They would be out in full force. We hike 8.8 miles the first day and camped at Boomer Branch. Just go in the spring or fall. Although the Buffalo River Trail (BRT)and Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) never converge, they both are really great ways to see the Ozarks. Ozark Highlands Trail Guide [Ernst, Tim] on Amazon.com. We decided to spend a weekend on the trail before our Thanksgiving week commitment. My question is, is this hike pretty doable around… Lastly, The trail runs through the Ozark National Forest and where there is forest, there are bears. Permethrin: The trail ends at the Buffalo River, and there is a trail off the OHT at White Rock Mountain going to Shores Lake, which I … We knew it might rain but didn’t expect the lightning show that decided to greet us. Shakedown. Ozark Highlands Trail: Backpacking Over Thanksgiving Week. Services include canoe, raft and kayak rentals, cabin rental, camping and Ozark Trail shuttles. Another 10 miles of trail starts at Barkshed and meanders west to join the Ozark Highlands Trail. I was telling them how I had wanted to get more adventure in my life before turning 35 and that I had failed. Starting at Lake Ft. Smith State Park on Arkansas 71, the trail crosses the forest to Woolum near the Buffalo National River and into the Sylamore Ranger District. Local access point is along Scenic Hwy. Waterfalls, ridges, and valleys are all experienced as one hikes the trail. We recommend you call one of these services to arrange your exact shuttle needs. For us, articles like these provide the inspiration we need to get outside! Thanks Arkansas Hiker for the heads up! Posted in Backpacking, Ozark Highlands Trail, Trail Cooking | Tagged ArkansasTrails, Backpacking, Nature, OHT, Trail Food | Leave a comment Back to the OHT – eyeballing Sections 2 and 3 Posted on March 4, 2012 by Ozark Hiker *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. ← Older Post The trail passes two historic fireplaces and Shepherd Spring. The volunteers from the Ozark Highlands Trail Association worked hard to clean up the mess, and the trail corridor is mostly clear, with the exception of the Sylamore section. I don't know about the fishing, since I don't fish. 23 North (The Pig Trail) Background. There are numerous small waterfalls that the trail passes. The Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas looks pretty good, but there's not much information about it online. In the morning we were cold and wet but also felt kind of like we had been through nature’s initiation for us and we felt stronger for having experienced it. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A buddy, Steve, was able to join me and Becca ran the shuttle for us, which saved time getting going on Monday morning. The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) is a hiking trail that crosses the Ozark National Forest and is recognized as one of the most scenic trails in the US. A buddy, Steve, was able to join me and Becca ran the shuttle for us, which saved time getting going on Monday morning. Turner Bend, White Rock Mountain and Buffalo River Outfitters provide many different shuttle options depending on the day and time of the year. Trip Report of Backpacking the first section of the Ozark Highland Trail from Lake Fort Smith to White Rock in January, 2014. No knowledge of the Ozark trail, but I found the first tick crawling on my shirt this week, here in the Northeast, so I agree with @b.stark. This is a strenuous trail. Backpack camping is allowed anywhere along the trail. Another 10 miles of trail starts at Barkshed and meanders west to join the Ozark Highlands Trail. 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. Also, ticks are in full force then, many of which carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ozark Highlands Trail, AR - January 2014 - Outdoor Exploration Search this site Once you reach the peak of some of the small mountains throughout the trail, you are awarded with a breathtaking view of colorful greenery speckled with various other mountain summits. It ended up getting very stormy for a few hours during the night. stretches 165 miles from Lake Fort Smith State Park to the Buffalo National River; passes through several public campgrounds, one of the longest, most beautiful hiking trails in the country. It was near a babbling stream and already had an established fire pit with stones for seating around it. Ozark Highlands Trail: First Backpacking Experience. Skip the trail descriptions and jump to the topo maps. Services include canoe, raft and kayak rentals, cabin rental, camping and Ozark Trail shuttles. Sign up to get great backpacking tips and info on our latest products. Ozark Highlands Trail is one of the longest hikes in the Midwest, extending for about 165 miles. I knew it was time to take charge and start doing things vs. just talking about them. Getting to this northern region of Arkansas is easiest by driving. The most exhausting, grueling, and wearisome aspect of this brand of adventure is the mental perseverance it takes to complete such a daunting task. Our muscles were tired from carrying our packs but we were excited for more adventure and the trail was beautiful. Big Piney Ranger District Hector Office - South 12000 SR 27 Hector AR 72843 (479)284-3150 Visitor Information: 479-518-0411. Join us for a 4 night trip exploring Arkansas’s beautiful scenery and fall colors. It is recommended to hang your food. We hiked another five miles out to our planned exit point for the weekend. FREE SHIPPING ON ALL US ORDERS & 30-DAY RETURNS, Great to hike year-round, but best in the spring and fall since the summer months can be hot and humid, Will satisfy even the biggest forest hiking fix, While considered an intermediate hike, the constant elevation changes will be tough on your lungs, After bad weather, some parts of the trail could be flooded or inaccessible, Even though there are plenty of fresh water sources, you will still need to purify water, Black bears can be found in areas along the trail, Need to arrange transportation between the starting and ending trailheads. Equipped with mile-by-mile trail descriptions and at least 8 maps, this book is said to be the bible of the Ozark Highlands Trail. I would like to add that July and August would not be good times to take on this hike. Buffalo National River: … I have hiked most of the Ozarks Highlands Trail. Fall through Spring are the peak seasons for this trail. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 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. This week's hike is the Ozark Highlands Trail in the Ozark National Forest. Goal Base weight (BPW): 12. Welcome back to our weekly hike series! Day 1. Ozark-St. Francis National Forests Forest Supervisor’s Office 605 West Main Russellville AR 72801 (479)964-7200 Visitor Information: 479-280-8162. Waterfalls, ridges, and valleys are all experienced as one hikes the trail. Many simply cache food. 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. Thru-Hiking the Ozark Trail. This trail guide is the only comprehensive trail guide available for the OHT. Featured Photo: Boston Mountain (photo by Texas Tongs). Do you have other outstanding hikes that you'd like us to write about? Close. We’ll update the article to reflect that. We felt so excited to be doing what we had spent so much time planning and preparing for. You might try cheaper boots that you usually hit the trails in, but if there is any trail that will blister the heck out of your feet, it's the Ozark Highlands Trail. Make sure you fill out the hiker registries at the trailheads. Posted by Bart Przybyl The above is a good visual of just what the trail entails, but in order to get the low-down on the best places to camp, where the trail boxes are, and the restocking points, we recommend investing in the Ozark Highlands Trail Guide by Tim Ernst. 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. Trip Report of Backpacking the first section of the Ozark Highland Trail from Lake Fort Smith to White Rock in January, 2014. I second an earlier poster's recommendation to do the approximately 40 mile section of the OHT between White Rock and Lick Branch (Sections 2 and 3 … I had been camping before, but never primitively, and needed to gain experience. The Ozark Highlands Trail is an excellent hiking/backpacking trail with natural beauty—not in a grand sense as either the Rockies or Sierra Nevada—but in a smaller, more intimate sense. Make sure to have plenty of water storage capacity and be equipped with a good water purifier to keep hydrated. The trail passes two historic fireplaces and Shepherd Spring. Since this is such a long trail, any weight that you can save will make your trip that much more enjoyable. Pair them with a lightweight quilt and you can easily shed a few pounds from your pack. 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). Thru-hiking is defined as hiking the contiguous 230-mile backbone of the Ozark Trail in one trip. Day 1. I made every rookie mistake but I fell in love with backpacking - especially long distance backpacking. As always, check out our Ultimate Backpacker’s Packing List which is full of recommendations for overnight trips in the backcountry. The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) is a hiking trail that crosses the Ozark National Forest and is recognized as one of the most scenic trails in the US. Traverse massive limestone bluffs and deep, secluded hollows on this 14.3-mile weekend in the Ozark Highlands along the Buffalo National River. 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. Through 165 miles of ridgelines, deep forest, meandering rivers, waterfalls, and wilderness, the Ozark Highlands Trail is one of this country's premier backpacking routes. The "Ozark Highlands Endurance Runs" offers participants the opportunity to experience the world-class trail system located minutes from town and then unwind at … Beyond this, you should bring the gear you would normally need for a multi-day backpacking trip. I have hiked a few sections of the trail. Buffalo National River: … You could also come up from the south and fly into Clinton Airport in Little Rock. Ozark Highlands Trail: Backpacking Over Thanksgiving Week, Camping / Hiking / Random Adventure / State Parks, Ozark Highlands Trail: First Backpacking Experience, Buffalo National River: Tyler Bend to Gilbert, Buffalo National River: Pruitt to Hasty Float Trip, Buffalo River: Steel Creek to Kyle’s Landing Float Trip. I have hiked most of the Ozarks Highlands Trail. Now I want to thru-hike the trail. 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