For more information: Ozark Highlands Trail Association, Box 10979, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703, www.OzarkHighlandsTrail.com, (501) 442-2799 Your best source for information is the Ozark Highlands Trail Association www.ozarkhighlandstrail.com. Join a cadre of volunteers to help improve the data on this trail. It also crosses White Rock Mountain, Hare Mountain, the Marinoni Scenic Area, and many other scenic spots. There is a complete mile-by-mile description of this 165-mile trail, which has been rated as one of the Top-Ten hiking trails in the United States. This is a wilderness trail that does not pass through populated areas. We had taken our first backpacking trip a couple years before, and that trip had turned out to be a miserable failure - hypothermia, lost shoes, and deep snow, just to name a few travails. 21 exits the forest near the Buffalo National River . It offers a chance to see the beautiful Buffalo River and to have a truly remote experience. While the trail is long, it is well worth the magical forest setting that you become immersed throughout the trip. It is well-known for its extensive woodlands, some of which is old growth forest. Designations by Year Download the most popular smartphone app for thruhikers! Elevation Gain (cumulative): Not Available The Ozark Highlands Trail roams 218 miles (351 km) through parts of seven counties in northwest Arkansas. The Ozark Highlands Trail roams 218 miles (351 km) through parts of seven counties in northwest Arkansas. In Missouri the Ozark Trail currently runs 350 miles (563 km) and will eventually measure 500 miles (805 km). Ozark Highlands Trail. 21 crosses the southern boundary of the Ozark National Forest and continues until Ark. The most exhausting, grueling, and wearisome aspect of this brand of adventure is the mental perseverance it takes to complete such a daunting task. Width: 24 inches. This is an amazing winter hiking trail, with people coming from all over the country to get in some winter backpacking. It offers a variety of diverse landscapes representing various topographic, vegetative, pastoral, historic, human and animal life communities that are typically found throughout the Ozarks. Ozark Highlands Trail is one of the longest hikes in the Midwest, extending for about 165 miles. Location: Spans E-W across Ozark NF, from Lake Fort Smith to Richland Creek. The proposed route initially passed through 14 miles of wilderness area in the Buffalo National River park, and the National Park Service initially supported this route. 21 north of Clarksville as Ark. The guide is a a bit dated but it worked very well for me. Backpack camping is allowed anywhere along the trail. Tales of the Trail: Thru-Hiking the Ozark Highlands Trail A thru­-hike of any trail presents many challenges that most are unaware of. It is currently 165 miles from end to end, with 27 additional miles of connecting spurs and loops, so it makes for a great long-distance backpacking trail. The Ozarks Highlands Trail (OHT) is one of the premier, long-distance hiking trails in the United States. Stretching 230 miles, the Ozark Trail showcases the very best of the region, which is somehow even better during the eruption of fall colors. Arkansas has long been known as the Natural state and for a good reason. Another 10 miles of trail starts at Barkshed and meanders west to join the Ozark Highlands Trail. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is accessible year-round. The prime time to visit is from October through April. The full length of the trail is 165 miles (an update from the Ozark Highlands Trail Association says it is 197 miles and growing) starting at Lake Fort Smith State Park and running northeast to the Buffalo National River. The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) is a combination of simple footpath and old forest roads favoring the heights of land, and located for minimum reliance on construction for protecting the resource. Do you see a problem with this trail data? Ozark Highlands Trail Length: 187 miles Terrain: Wooded valleys, lakes Highlights: Waterfalls, spring and fall colors, the pride of Arkansas. Year Designated: 1984. A brief description of the Ozark Highlands Trail: I t has wonderful vistas, terrific streamside walks, lots of deep green pools to swim in, bluffs and rocks and boulders galore, forests that go on forever, and hundreds of waterfalls. Length: 230 miles (and growing!) It also crosses White Rock Mountain, Hare Mountain, the Marinoni Scenic Area, and many other scenic spots. area on the Buffalo River Trail: 235 miles, starting at Talimena State Park, ending at Maumelle Campground. The trail connects to the Ozark Highlands Trail, and has a river ford. The trail is difficult. Our Ozark Highlands Trail guide helps you navigate the length of the 164-mile trail. Ozark National Forest contains 1,874 square miles (4,856 sq. When complete, the OHT will stretch 320 miles across northern Arkansas from Lake Fort Smith State Park to Lake Norfork – where it will connect to the Ozark Trail in Missouri. I highly recommend the Ozark Highlands Trail Guide by Tim Ernst. About An easy to moderate level hike, it will take you between one and two hours to get through this trail. 170 miles, starting at Dockerys Gap, ending at Tyler Bend Rec. Construction of the Ozark Highlands Trail was begun by the US Forest Service in 1977, and the Ozark Highlands Trail Association was founded in 1981. River View Trail. Secondary Surface: None The trail passes through some of the most remote and scenic portions of the Ozark Mountains, like the Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area. Access at numerous trailheads. Search by Activity [1] It stretches from Lake Fort Smith State Park, across the Ozark National Forest, to the Buffalo National River. You may never see another hiker while on the OHT. Description: The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) is one of the most spectacular hiking trails in the United States. It offers a variety of diverse landscapes representing various topographic, vegetative, pastoral, historic, human and animal life communities that are typically found throughout the Ozarks. The trail is the only designated National Recreation Trail on the forest. Through the supreme effort of the volunteers from the Ozark Highlands Trail Association, the first 100 miles or so of the OHT were cleared by March giving us an open trail. Ozark Highlands Trail in Northern Arkansas. The 180 miles (290 km) of trail in the Arkansas Ozark Mountains, the Ozark Highlands Trail, might be connected in the end to the Missouri trail system. Contact us below: The NRT Database is a free service provided by American Trails (a non-profit) and we need your support! Our end point for this hike will be the Ozone Trailhead, mile 85.7, the approximate midpoint of the trail. Facilities include the OHT footpath itself, trailhead parking areas, information boards at road crossings and developed recreation areas. Donate, Browse NRT Map Ozark Highlands Trail Guide; This is the bible for OHT hikers. Primary Surface: Soil Trail Ambassador Program, NRT Home Page The EAST map covers from Ozone (mile 85.1) to Woolum (mile 164) on the Buffalo River - Sections 5-8.The newest NORTH map covers from Woolum (mile 164) to Hwy. We hike 8.8 miles the first day and camped at Boomer Branch. There is a complete mile-by-mile description of this 165-mile trail, which has been rated as one of the Top-Ten hiking trails in the United States. Become an Ambassador! Get spectacular views along the way, and check out a historic site. Featured NRT Articles Longitude: -94.030371Latitude: 35.700052. Starts at Lake Ft. Smith State Park on Hwy 71 and ends at the Buffalo River. Apply for designation There are long-term plans to connect the similarly named Ozark Trail in Missouri to the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas, resulting in over 700 miles (1,100 km) of continuous trails through the Ozarks. Ozark Highlands Trail: Ouachita National Recreation Trail: Trek Dates: 28Jun - 7Jul 2004: 17Apr - 28Apr 2005: Trek length, including resupply and trailhead access. Robert Duggan Ozark St Francis National Forest 605 W. Main St. Russellville, AR However, they have since vetoed this proposed route. [2], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}35°43′22″N 93°30′29″W / 35.72278°N 93.50806°W / 35.72278; -93.50806, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ozark_Highlands_Trail&oldid=953615391, Long-distance trails in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 28 April 2020, at 04:11. The Ozarks Highlands Trail (OHT) is one of the premier, long-distance hiking trails in the United States. Want to adopt this trail? It will eventually connect to the Ozark Trail in Missouri. The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains or Ozark Plateau, is a physiographic region in the U.S. states of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and the extreme southeastern corner of Kansas.The Ozarks cover a significant portion of northern Arkansas and most of the southern half of Missouri, extending from Interstate 40 in central Arkansas to Interstate 70 in central Missouri. Counties: Franklin, Pope, Johnson, Newton It's a great trail! km) of land and was established by presidential proclamation in 1908. This trail was first thru-hiked in 1984 by Tim Ernst. I hiked it in 2015. Now it is a little more complicated. So hope for sunny skies. The surround sound howl of coyotes and an owl in the distance were the only disturbances to the silence of the woods and soft sound of flowing water. When complete, the OHT will run about 320 miles across northern Arkansas with the west end at Lake Fort Smith and the east end at the Missouri border north of Lake Norfork where it will someday connect to the Ozark Trail near Tecumseh MO. 72801 (479) 964-7200 [email protected] http://www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark. It used to be said that the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) was 165 miles long, stretching from Lake Fort Smith State Park to Woolum Ford on the Buffalo River. Search by Trail Type Between the beautiful waterfalls and natural springs, this hike offers shady walk at an intermediate level of hiking to be enjoyed over a 10-12 day backpacking trip There are quite a number of creek crossings without bridges. The byway crosses the 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail, a hiking and camping trail that travels through the Ozark National Forest to the Buffalo National River. Once you cross FR 1003T (OHT-05, N35.697420 W094.007072) you will be in prescribed burn . A self-described “genuine trail nut,” Ernst actually backpacked the entire trail’s route in 1975, bushwhacking much of the way. State(s): Arkansas Length: 1.4 miles. Length: 218 miles. Running through Ozark National Forest, the Ozark Highlands Trail is the ideal backpacking destination for an autumn adventure. The hike from Arbaugh to Ozone on the Ozark Highlands Trail was beautiful! Ozark Highlands Trail is a 156.7 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Winslow, Arkansas that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Location: Arkansas; Description: This short thru hike runs through northwest Arkansas from Lake Fort Smith State Park to Lake Norfork. The Ozark Highlands Trail is a 165 miles long trail spanning most of the Northern half of the Ozark Mountains from Lake Fort Smith State Park to the Buffalo River. 14/Dillard's Ferry along … 6. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The Ozark Highlands Trail is a 165 miles long trail spanning most of the Northern half of the Ozark Mountains from Lake Fort Smith State Park to the Buffalo River. OZARK HIGHLANDS TRAIL MAPS - WEST, EAST, and NORTH maps - perfect companions to the OHT guidebook. Many trail access points can be found throughout the forest where it bisects most state and woods roads. Ozark Highlands Trail. The Ozark Highlands Trail extends 165 miles from Lake Fort Smith State Park to Woolum, a canoe launch point on the middle Buffalo. Elevation High Point: 2,200 The WEST map covers from Lake Ft. Smith State Park (mile 0.0) to Ozone (mile 85.1) - Sections 1-4. The OHT is a heavily forested, backpacking trail located in Northern Arkansas. STAGE A covers the first 35 miles from Lake Fort Smith to Cherry Bend.This stage is broken into 2 day trips in September (sections 1 and 2) and 2 day trips in October (sections 3 and 4). Trail Management: It stretches from Lake Fort Smith State Park, across the Ozark National Forest, to the Buffalo National River. There are hundreds of miles of trails in the forest, including the Ozark Highlands Trail, which extends some 165 miles (270km). Benefits of designation The Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail is a 165-mile-long hiking and backpacking route across northwestern Arkansas. Over the course of one day, the elevation may change several thousand feet as it climbs to the top of a mountain, along a ridge, and back down to a creek. An “orphan” portion of the Ozark Highlands Trail runs through 31 miles of the Leatherwood Wilderness Area of the Ozark National Forest, and can currently be reached only by “bushwhacking” through a 15-mile section of another wilderness area. Views from the OHT are predominantly forested, sporadically intermixed with old fields, pastoral valleys, and cultural landscapes. The NRT Database is a free service provided by American Trails (a non-profit) and we need your support. The maps from Underwood Geographics are essential, as is the trail guide by Tim Ernst. LENGTH: 35 miles, Ark. For questions, suggestions, and corrections to information listed on the website, contact American Trails. The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) The trail is 218 miles long and stretches the length of Northwest Arkansas. The summers are hot, humid, buggy and the trail becomes choked with vegetation. The trail passes through some of the most remote and scenic portions of the Ozark Mountains, like the Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area. The OHT offers a diversity of topography and a variety of vegetation and animal life exposing the hiker to the entire range of land forms, clear water features, history, and uses of the land found throughout the Ozarks. Management practices are modified to recognize the nationally significant aesthetic and recreation values of these lands. The Ozark Highlands Trail Association (OHTA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit all-volunteer organization that was founded in 1981 to build, maintain, and enjoy the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT). STAGE A covers the first 35 miles from Lake Fort Smith to Cherry Bend.This stage is broken into 2 day trips in September (sections 1 and 2) and 2 day trips in October (sections 3 and 4). The trail’s western terminus is Lake Fort Smith State Park in Crawford County, and its eastern terminus lies within the Buffalo National River park in Searcy County.The trail runs almost entirely through the Ozark National Forest, which regulates use. Helpful NRT contacts. For more information and current conditions, contact the trail manager (listed below). The book has eight maps and elevation profiles, nine mileage logs, information on campgrounds, trailhead parking areas, hunting and fishing, scenic spots, historical features, a month-by-month weather guide, plus lots of info that you'll need to hike this wonderful trail. Difficulty : Easy to Moderate. Average Grade: 15% Maximum Grade: 30% Elevation Low Point: 900 Redemption on the Ozark Highlands Trail In March 2012, spring break of my junior year of college, a few friends and I decided to head to the Ozarks of northern Arkansas to do a little backpacking. The trailhead for this trail is at the Tyler Bend Visitor Center. It starts at Lake Fort Smith State Park and winds through Ozark National Forest to the Buffalo River. Thru­-Hike of any trail presents many challenges that most are unaware of Park, the... Underwood Geographics are essential, as is the Ozark Highlands National Recreation trail on the.. 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