Arklahoma HikerTrails in Montgomery and Polk Counties in Arkansas, including Queen Wilhelmina State Park and the Shady Lake Recreation Area of the Ouachita National Forest.
For a list of all trails in this group, visit this link.
Black Fork Mountain Trail (Polk County, northwest of Mena) is a strenuous 11 mile out-and-back hike (5.6 miles each way) on Black Fork Mountain. It is in the Ouachita National Forest in southwest Arkansas, just north of Queen Wilhelmina State Park on Rich Mountain. The trail offers spectacular views, unique forests, and historic places. Black […]
Last November, I did the Earthquake Ridge and Southern Loop Trails in the Ouachita National Forest near Mena (Polk County). These two together make an enjoyable 3-mile hike through a pretty area on Rich Mountain at the east end of the Talimena Scenic Drive. These are photos I took on my November 10 hike. There […]
Here are some more pics from my April 2016 Ouachita Trail hike from Eagle Gap to Mile 63. (The trail profile is here.) This is from 58.5 to 63.0 in Polk County, Arkansas, near Mena.
The mountains in southwest Arkansas between Glenwood and Mena are my favorite on the entire planet. They are so rugged, remote, and beautiful, you simply cannot look at them without awe. The Caney Creek/Buckeye Trail loop (Ouachita National Forest in Polk County, near Shady Lake) is my new favorite hike in Arkansas. It has it […]
The Spring Trail at Queen Wilhelmina State Park on Rich Mountain (Polk County, near Mena) is a short but enjoyable wooded walk. It’s about .4 miles each way and about .8 miles as an out-and-back walk. This is an easy walk with little elevation change. It’s a great trail for beginners or anyone just wanting […]
The Caney Creek Wilderness in the Ouachita National Forest in southwest Arkansas (Polk County, southeast of Mena, near Shady Lake) is one of the most beautiful and rugged areas in the state. It is 14,460 acres and is a backpacker’s paradise. Because it is a designated wilderness area, it is a great place for solitude […]