The Ouachita National Recreation Trail stretches 223 miles through the beautiful Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. The “Ouachita Trail”, as it is more commonly known, runs from Talimena State Park in Oklahoma, through Queen Wilhelmina State Park and ends at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, near Little Rock, Arkansas. This premier trail asset is used by hikers, backpackers, hunters, and mountain bikers. It is a non-motorized single track trail open only to foot traffic and partially open to mountain bicycles.
The Ouachita Trail is located primarily within the Ouachita National Forest and is administered by the US Forest Service. It traverses the Flatside Wilderness, the Upper Kiamichi Wilderness and several wildlife management areas. Shelters for overnight camping are located along the trail.
Miles 0 to 30.5 and 54 to 160 are open to mountain bikes. The riding is from easy to extremely difficult. Bikearkansas.com has information and suggestions for appropriate rides. See our Trail Conditions page for recent updates.
Historical Information Concerning the OT:
CLICK HERE to view the Arkansas PBS Exploring Arkansas segment about the OT with a focus on FoOT
CLICK HERE for Art Cowley, Father of the Ouachita Trail
CLICK HERE for History of the Ouachita Trail 1970-1997 pages 1-2. CLICK HERE for pages 3-4.
CLICK HERE for How the Moonshine Shelter Got Its Name
CLICK HERE for The Ouachita Pinnacle Fire
CLICK HERE for The Plaque at the Suck Mountain Shelter
CLICK HERE for The Original Terminus of the OT at Lake Sylvia
See other information about the OT under The Trail and Its Uses tab above.