Good News! Cossatot River State Park Trail

As many know the Cossatot River State park Trail, River Corridor Trail is going thru some drastic improvements. This information
is first hand info from Mr. Jim Langford the Trail Maintenance Supervisor, Arkansas State parks. I had the good fortune to watch
his crew in action this weekend at the Mena FS Primitive Tools Workshop. They are a good hard working bunch. Any way back on
topic he told me that from Hwy. 246 (rd. from Athens to Vandervoot, is completely finished! That includes the trail tread, bridges
have been built, and the trail even goes by some waterfalls! The trail is finished from 246 to Ed Banks. They are now working on the
last leg of the trail from Ed Banks to Hwy 278 (rd. to Wickes). There aren't many folks using the trail now and I plan on checking it
out soon! To show you have dangerous that this trail was before the present work was done Jim took a bad fall and was broke up
pretty bad. The projected finish date had been this May but due to Jim's accident he isn't quite sure when he can have it finished.

Looking forward to checking that one out. It was on my Arkansas short list and i knew it used to be a scramble along the river. Glad to hear it's improved. Isn't that about a 15 mile one way trail? Is camping limited to the areas around the main road crossings or can you backcountry camp?

Red,

It is listed as 14.5 miles. And no backcountry camping is allowed . The whole trail should be finished by sometime this summer.
I hope to get on the trail soon and check out what is finished. Been kinda discouraging have been off all week and have been to
sick to get out! Real bummer!!

Seems like I read where there is camping on either end of the trail? I know I pass the turn off to it when I drive up to Albert Pike RA. If there is camping on the ends maybe we can park vehicles with supplies (tent, stoves, etc...) and day hike it.

RedBuffalo wrote:Seems like I read where there is camping on either end of the trail? I know I pass the turn off to it when I drive up to Albert Pike RA. If there is camping on the ends maybe we can park vehicles with supplies (tent, stoves, etc...) and day hike it.

Red,

I don't know all of the campground's names but I feel like you are right. One I know is at Ed Banks, one I think is sandbar?
I know there is one at Cossatot Falls. And there is one at the end below the visitor info center on the river. I know that the
trail is supposed to cross the river on a old low water bridge there.

Starting to sound like fun to me! This could be a good early summer hike, especially if we wouldn't be carrying full packs. Might be a good trip to try out new gear. I'll try to dig up some details on those campgrounds.

Red.

Here is the state park website. Here is the two campsites. The trail runs thru both of them. Just to be
sure that you understand the trail isn't finished yet. Should be sometime this Summer. I was told that
half is finished. Before any hike I will call the man in charge and find out the trail status. Here is a map.
If I remember the trail is finished from the Hwy 246 access to Ed Banks.

Just a month or so ago we drove and scouted out the campsites and they were very nice. Like Red I think this would be a great early summer hike. I can't wait to take my boys out on this trail.