Ouachita National Recreation Trail
The Ouachita National Recreation Trail is a 223-mile hiking (and biking, in certain stretches) trail that stretches from Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock to Talimena State Park in Talimena, Oklahoma. The trail's difficulty ranges greatly, from easy hiking to very strenuous hiking. The trail runs the majority of its course through U.S. Forest Service property, who are officially responsible for the maintenance of the trail. In addition, a group called Friends of the Ouachita Trail organize volunteer clean-up and maintenance days.
The trail passes through Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Queen Wilhemina State Park, U.S. Route 71, Arkansas Highway 27, Arkansas Highway 7, Arkansas Highway 9, Arkansas Highway 10, Arkansas Highway 300, the Big Maumelle River, Lake Maumelle, and Maumelle River AR 300 Bridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Bridges. Plans are in the development stage to link the trail to the Big Dam Bridge Trail (or Arkansas River Trail) that circumscribes Little Rock.
Though little used, the trail ranks high amongst long-distance trails nationwide for solitude and signage. Maps are available online through the Forest Service (via the Friends of the OT website, http://www.friendsot.org) and at various state parks. Tim Ernst's Ouachita Trail Guide is a fairly thorough guide to the trail, complete with mileage.
