njoying time on a trail can be done year-round in Arkansas and is a great avenue to behold the beauty of the state. Among the many trails you can find is the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, or the Ouachita Trail, as most call it.

This trail is a big one and many backpackers put it on their to-do list for through-hikes because of its mighty length: 223 miles through the Ouachita Mountains of both Arkansas and Oklahoma, though most of the route is in Arkansas. It goes from Talimena State Park in Oklahoma all the way to Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock. Speaking of state parks, this long trail also crosses Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Mena.

The Ouachita Trail is popular with hikers, backpackers, trail runners and hunters during the hunting season. Be sure to wear orange if you use the trail during hunting season. Sections of the trail are also open to mountain bikes and this part of the route, which is a whopping 108 miles and listed as an Epic Trail by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, is the longest mountain biking trail in the state.

The trail is versatile and can be a go-to for a quick hike or a long-distance backpacking venture. Camping options can be found along the trail, including well-built shelters with great names like Moonshine Shelter.

Looking after the Ouachita Trail is a big job. Thankfully, there are local organizations in place to help out, including the Friends of the Ouachita Trail. This is an important organization that not only looks after the trail and helps maintain it, but also pays homage to the people that worked to make the trail a reality, including Art Cowley, who is referred to as the Father of the Ouachita Trail. More details about the trail can be found at friendsoftheouachita.org/wp/ and fs.usda.gov/ouachita.