About the Ouachita National Recreation Trail
The Ouachita National Recreation Trail (other called Ouachita trail or Ouachita thru hike) is the longest hiking trail that goes through the Ouachita National Forest. It’s a very wild and untouched trail, as it goes through dense forests, climbs up rugged, overgrown peaks, and passes along crystal-clear rivers and lakes. It starts on the west side at Talimena State Park, Oklahoma. Then it passes 223 miles through the Ouachita Mountains and finally ends at the Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Arkansas. It usually takes roughly 2 weeks to finish and it’s best hiked in spring or autumn. It can also be hiked in the summer, but you’d have to deal with a lot more bugs and insects.
Statistics About the Ouachita Hiking Trail
- Start point: Talimena State Park, Oklahoma, United States
- End point: Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas, United States
- Total distance: 223 miles / 359 km
- Total altitude gain/loss: 34 000 ft / 10 363 m
- Highest point: 2610 ft / 795 m (Rich Mountain)
- Countries crossed: United States
- States crossed: Oklahoma, Arkansas
- Points of interest: Ouachita National Forest, Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area, Upper Kiamichi River Wilderness, Lake Maumelle
- Time to finish: Usually 12-16 days
- Record finish: 3 days
- Best time to hike: March-May or September-November
Mark Rainey –
Very fast shipping. Was surprised at the thickness of the paper. Love this map.