S.W. 0 to 3

Southwest Arkansas Trails-0 to 3 Miles

Wildlife Trail, Lake Sylvia Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: 2.33 miles • Rating: Moderate to Difficult • Allowed:

• Map and Trail description available: Winona Ranger District, 1069 N. Fourche, Perryville, AR 72126

• Contact: www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ouachita or Phone 501-889-5176

This trail consists of two loops and a spur trail. Loop A is a one-mile wildlife interpretive trail that returns by the Lake Sylvia dam and affords a beautiful vies of Narrow Creek and its bluffs. Loop B starts on the back side of Loop A and affords a nice vista of the east fork of Narrow Creek and Lake Sylvia. This loop returns to Loop A, and their length totals 1 1/2. The 3/4-mile spur up Chinquapin Mountain begins on the back side Loop B. The top of the mountain presents a 270-degree panoramic view, including Lake Maumelle and Flatside Pinnacle. This trail complex has short grades in excess of 10 percent, but its views are more than worth the effort.

Earthquake Ridge Trail, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: 2.1 • Rating: Easy to Moderate • Allowed: Camping, Bicycles and Dogs

• Map and Trail description available: Arkansas Hiking Trails guidebook by Tim Ernst or Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids and Families by Pam Ernst

• Contact: Mena Ranger District Phone 479-394-2382

This short loop trail is one of two that is located at the Mena Visitor Center of the Forest Service, which is just west of Mena on hwy 88 up on the Talimena Scenic Byway. It is used by mountain bikes once in a while.

Serendipity Loop, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: 1.0 • Rating: Easy • Allowed: Dogs

• Map and Trail description available: Arkansas Hiking Trails guidebook by Tim Ernst or Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids and Families by Pam Ernst

• Contact: Oden Ranger District Phone 870-326-4322

This is a very short, easy to hike, and the signs there interpret the forest like no other trail. It’s in the Ouachita National Forest, right across from the Oden District Ranger’s Office. Definitely worth a side trip to go see.

Tree Of The Forest Trail, Lake Sylvia Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: 1.0 mile round trip • Rating: Easy **Wheelchair accessible** • Allowed:

• Map and Trail description available: Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids and Families by Pam Ernst or Winona Ranger District, 1069 N. Fourche, Perryville, AR 72126

• Contact: www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ouachita or Phone 501-889-5176

This tree identification interpretive trail begins at the parking lot just past the Lake Sylvia camping entrance. The first half of the trail has an asphalt surface, and is an easy walk across the hardwood floodplain of Narrow Creek’s east forks. This part of the trail is easily negotiable by wheelchairs. The second half has a gravel surface with grades up to 5 percent. This section is equipped with a wooden cane rail along the base of the trail for the visually impaired.

Friendship Interpretive Loop, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: nine-tenths of a mile (.9) • Rating: Easy • Allowed: Dogs

• Map and Trail description available: Arkansas Hiking Trails guidebook by Tim Ernst or Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids and Families by Pam Ernst

• Contact: Jessieville Ranger District Phone 501-984-5313

This is a beautiful little trail that is paved and is barrier free. It loops around through the woods behind the Forest Service Visitor Center at Jessieville. Take your lunch with you and stop at one of the many benches or picnic tables and enjoy some time outside.

Prayer of the Woods Trail, Charlton Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: three-fourths of a mile (.75) • Rating: Easy • Allowed:

• Map and Trail description available: Womble Ranger District, 1523 U.S. 270 East, Mt. Ida, AR 71957

• Contact: www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ouachita or Phone 870-867-2101

An easy one-hour hike along this interpretive trail allows visitors to see many of the 55 species of plants native to the area. Interpretive signs are located at key interest points. This loop trail was developed by the Forest Service as a cooperative project with the Arkansas Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Weyerhaeuser Foundation.

Crystal Recreation Area Loop, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: seven-tenths of a mile (.7) • Rating: Easy • Allowed: Dogs

• Map and Trail description available: Arkansas Hiking Trails guidebook by Tim Ernst

• Contact: Caddo Ranger District Phone 870-356-4186

This is another short, seldom used, easy trail that loops around through some huge eighty-year-old trees.

Orchard Trail, Mena Ranger District, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: one-half of a mile (.5) • Rating: Easy **Wheelchair Accessible** • Allowed:

• Map and Trail description available: or Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids and Families by Pam Ernst

• Contact: Mena Ranger District Phone 479-394-2382

This accessible trail meanders through the picturesque pine and hardwood forest surrounding the Talimena Scenic Byway Visitor Information Station near Mena. This short hike features the ruins of an abandoned home site with a viewing deck and benches. This trail and all site facilities allow easy access for all visitors including those physically challenged.

A Valuable Forest Trail, Shady Lake Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: one-half of a mile (.5) • Rating: Easy • Allowed:

• Map and Trail description available: Caddo Ranger District, 912 Smokey Bear Lane, Glenwood, AR 71943 or Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids and Families by Pam Ernst

• Contact: www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ouachita or Phone 870-356-4186

This is an interpretive trail. Etched metal signs along the trail tell how the forest was formed and describe the relationships between weather, rocks, soil and the plants growing in the area. The trail is an easy walk along the east fork of the Saline River. Many hikers cool their feet in the stream’s numerous pools.

Crystal Mountain Scenic Area Loop, Ouachita National Forest

• Miles: one half of a mile (.5) • Rating: Easy • Allowed: Dogs

• Map and Trail description available: Arkansas Hiking Trails guidebook by Tim Ernst

• Contact: Caddo Ranger District Phone 870-356-4186

This is short, little used, easy trail that goes by old, old trees in the Ouachita National Forest.

The Grande Promenade, Hot Springs National Park

• Miles: one-third of a mile (.33) • Rating: Easy **Wheelchair accessible** • Allowed: Dogs

• Map and Trail description available: National Park Visitor Center

• Contact: www.nps.gov/hosp or Phone 501-624-3383

The Grande Promenade is a brick-paved trail that divides the city development from Hot Springs mountain. Along the trail are many benches, native and ornamental plants, an abundance of birds, and hot springs. Several scenic overlooks allow views of the city and the Ouachita Mountains. This is a really nice and wide sidewalk that takes you up and away from the busy Bathhouse Row.    

 Forest Hills Trail, Nimrod Lake Corps Office, Corps of Engineers

• Miles: 1.5 • Rating: Easy to Moderate • Allowed:

• Map and Trail description available: or Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids and Families by Pam Ernst

• Contact:

The trailhead starts on the south side of Nimrod Dam and meanders through the wooded hills and valleys. Along the trail there are 18 points of interest, which are explained in the trail guide. These points of interest range from trees to vegetation to history of the area. Along the trail, you will cross a foot bridge, be able to view the dam from the hill above and see the Highway 7 Fourche River bridge from a scenic bluff above the river.

Arlie Moore Interpretive Trail, DeGray Lake Area, Corps of Engineers

• Miles: 1.33 mile • Rating: Easy • Allowed:

• Map and Trail description available: Corp of Engineers Visitor Center

• Contact: Phone 870-246-5501

This trail has an interconnecting loop which allows you to cut the hike in half. The focus of the trail is the natural environment. Numbered posts correspond to a trail booklet and describe tree species, timber management and animals.