The Ouachita Mountains ecoregion and Ouachita National Forest span the Arkansas/Oklahoma state line, and in fact some individual trails do too so it seems easiest to segregate these from the state-specific pages.
The climate tends to be a bit warmer than in the Ozarks due to being farther south. This makes the Ouachitas a great winter destination. Note that some trails can be at relatively high elevations where the weather can be quite different. The west end of the Ouachita Trail, for example.
Springs are not as common in the Ouachitas as in the Ozarks. Water will mostly be found at the bottom of the valleys. Significant water flowing downslope into the valleys will typically occur only after recent rains. “The high is dry, go low for the flow”.
In my opinion, the peak hiking season is November-February. October can still be pretty warm and/or dry. March is borderline. April-May tend to be warm but there will be some cooler opportunities.
Useful Resources:
- Hiking Trails of the Ouachitas & Ozarks
- US Forest Service – Maps & Publications
- US Forest Service – Backpacking Areas
- US Forest Service – Day-Hiking Areas
- Book: Arkansas Hiking Trails
- Book: Arkansas Waterfalls Guidebook
- Book: Hiking Arkansas
Shuttle Services:
Bluebell Country Store & Cafe, NE corner of AR-298 & AR-27, Story Ark, (870)867-3999. They seem willing to cover at least the area between AR 9 and Big Brushy Rec Area, maybe more. Especially useful for hikers of Ouachita, Womble, and maybe Lake Ouachita Vista trails.
My trail notes (a work-in-progress) and some general info about my maps.:
Athens-Big Fork Trail is part of the Eagle Rock System
Beaver’s Bend State Park. <<to do>> May ’14 trip.
Beech Creek National Scenic and Botanical Area. 33 miles of trails near Big Cedar, OK (just south of Rich Mtn). Trail head is about 34.5964°N, 94.4996°W. OuachitaMaps.com topo map.
Boardstand-Old Military Road Loop
Caney Creek Wilderness, Caney Creek & Buckeye trails
Eagle Rock System, Eagle Rock Loop
Fourche Mountain Trail. A network of trails, perhaps used primarily by ATVs and equestrians. Located about 5 miles east of Y City Ark. Parking and trail head are at about 34.7266°N, 93.9906°W. Some trails cross or parallel the Ouachita Trail. USFS map.
Lake Ouachita.
- Caddo Bend Loop. 4-mile loop in the state park beginning just a bit west of the visitor center. A tornado in 2011 left much of the trail without a forest canopy. Trail head is at 34.6176°N, 93.1787°W. Nov ’14 trip.
- Little Blakely Loops details and map.
- Possum Kingdom Trails. USFS info. These trails are mostly on roads and would appeal primarily to bicyclists, I think.
- Vista Trail (aka LOViT). 40-miles. Official info and maps. USFS info. Runs along the south side of the lake from the dam to Denby Bay.
Little Missouri Trail is part of the Eagle Rock System
Loon Point Park, Farkleberry Trail
Pinnacle Mountain State Park. <<to do>> Nov ’14 trip.
Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area
Robber’s Cave State Park. <<to do>> OuachitaMaps.com topo map. Sep ’13 trip.
Last updated/reviewed: Nov 29 2025
The Compulsive Hiker 
The ouachita mountain hikers website is now omhikers.club
Thanks. It looks like whatever I was linking to on the old site is gone and not to be found on the new one either.