Ozark Highlands Trail General Information

by Jay Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:13 pm

Park/Rec Area: Ozark National Forest, Buffalo National River, Lake Fort Smith State Park
Length: 209.6 Miles
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate - Strenuous
Blaze Color: White (Spur trails are blazed Blue)
Contacts: Ozark-St. Francis National Forests (479) 964-7200; Lake Fort Smith Park (479) 369-2469; Forest Supervisor at Russelville (479) 968-2354.

How To Get There: The Western Terminus is located at the new Lake Fort Smith State Park. (Enlargement of Lake Fort Smith required relocation of the park.) Please contact the Park Director at (479) 369-2469 for exact directions to the trailhead.

Eastern Terminus: Tyler Bend Campground on the Buffalo National River; US Highway 65 at Silver Hill.

Description #1:

The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) has been rated as one of the most scenic trails in the United States. It travels east across the entire Ozark National Forest, turns north to cross the Gene Rush/Buffalo River Wildlife Management Area, and eventually ends up on the Buffalo National River in the Richland Valley across from Woolum Campground. At this point, the OHT joins a portion of the Buffalo River Trail which heads on downstream another 13 miles to the Tyler Bend Campground. The OHT is one of the most spectacular trails in the southeastern United States. It passes through some of the most remote areas of the Ozark National Forest and is noted for its mountainous terrain, scenic views, lush upland hardwood forests, unique rock outcroppings and clear mountain streams. Different forest vegetation abounds, with the predominant overstory trees being oak/hickory. The OHT is great for day hikes, weekend adventures, and extended backpacking. It is accessible at many forest road and highway crossings. The major National Forest Recreation Areas which provide access are Shores Lake, White Rock Mountain, Ozone, Haw Creek Falls, Fairview and Richland Creek. Parking for extended periods is available at these locations. Secured parking is available at White Rock Mountain. Although a permit is not required for hiking, please sign in at all trail registers you encounter. This is valuable in an emergency situation, but the data received from the registration boxes is extremely important to the continued support and management of the trail. Once you are past the first—westernmost—six miles of the trail, camping is allowed anywhere outside of the recreation areas; although trail etiquette encourages camping at least 200 feet away from the trail and water sources, and preferably out of sight of the trail. If a previous campsite is available, please make camp there in order to lessen expanding impact. The trail has had a variety of markings in the past; however, white rectangular paint blazes have been adopted as the official marker. All spur and side trails will be marked with blue rectangular paint blazes. For those persons interested in experiencing the beauty and spirit of the Ozark Mountains much the same as our forefathers found them, this trail offers unmatched scenery. A camera is a must! (Source: http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/hiking/trail_detail.aspx?type=B&trail=Ozark%20Highlands%20Trail)

Description #2:

The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) is one of the most spectacular hiking trails in the United States. This cross-country route in northwest Arkansas stretches 165 miles from Lake Fort Smith State Park, across the Ozark National Forest, to the Buffalo National River. The trail passes through some of the most remote and scenic portions of the Ozark Mountains, like the Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area. It also visits White Rock Mountain (best sunset in the Arkansas!), Hare Mountain, the Marinoni Scenic Area, and countless other breathtaking spots. And one of the nicest things about the OHT, is the fact that it is still relatively undiscovered - even on a prime spring weekend you will seldom see other hikers.

The OHT crosses more than 60 named creeks, streams and rivers, and passes hundreds of seasonal waterfalls, lots of sandstone bluffs, giant boulders and scenic vistas. Springtime, with flowering dogwoods, redbuds, and a profusion of wildflowers, makes for a photographers paradise. And the lush upland hardwood forests create one of the most wonderful splashes of fall color that you can find anywhere in the country. Winter too is great for hiking, with lots of ice formations and the best views of the year along the entire route. And there are plenty of unique swimming holes during the hot summer months.

The trail is great for dayhikes, weekend adventures and extended backpacking trips. It is accessible at more than 50 forest road and highway crossings, plus nine public campgrounds and numerous other trailheads. All that you have to do is decide how far you want to hike, and you will find many stretches between access points that will meet your needs. Camping is allowed anywhere along the trail. No permits or fees are required to hike the trail, build fires or camp (except in the campgrounds). It is open and is great hiking all year. Cabins are available at White Rock Mountain (479-369-4128) and Lake Ft. Smith State Park 479-369-2469).

Ozark Highlands Trail General Information Ohtmap

Ozark Highlands Trail General Information Ohtmap

A brief description of the Ozark Highlands Trail: It has wonderful vistas, terrific streamside walks, lots of deep green pools to swim in, bluffs and rocks and boulders galore, forests that go on forever, and hundreds of waterfalls. It is currently 165 miles from end to end, with 27 additional miles of connecting spurs and loops, so it makes for a great long-distance backpacking trail. The trail passes through 18 campgrounds and other trailheads, and crosses more than 50 forest roads and highways, providing plenty of access for dayhikes of all lengths.

The OHT begins at Lake Ft. Smith State Park near Mountainburg on Hwy. 71. It is well blazed, and has mile markers every mile. It runs along Lake Ft. Smith, up Jacks Creek and over to Hurricane Creek, then climbs up to White Rock Mountain, one of the best views in the country. A loop trail runs around the rim there, and another loop goes down to Shores Lake. The OHT crosses Salt Fork, goes up and over Potato Knob Mountain, down to Spirits Creek, up and over Black Mountain, along a historical railroad route, across Fane Creek, up Whiting Mountain, and crosses the Pig Trail National Scenic Byway (Hwy. 23) at Cherry Bend.

It heads on over to Hare Mountain, the highest point on the trail at 2360', passes the Redding/Spy Rock Loop Trail, drops down to Herrods Creek and Indian Creek, goes through the Marinoni Scenic Area, across Lick Branch, the Little Mulberry River, Lynn Hollow, Waterfall Hollow, the Mulberry River Wild And Scenic River, and crosses Ozark Highlands National Scenic Byway (Hwy. 21) at Ozone Campground. From there it crosses Little Piney Creek, Lick Creek, Cedar Creek Scenic Area, Gee Creek, and crosses Hwy. 123 at Haw Creek Campground.

It passes over Big Piney Wild and Scenic River and enters the Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area, an impressive chunk of wild country. It crosses Hwy. 7 National Scenic Byway at Fairview Campground, crosses Richland Creek , skirts the Richland Creek Wilderness Area, crosses Falling Water Creek, and comes out at the Richland Creek Campground. It crosses Richland Creek again, works its way up to near Stack Rock, down into the Dry Creek drainage, across the Buffalo Wildlife Management Area, enters Buffalo National River near The 'Nars, and comes alongside the Buffalo River at Woolum. A connecting trail heads downstream from that point, crossing Richland Creek, passes a number of spectacularviews of the river from high bluffs above, goes through the Tyler Bend Recreation Area, and currently ends at Hwy. 65 just beyond (this last stretch from Woolum is part of the Buffalo River Trail, and adds 15 miles to the end of the OHT).

Construction of the OHT continues downstream with volunteer labor. It will be built downstream from Tyler Bend to the Lower Buffalo Wilderness Area, go across another section of the Ozark National Forest (this new 31.6 mile section was just completed - click here for the details), run the full length of Lake Norfork, connect with the Ozark Trail in Missouri, and run all the way to St. Louis - a trail system of nearly 1000 miles! Your help is needed - join the Ozark Highlands Trail Association. (Source: http://www.hikearkansas.com/oht_map.html)

Description #3:

The Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail is a long distance hiking trail that crosses the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas. Hikers of this trail will take home many scenic and pleasant memories. If you hiked the entire trail from Lake Fort Smith State Park to the Buffalo National River, you would have traveled 165 miles. Most of the trail is on National Forest lands, but some portions of the trail cross privately owned land. Please respect the landowners by staying on the trail and not trespassing on their private property. The western 6.2 miles are on Arkansas State Park lands and the eastern 8.4 miles are on Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and National Park Service lands. Please be careful crossing these areas and respect their regulations and guidelines. Remember, saddle or pack animals are not allowed on any part of the Ozark Highlands Trail.

Although the U.S. Forest Service manages the Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail, they have assistance from partners in maintaining and often constructing many of the resources and facilities on the national forest. The Ozark Highlands Trail Association (OHTA) is one of these partners. The OHTA members have volunteered many hours of hard work to maintain the 165-mile trail.
We sincerely hope that hiking the forest will lift your spirits, stimulate your mind, and provide the physical challenge you seek. In turn, we trust that you will treasure the trail and its resources, protecting them in every way you can. (Source: http://www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/recreation/oht.html)