As I mentioned here, I had aborted my first attempt at the Tall Peak Trail after hiking less than halfway. I decided to try it another day after I realized how challenging the hike is (the elevation increase is over 1,000 feet) and that I should have gotten an earlier start.

The Tall Peak Trail, running from Shady Lake to the top of Tall Peak Mountain in the Ouachita National Forest, near Mena, Arkansas, is a little more than 3 miles, each way.

My February 24 visit went better. I made it to the top of Tall Peak Mountain and then made it all the way back. Yes, it was after dark when I finished, but I did finish it.

These are some photos I took of my hike that day. (Click photo for larger view. More after the jump.)

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As I mentioned here, last weekend I went to the Tall Peak Trail which starts at Shady Lake, in the Ouachita National Forest, southeast of Mena, Arkansas.

Due to getting a late start, I only did about half of the trail that day.

These are some photos I took that day. Most are of the very scenic first part of the trail along the Saline River. (Click for larger photo.)

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This past weekend I hiked part of the Tall Peak Trail in the Ouachita National Forest, Polk County, Arkansas. The trailhead is at the Shady Lake Recreation Area campground, near the Caney Creek Wilderness Area, about an hour’s drive southeast of Mena. (I started too late in the day to finish the trail.)

The campground is closed now for winter, but the trails are open. (You may have to park outside the gate.)

While there, I saw this map posted showing the Shady Lake Trail as well as the Tall Peak trailhead. (The trailhead is at the south end of the campground’s C Loop.)

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