are available at many local sporting goods dealers, Take a Hike on Bowman Curve has a great selection of guides and supplies for the serious hiker.  Trails Illustrated is a private company that offers high-quality maps of the Buffalo River area, and you can contact them at (800) 962-1643.  Arkansas Hiking Trails by Tim Ernst is a guide to 78 trails in the Natural State, and you can obtain one by contacting him at (800) 838-HIKE.  His web-site is another great tool for tips, www.hikearkansas.com.  Trail guides are also available by contacting the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism at  www.arkansas.com

Mississippi Delta

   Swamps, farmland, and bayous cover the Mississippi Delta area.  Insects can be a problem in the warmer months, but there is hardly a region in the state that you can escape misquotes chiggers and ticks, so bring an insect repellant.  There are archeological parks, the Delta Cultural Center, and the history of de Soto and his Spanish conquistadors to be discovered here.  The landscapes are completely different than the highland areas of the state, but they are still spectacular.

  The Mississippi Delta can be a photographer's dream.  Farmland changing color in the fall, abundant wildlife, and waterscapes can provide great photos.  The whole family can enjoy watching waterfowl and other game in the cooler months.  Sunset in a cypress swamp is a sight that should be caught on film.

 State and National Park Trails, Mississippi Delta Region

   There are 5 parks in the Mississippi Delta region, and they are all rated as easy to hike, with the exception of the Delta Heritage Trail.

   Delta Heritage Trail is not fully completed as of 11 Mar 04, but will have 73 1/2-miles of trail.  The 4 miles of trail near Helena is open for hikers and bikers.  Will be the most remote and scenic trail in the Mississippi Delta.  For more information please call (870) 644-3474.

   Delta Woodlands Trail is located in Lake Chicot State Park, northeast of Lake Village.  It is 1 mile long and is rated easy to hike.  Wildflowers, bottomlands and wildlife are the top attractions to the trail.  For more information please call (870) 265-5480. 

  Louisiana Purchase Boardwalk is located in the Louisiana Purchase State Park near Helena.  It is 3/8-mile long, and is rated as easy.  Accessible to wheelchairs, and is a great place for photography.  For more information please call (501) 682-1301.

   Knapp Trail is located in the Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park, just 19 miles from Camp Robinson.  The trail is rated as an easy hike and is only 8/10 mile long.  But it runs through a pre-historic Indian site, and the park as a brochure that gives descriptions.  For more information please call (501) 961-9442.

   Post Bayou Nature Trail is located in the Arkansas Post National Memorial near Dumas.  It is 1 mile long and has an easy hiking rating.  The trail runs between Post Bayou and the Arkansas River.  For more information please call (870) 548-2207.

 Crowley's Ridge

   Crowley's Ridge has the only highlands in the Mississippi Delta region.  While there are some of the same scenery in Crowley's Ridge area is the same as the scenery in the Mississippi Delta area, the rolling hills offers hikers a completely different view.  Crowley's Ridge is located in the northeastern part of Arkansas, near Paragould.

 State and National Park Trails, Crowley's Ridge Region

 Crowley's Ridge State Park offers 4 trails in the park, ranging from 1/2-mile to 1.25 miles long.  For more information on these 4 trails, contact the park at (870) 573-6751.  The park is 15 miles north of Jonesboro, off Hwy. 141.

   Dancing Rabbit Trail is the longest trail in the park, and has a moderate rating.  Runs alongside a gully and crosses over two swinging bridges.  A brochure is available at the Visitor's Center.

   Walcott Lake Trail is 1/2-mile long and is rated as an easy trail to hike.  View shorebirds and the park's bat "condo" from this trail.  Wildlife viewing platform located nearby the trail.

 Village Creek State Park is located 13 miles north of Forrest City, near Wynne.  It offers three hiking trails 1/2-mile to 2 3/4-miles long.  For more information on these trails contact the park at (870) 238-9406.

   Big Ben Nature Trail begins at the park's visitor center and is 1/2 mile long.  The park offers a trail booklet that will guide you through this unique area of Crowley's Ridge.  The trail is rated as an easy hike.

   Military Road Trail offers scenic views of Lake Austell, and follows (for a short period) the first improved travel route between Memphis and Little Rock.  The travel route is over 150 years old.  Make sure you yell at Echo Point.  The trail carries a moderate difficulty rating.

 St. Francis National Forest/Crowley's Ridge Area

   Bear Creek Lake Area is operated by the U.S. Forest Service and offers one trail.  Aptly named the Bear Creek Trail, it travels along creek-bottoms and large timber.  It is 1 mile long and is rated as an easy hike.  The area is located south of Marianna on Hwy. 44.  For more information, please contact the ranger district at (870) 295-5278.  Note:  there is a bathhouse and swimming area across from the trailhead.

 West Gulf Coastal Plain

   The West Gulf Coast Plain is also known as the Timberlands of Arkansas.  It is generally the southwestern and south-central parts of the state, south of the Ouachita Mountains and West of the Mississippi Delta regions.  Timber, wetlands, wildlife, small to medium-sized towns cover the area.  The area is not as flat as the Delta, or as hilly as the mountains, but the area has it's own charm.  Wildlife is abundant here, and so are wildflowers.

 State and National Park Trails, West Gulf Coastal Plain Region

   Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, offers one 1.3-mile long trail that carries an easy difficulty rating.  Little Missouri River Trail, as it's name suggests, runs along the scenic "lil Mo" river.  Beautiful, and for more information contact the park at (870) 285-3113, or at www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com.  Note:  the park is the only park in the world where visitors can dig, and keep, for diamonds.  Very fun and unique for a family weekend.

   Logoly State Park is located 6 miles north of Magnolia, and offers three trails.  For More information on these trails contact the park at (870) 695-3561.  Brochures are available for the trails at the visitor's center of the park.

   Crane Fly Trail located in the park, is a 3/4-mile long trail with a moderate difficulty rating.  Runs along small ponds and woodland streams, which make the trail excellent for viewing plants and wildlife.

   Magesia Springs Trail, as it's names suggests, leads to Magnesia Springs, which is a local historical landmark.  The springs were well known for their medicinal qualities.  It is 1/4 mile long and has an easy hiking designation.

   Spring Branch Trail is a 2-mile trail with a moderate difficulty rating.  Leads you through two wildlife food plots, and by the Spring Branch Creek.

   Millwood State Park is 25 miles northeast of Texarkana off Hwy.32.  It offers one hiking trail, but it is very unique.  Camping, fishing, and picnic areas are available at Millwood State Park.  For more information, contact the park at (870) 898-2800.  Brochures are available at the visitor's center. 

  Waterfowl Way Trail in Millwood State Park is 1 1/2 miles long and has an easy hiking designation.  The trail passes by alligator "holes", and active beaver lodge, and is excellent for viewing wildlife of all sorts.  Very popular trail in the fall and winter when there is quite a bit of waterfowl using Millwood Lake as a resting site on their migration.

   Moro Bay State Park is 23 miles northeast of El Dorado, on U.S. 63.  There are two short trails, which wind through large timber and some unusual species of trees.  For more information on the trails contact the park at ((870) 463-8555.  Brochures are available at the park's visitor's center. 

  Deer Run Trail in Moro Bay State Park is only 1/4-mile long, and has an easy hiking designation.  It does have the unusual Mayhaw trees, which grows a fruit that attracts wildlife.  The trail runs through the bottomlands of the park.

   Low Water Trail is also 1/4-mile long and is an easy hike.  It winds through some of the largest trees in the state, and offers plenty of bird and wildlife viewing.  It is only open when the Ouachita River is not flooding.

 River Valley

   The River Valley region is the area that separates the Ouachita and Ozark Mountain Ranges.  As its name suggests, the Arkansas River flows through the center of the region.  There are several smaller creeks and rivers that flow into the Arkansas, and also plenty of lakes.  Scenic Hwy 7 runs through the River Valley region, and offers plenty of hiking trails.

 State and National Park Trails, River Valley Region 

  Mt. Magazine State Park, located near Paris, is home to the highest mountain in Arkansas.  At 2,753 feet, Mt. Magazine offers trails with great views, overlooks, and over-night hiking.  There are 9.0 miles of trail in the park, and a brochure is available at the park's Visitor Center, or by contacting (479) 963-8502.  Many of the trails in the State Park connect with trails in the U.S. Forestry Service trail system.  Information on the Forestry Service trails in the area contact (479) 963-3076.

   Mt. Nebo Sate Park is located 7 miles west of Dardanelle on Hwy. 155.  The park offers two trails, on long and easy, one short and strenuous.  Brochures are available at the visitor's center, and information can be obtained by calling (479) 229-3655.

   Summit Park Trail is a National Recreation Trail that is 1-mile long, and is rated as a moderate-strenuous hike.  Native rockwork lines the trail that runs to Fern Lake and intercepts the Bench Trail.  Bench Trail is the other trail in the park, is 4-miles long, and is rated as an easy trail to hike.  Runs through woodlands that teem with large trees and wildlife.  Offers mountain view, remnants of historic springs, and is mostly level.

 State, National Park, and Wilderness Area Trails, Ouachita Mountain Region

 State Park, Ouachita Mountains

  Lake Catherine State Park is the closest State Park to Hot Springs, Located about 9 miles from the downtown area, off Hwy 171.  There are three trails, all of which has a moderate difficulty rating, and all intersect at some point.  More information can be obtained by contacting the park at (501) 844-4176, and brochures are available at the visitor's center.

   Falls Branch Trail is the most popular trail in Lake Catherine State Park, and is the shortest.  The trail runs through pines and hardwoods, and crosses a creek several times.  It has a beautiful waterfall, which the state park system uses in many of it's brochures and booklets.  The trail is 2-miles long, and there is a good chance to view wildlife, especially Whitetail Deer.

   Dam Mountain Trail is 4-miles long, and runs to the top of Dam Mountain.  Great trail for photography, with wildlife, streams, and wild flowers along the trail.

   Horseshoe Mountain Trail is 3 1/2-miles long, and also has great scenery.  Streams, wildlife, and scenic views are the highlights of this trail.

   Lake Ouachita State Park has one trail, the Caddo Bend Trail, which is 4-miles long and has a moderate to strenuous rating.  The trail has an observation deck, large boulder gardens, and lots of wildflowers.  Runs along the slopes of Lake Ouachita.

   Pinnacle Mountain State Park is the closest State Park to Little Rock.  It is located 7-miles west of I-430, on Hwy 10, then 2 miles north on Hwy 300.  For more information contact the park at (501) 868-5018.  There are three trails; two are rated easy, one strenuous.

   Arkansas Trail is only 6/10 of a mile long, is paved, and very easy to hike.  There are audio sign panels to interpret the various tree and plant species.

   Kingfisher Trail is 1/2-mile long, and also has an easy hiking designation.  Great trail for birdwatchers, especially in the morning.  The trail winds through the floodplain of the Little Maumelle River.

   West Summit Trail is the most popular trail in Pinnacle Mountain State Park.  It is 1 1/2-miles long, and has a strenuous rating for hiking.  Offers spectacular views of Lake Maumelle, the River Valley, and the Ouachita Mountains.  You can hike down the rugged East Summit Trail to add distance on your hike, if so desired. 

 U.S. Forest Service Recreation Area Trails, Ouachita Mountain Area

   Albert Pike Recreation Area offers three trails for the more serious hiker.  Information is available at (870) 356-4186, and at www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ouachita.  The area is near Glenwood, Hwy 84 north at Langley onto Hwy 369 for 6-miles.

   Athens-Big Fork Trail in the Albert Pike Recreation Area is 10.1-miles one way, and has a strenuous hiking rating.  The trail runs north-south across three mountains, and offers fantastic scenery.  A map of the area, and all three trails, is available by writing the Caddo Ranger District at 912 Smokey Bear Lane, Glenwood, Arkansas 71943.

   Little Missouri Trail is a 16-mile long trail with a strenuous hiking rating.  It begins in Camp Area B of the recreation area, and winds along the banks of the Little Missouri River.  There are waterfalls, wildlife, and old growth pine and hardwoods along the trail.  You are allowed to hike (camp) overnight in this area.  There are several water crossings without bridges on this trail.  Great trail to hike and fish. 

  Winding Stairs Trail is the shortest in the Albert Pike Recreation Area.  4.8-miles one way, and has a moderate hiking rating.  Follows the Little Mo River for most of its course.  There are swimming holes to use to cool off, so pack a swimsuit.  This trail also offers some spectacular overlooks of the river. 

  Jessieville Visitor Information Center Area is located 18 -miles north of Hot Springs on Hwy 7.  There are three trails, ranging from easy to strenuous hiking ratings.  You can obtain information by contacting the Jessieville Ranger District, 8607 N. Hwy 7, Jessieville, AR 71949, or call (501) 984-5313.

  Friendship Trail is rated as easy to hike and is only 7/8-mile long.  Begins at the Visitor's Center, and offers a stocked fishing pond.  Wildlife abounds along the trail, and offers the scenic beauty of the Ouachita Mountains.

  Hunt's Loop Trail is 4 1/4-miles long and has a moderate hiking rating.  The trail follows a portion of the middle fork of the Saline River, and then ascends to the top of Short Mountain.

  Little Blakely Trails are five loops that are stacked and marked "LB" trail.  There are 18 1/2-miles of trail that offer a variety of scenery to the hiker.  Mountain bikes are allowed on the trails also.  High ridgetops to mossy glades can be viewed along these trails.

Backpacking and Wilderness Hiking Areas, Ouachita Mountain Region

  Ouachita Trail, National Recreation Trail

  Ouachita Trail is 225-miles long from its eastern terminus in Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas to its western terminus in Talimena State Park, Oklahoma.  There is a multitude of walk-in access points along the trail, so length of hike can vary according to taste.  Maps and brochures are available by area.  The first 32-miles are managed by Pinnacle Mountain State Park, and information/maps can be obtained at the Visitor's Center, or contact them at (501) 868-5806.  The next 193-miles are managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest.  Maps of this section area are available by contacting the Forest Supervisor in Hot Springs at (501) 321-5202.

  Extending backpacking is allowed along the Ouachita Trail, and backpacks can be rented at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.  Hikers are encouraged to leave emergency information with park staff.  The park travels through the Ouachita Mountains and has elevation ranges from 600 to 2,000 feet.  Great trail(s) to teat your physical stamina.

  Womble Trail connects with the Ouachita Trail, in the Oden/Mount Ida area.  The Womble Trail is 39 1/2-miles long and is strenuous.  Camping is allowed, but must be 200 feet from the trail or water sources.  Used very little by hikers, but mountain bikers enjoy the area.  It is a 3-5 hike to cover the full trail.  For information contact the Oden Ranger District at (870) 326-4322.

State, National Park, and Wilderness Area Trails, Ozark Moutain Region

  Devil's Den State Park is 26-miles southwest of Fayetteville off Hwy 170.  There are two trails in the park, and information can be found at the Visitor's Center, or by calling (479) 761-3325.  There is beautiful terrain, and the trails are short and easy.

  Devils Den Self-Guided Trail is 1 1/2 miles long and is easy to hike.  There are caves (with bats), springs, waterfalls, plant and animal life, and other unusual scenery.  Trailhead is located behind the Visitor's Center. 

  Woody Plant Trail is only 1/4-mile long and is a very easy hike.  Plants along the trail have been numbered to correspond with an identification sheet that is available.  Great trail to photography indigenous plant species of the Ozark Mountains

  Mammoth Spring State Park offers the Spring Lake Trail that is a 2/3-mile long, east to hike trail.  Features the largest spring in Arkansas.  Information can be obtained at the Visitor's Center, and by calling (870) 625-7364.

U.S. Forest Service Trails, Ozark Mountain Region

  Blanchard Springs Caverns offers two trails through the caverns.  One is wheelchair accessible (with assistance) and one has a difficult hiking rating.  They both offer incredible scenery, unlike any other in the state.  They are open Memorial through Labor Day, and shouldn't be missed.  Blanchard Springs is located near Mountain View, and more information is available at (870) 757-2246.

Backpacking and Wilderness Trails, Ozark Mountain Region

  Butterfield Hiking Trail is located by Devil's Den State Park, near West Fork, and is 14 1/2-miles long.  It is a looped trail and offers overnight camping in designated areas.  Backpackers must obtain a free permit at the park before hiking.  It has a moderate difficulty rating and winds through the Boston Mountains.  It was originally a stagecoach trail.  For more information, contact the park at (800) 264-2417.

  Ozark Highlands Trail is a 178-mile trail through the Ozark/St. Francis National Forest.  Information is available at (479) 968-2354.  The Western Terminus is at Dockery Gap (south of Mountainburg) on U.S. 71, and the Eastern Terminus is at the Tyler Bend Campground on the Buffalo National River.  It is a strenuous hike, and there are many walk-in access points along the trail.  For maps please call (870) 757-2211.  The trail runs along and crosses many creeks and rivers, so bring extra clothes.  The trail travels through the most remote sections of the Ozark National Forest, and has been designated as one of the top ten scenic trails in America.

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