The Ouachita Trail is a 223-mile National Recreation Trail that runs through the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas. It connects Talimena State Park in Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park near Little Rock, Arkansas. It is the longest trail in the Ouachita National Forest and features a variety of landscapes, including forests, lakes, rivers, and rolling hills, with 21 shelters spaced 8-12 miles apart along the route. The trail is suitable for both backpacking and day hiking, and is known for its rocky terrain and remote sections, making it a good choice for those seeking solitude.
The Ouachita Mountains are a range of fold mountains in southeastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, characterized by rolling, rocky, pine-covered hills and east-west-oriented ridges and valleys. Formed by a collision with the South American Plate about 300 million years ago, they are known for their ancient rock formations, including novaculite, and features like Hot Springs National Park and the Ouachita National Forest. The name “Ouachita” comes from the Choctaw language, meaning “large buffalo”.
Key Characteristics
- Geology: The mountains are a fold mountain range, formed from the deformation of ancient Paleozoic strata during a mountain-building event that also created the Appalachian Mountains.
- Topography: They feature rugged, rolling terrain with many east-west trending ridges and valleys.
- Rock Types: The exposed rock formations are primarily sandstone, shale, chert, and novaculite, a fine-grained quartz rock.
Location and Significance
- Geographic Spread: The range extends about 225 miles (360 km) from central Arkansas into southeastern Oklahoma.
- Cultural Importance: The mountains were historically home to various Native American tribes, including the Caddo and Quapaw.
Notable Features
- Ouachita National Forest: The largest national forest in the South, it encompasses much of the scenic mountains and contains wilderness areas.
- Hot Springs National Park: Located within the range, this park is famous for its mineral-rich hot springs.
- Lake Ouachita: The largest lake in Arkansas, known for its cleanliness.
- Ouachita Trail: The longest trail through the Ouachita National Forest
