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The following are common questions that we get all the time about the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT). Most of these are answered in the Ozark Highlands Trail Guidebook, but you can scroll down through the list here for quick answers. If you have a question that is not answered here, feel free to e-mail Tim Ernst.
Where is the OHT located? It is located in northwest Arkansas. The western end of the trail begins at Lake Ft. Smith State Park (currently closed), runs to the east across the main division of the Ozark National Forest, then turns northward, and currently ends just across the river from the Woolum Access on the Buffalo National River. A new section of the OHT that was just built is located on the Sylamore Ranger District of the Ozark National Forest near the lower end of the Buffalo National River south of Mountain Home. How long is the OHT? The main section of the OHT is 165 miles long from Lake Ft. Smith State Park (currently closed) to the Woolum Access on the Buffalo National River. The Sylamore Section of the OHT is 31.6 miles long. Are there maps or guidebooks available? YES! Most people use the OZARK HIGHLANDS TRAIL GUIDE as the standard reference when hiking the OHT. It contains maps, elevation profiles, and a detailed narrative description of the trail from end-to-end. It was written by, and continues to be updated by, Tim Ernst, who has been involved with the design and construction of the trail since its beginning. It can be purchased online, or from more than 200 retail outlets throughout the region, including most outdoor stores, bookstores, forest service and park service offices and visitor centers. The OHT is not shown on regular USGS topo maps, nor on computer software maps. The forest service sells a three-map set for the OHT that includes strip maps of the trail, but no descriptive text - these maps are available direct from the forest service and select outdoor stores in the region. No. The City of Ft. Smith is building a brand new state park on a new Lake Ft. Smith (the old park was torn down to make room for a new, larger lake). The OHT will eventually begin at this park as it once did. At the moment we don't know when the park and new trailhead will be open and available for use. You can find out current info by calling Steve Parkes at 479-784-2231. There are directions to the western-most trailhead in the "Alerts" section of this site. When is the best time to hike the OHT? The best hiking season begins in October and runs into early June. Winter is especially great for hiking, as is the early spring, spring, and early summer. The summer months of July, August, and into September are the least favorite times to hike, although the forest is much cooler than temps you will find listed for Arkansas cities. Water levels can get quite low in the summer. Is the OHT open to mountain bikes? No. The OHT is for foot traffic only and vehicles of any kind are not allowed. Is the OHT open to horses? No. The OHT is for foot traffic only and pack stock of any kind are not allowed. Is the OHT open to ORVs? No. The OHT is for foot traffic only and vehicles of any kind are not allowed. Are campfires allowed? Yes. Campfire RINGS are not allowed, at least not any new one. Contrary to popular opinion, it is not necessary to build a campfire ring in order to build a campfire, and in fact these rings - normally made out of stones - actually create a fire hazard by containing glowing embers that can escape and start a forest fire long after the hiker has left the campsite. HIKERS WHO START FOREST FIRES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PUTTING OUT THE FIRE! Make sure any campfire is DEAD OUT! Using rocks to construct campfire rings also leaves behind ugly blackened rocks that will last for generations. It is OK to use an existing firering, just don’t construct a new one. Is camping allowed? Yes. You are allowed to camp anywhere along the trail as long as you are at least 200 feet and out of sight from the trail and any water source. There are no official campsites along the trail - other than in established public campgrounds. However, many unofficial sites have been established over the years in the normal expected areas. Are there any public campgrounds along the trail? Yes. Public campgrounds are located at Lake Ft. Smith State Park (when it reopens in 2006), White Rock Mountain, Shores Lake (via spur trail), Redding (via spur trail), Ozone, Haw Creek Falls, Fairview, Richland Creek, and Woolum (you have to wade the Buffalo River to get to it). Most of these campgrounds are open all year long and do charge a fee. Are permits required? No permits are required to hike or camp along the OHT. There are registration boxes located along the trail, and it is advised that you sign in at EVERY register that you pass. This helps the forest service know how many hikers are using the trail in order to justify its existence. It also helps track your movements in the case of an emergency - it will be easier to find you. There is no need to put any detailed personal information on the registration cards, like address, phone number, etc. Is the trail open all year? Yes, the trail is open all year. Some short sections of the trail may be closed for short periods of time due to a controlled burn in the area, or for regeneration work being done to take care of the red oak borer problem. Are there any loop trails? Yes, there are currently two loop trails along the OHT. The Shores Lake to White Rock Loop Trail (13.4 miles) and the Redding to Spy Rock Loop Trail (8.8 miles). There are maps and detailed descriptions of both these loop trails included in the GUIDEBOOK. The only way to make a longer loop hike utilizing the OHT would be to loop back around via roads or bushwhack on your own. We do hope to construct additional loop trails in the future. What is the best section of the trail to hike for a weekend trip? All of the trail is great hiking, and there are many sections that are short enough for a weekend trip - consult the guidebook for access points and mileages. What is the best section of the trail? ALL of the OHT is the best section! This trail was designed and constructed by HIKERS who wanted a great trail to hike - there are no bad sections of the OHT. What is the most scenic section of the trail? ALL of the OHT is scenic! Tim Ernst lists hundreds of “SSS” locations in the guidebook (Special Scenic Spots), and you will find them listed all along the trail, plus there are many hundreds more waiting for you to discover on your own. Here are some highlights along the trail: White Rock Mountain, Spirits Creek, the old railroad grade, the rockhouse, Hare Mountain, Marinoni Scenic Area, Eldridge Hollow Waterfall Area, Lynn Hollow, Slot Rock, Cedar Creek Pool, Haw Creek Falls, Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area, and on and on and on... How crowded is the trail? Not at all! The trail is used by hikers throughout the year so the numbers of hikers are spread out. You will seldom see other hikers along the trail at any time of the year. At most you may pass a dozen or two hikers throughout the day, but you will often not see another soul during your entire hike. Are there any shuttle services? Yes, there are several shuttle services that can shuttle hikers for a fee. These are listed in the OHT guidebook - Turner Bend (western and central sections); White Rock Mtn. (western end); Buffalo River Outfitters (eastern end); Sasafras Shuttles, Ron Ferguson, 870-446-2910 (central-eastern section). Are there any rental cabins along the trail? Yes, at Lake Ft. Smith State Park (when it reopens in 2006), and at White Rock Mountain. There are other rental cabins available in the Cass/Mulberry River area, but these are not located right on the trail. Where can I restock food for a long hike? There are currently no grocery stores located within a reasonable hiking distance from the trail. There are small post offices located at Ozone and Pelsor where you can have resupply packages mailed to you (both within two miles of the trail). How far can I hike in a day? That depends on YOU. All hikers are different, and there are so many variables like your personal condition and experience, weight of your pack, how good your boots are, how early you get up and start hiking and how late you hike in the day, etc. etc. Many hikers, especially those new to the sport, tend to try to hike too many miles in a single day. The result is very sore feet, muscles and bones, and an unpleasant hiking experience. It is best to start off with fewer miles per day and work up to longer miles as you gain experience. How long does it take to hike the entire trail end-to-end? That depends on each individual hiker, the number of hours of daylight, etc. Most folks take 10-14 days to hike the entire trail, but it has been done much faster, and much slower. What is the speed record for an end-to-end hike of the OHT? Steve Kirk and Greg Eason crossed the entire 165 miles of the OHT in 65 hours, 35 minutes, and 35 seconds (hike begun March 11, 2004). Is my vehicle safe when parked at a trailhead? Your vehicle is as safe at any trailhead as it is parked in your front yard or in any shopping center parking lot in the country. There are no guarantees in life, and your vehicle can be broken into at anyplace, anytime. There is no particular history of vandalism at OHT trailhead parking lots, although none of them are supervised in any way. Obviously, remove any valuables, or at the very least keep them out of sight. Is there water available along the trail, and is it safe to drink? During most of the year you will cross water many times during the day along the OHT. Consult the guidebook for the exact locations. In the drier months (July - September) the water can be hard to find, but not impossible. If you are planning an end-to-end hike of the OHT during these months it is a good idea to stash some water along the route, just in case. Generally speaking the water along the OHT is clean and relatively pollution free. However, it is advisable to treat ALL water that you consume from any unknown water source - most folks use water filters, but boiling is OK too, just more of a pain. Is hunting allowed along the trail? Yes. The parts of the OHT that pass through the Ozark National Forest and Buffalo National River lands (most of the trail) are open to hunting during all regular hunting seasons. Hunters are very good stewards of the land and are not to be feared. Check with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission for seasons. Is it safe to hike during hunting seasons? Are you going to be shot just because you are hiking during hunting season? Certainly not. You are as safe out on the trail during hunting season as you are walking down the street in your front neighborhood, or indeed walking in any town in the world. Can a stray bullet strike you? Of course, but you have a much better chance of hitting the lottery. During hunting seasons you might hear gunshots and see hunters, so it is always best to be aware of when the hunting seasons are. The Ozark Highlands Trail Association always schedules outings during even the most busy hunting seasons. There has never been a reported injury of any kind associated with hikers and hunters along the OHT. This does not meant that it won’t ever happen, just that it is not really an issue. IF you are hiking during the regular gun deer seasons, it is best if you wear some sort of blaze orange cloth on your person and/or backpack. Check with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission for seasons. Will I see wildlife along the trail? There is a lot of wildlife that lives in the forest along the OHT including white-tailed deer, black bear, elk (on the Buffalo River end), coyotes, bobcats, wild turkey, grouse (rare), squirrels, armadillos, chipmunks, and a large variety of birds and other wildlife. Most hikers make way too much noise when they hike and don’t see all that much wildlife. Also most wildlife is nocturnal and you won’t generally see them out in the middle of the day. The best way to see wildlife is to get up early in the morning, and find a place where you can see far out into the forest, then sit there quietly and motionless for a good long while - you will be surprised at all the critters you can spot! Are there bears, and are they dangerous? Yes, there is an expanding population of black bears in the forests along the trail. Are they dangerous - not really. Most of the black bears are quite small - less than a hundred pounds - and are afraid of humans. Some of them are much larger though, and have lost their fear of man. Bears do not hibernate in Arkansas, but rather dig themselves back into rock formations and even down into large hollow trees, and spend the winter months sleeping. In the late spring and early summer they come out looking for food. If you have food stored inside your tent at night, you just might come face to face with a hungry bear - NEVER keep any food or other sweet items (like toothpaste) inside your tent at night. The best method is to “bear bag” your food, or carry a bear proof container. We probably receive a dozen or so reports of bear sightings on the trail per year - they are vary rare, and if you see a bear, chances are it will only be a quick glimpse of his hind end as he runs away from you. The two most populated sections of the trail with bears are the White Rock Mountain area and the Horn Mountain Area (east end of the trail). There are no grizzly bears in the wild in Arkansas. What about snakes? We have an abundant supply of snakes in the forest, including rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins. Generally speaking, unless you are playing with a snake, or happen to sit down right on top of one, you will never have any problems with snakes. There has never been a reported incident of a hiker getting snake bit on the OHT, although certainly folks do get bit from time to time. Most snakes are good snakes, although it is a good idea to avoid all snakes all the time - they are wildlife just like everything else. Can I fish along the trail? Some of the streams along the trail have small blue gill and even a rock bass or small mouth bass or two, but it really is not worth bringing your fishing rod, and you certainly cannot plan to eat fish during your hike. There are no trout in the streams along the OHT. Is it safe to hike alone? You are just as safe hiking alone as you would be walking through any mall in the country, and probably even a lot safer. There is no inherent safety problem with hiking alone, and many folks prefer to hike that way. It really has to do with your own comfort level. And there really is no difference if you are a man or woman - i.e. there normally aren’t any folks lurking on the trail just waiting to attack lone female hikers! Solo hiking can be a wonderful experience, but that is not to say something terrible would never happen - LIFE HAPPENS no matter who you are or where you are! What food do I need to take on a hike? Generally speaking you want to carry lightweight food that is quick and easy to prepare with a limited amount of mess. There are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of good trail cookbooks on the market. Avoid foods that are packaged in cans or glass bottles, or that need refrigeration if you are hiking in the summertime. Just use common sense, keep the weight down, and you can often eat the same foods that you do at home. Look through some of the trail cookbooks at your local outdoor store for ideas. Can I use my cell phone while on the trail? There is very little cell phone service along the trail, despite what the salesperson told you! However, as more and more cell towers are constructed around the country, there will be more spots along the trail where you might be able to pick up a signal. The best places to try are on the highest ridgetops, but the signal will be dismal at best. There are currently no pay phones along the trail (there will be on at Lake Ft. Smith when it opens in 2006). Are there any caves along the trail to explore? Not really. You may find some overhangs and other eroded caverns, but nothing really of any significance. Are there any bluffs along the trail for good rock climbing? There are many sandstone bluffs located along the trail, and some of them might make for good rock climbing, however there are no specific locations at this time that are official great rock climbing spots. Is there a trail patch available? Yes. There is an eight-color cloth patch of the trail available for sale in the online store for $4. You can also purchase an I HIKE ARKANSAS patch there too. Who maintains the trail? The OHT is maintained by volunteers from the Ozark Highlands Trail Association. To date these volunteers have contributed more than 350,000 hours of free labor to the trail over the past 23 years. The trail is divided up into 50+ sections that are adopted by volunteers just like the highway trash cleanup program. These volunteers maintain their section a couple of times a year. Their main job is to take care of downed limbs and small trees across the trail, and to keep the corridor lopped out to a six-foot width. When they encounter larger trees across the trail that require chainsaw work, this is reported and a different crew is required to come in and cut them out. WEEDS are not a priority of our maintainers - it would be difficult to keep the weeds cut back along the trail, and they do get grown up in the late summertime, especially now with the red oak borer killing many of the larger trees (allows more sunlight to the ground which weeds thrive on). If you happen to see a volunteer working on the trail, be sure to THANK them for all of their work! And if you find a section of trail that is not quite up to snuff, the best thing that YOU can do is to VOLUNTEER yourself to help out! How do I report trail damage or problems? If you come across problems along the trail - like downed trees or trail sections that have been washed out, etc., please note the location of this problem area and put the details on a registration card at a trail register, and/or send as much info as you can to the OHTA maintenance coordinator. If you can fix the problem yourself, then please do so. What can I do to help the trail? Join the Ozark Highlands Trail Association, and bring some friends out hiking with you. As you hike along you can help out a great deal by simply kicking off downed limbs and loose rocks on the trail. If you come across larger trees or limbs across the trail and can do so, please take the time to stop and pull them off the trail. If a tree is left across the trail and hikers have to go around it, soon a new trail will develop around the tree, in a bad location, and that new path will eventually have to be covered up by volunteers. What are the future plans for the trail? We have a couple of major plans for future development of the OHT - first is to construct a couple more loop trails that are 10-20 miles in length each. And the second is to continue to push for the extension of the OHT through the Buffalo River area to eventually connect with the Ozark Trail that is being built across Missouri. Together these two trail systems will be known as the Trans-Ozarks Trail, and include nearly 1,000 miles of hiking trail. At the present time the national park service at Buffalo National River has halted the progress of the OHT and is not allowing it to cross their property, even though they have been a partner in this multi-agency since the late 1970’s to do so. Shame on them! We will continue to work towards this dream trail, which would become the longest hiking trail in the central United States once completed. Are dogs allowed on the Trail? Yes, dogs are allowed on all of the trail except for the very last few miles that are within Bufalo National River property (this is a national park and they do not allow dogs on trails in national parks nationwide). | ||||||||||
This site is courtesy of ArkansasUSA
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