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Hiking the Ouachita Trail
Beginning at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, 15 miles west of Little Rock, the Ouachita Trail runs 225 miles through the Ouachita National Forest, a 1.6-million-acre preserve in central and western Arkansas, to Talimena State Park near Talihina, OK. This trail crosses high ridges and valleys, with elevations ranging from 600 to 2,600 feet. It wanders through forests composed of pine as well as hardwoods, including oaks. The Ouachita Mountains follow an east-west path; hardwoods cover the moist northern slopes, while pines forest the southern slopes. Management of the trail is divided. Pinnacle Mountain State Park oversees the first 32 miles. The remaining 193 miles come under the management of the U.S. Forest Service. Blue vertical rectangles mark the main trail. White blazes mark most spur and side trails. Two state parks, Pinnacle and Queen Wilhelmena near Mena, as well as three National Forest Recreation Areas, including Big Brushy, Iron Springs, and Lake Sylvia, provide facilities along the trail. Camping is permitted along both trails anywhere outside of the recreation areas. Difficulty ranges from easy to strenuous. Campgrounds usually are rustic, as are restroom facilities. At some sites, campers must bring their own water. Rangers ask campers to follow trail etiquette, which encourages camping at least 200 feet away from trails and water sources, and preferably out of sight of the trails. They also encourage campers to use previous campsites if one is available. A map and trail guides for the first 32 miles of the Ouachita Trail can be picked up at the Pinnacle Mountain State Park Visitors Center, or by writing to the Superintendent, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road, Roland, AR 72135. There is a $1 fee for the map. A map of the other 193 miles can be obtained by writing to: Forest Supervisor, Ouachita National Forest, P.O. Box 1270, Federal Building, Hot Springs, AR 71902. Telephone 501-321-5202. The map costs $3.
Talimena National Scenic Byway
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