Ouachita Trail section 10
Section 10 of the Ouachita Trail - mile 202-222.5 (Pinnacle Mountain State Park). This section is outside of the Ouachita National Forest, running mostly around Lake Maumelle and then on PMSP land. Section 10 includes the following features:
- eastern terminus of the OT
- the lowest point on the trail
- minimal change in altitude (lots of flat trail)
- several stretches on state highway shoulder
- several stretches of trail on historical raised railroad bed
- an antique highway bridge
- plenty of water (Lake Maumelle, several reliable creeks, several ponds)
Camping is restricted to designated sites. Because it is close to Little Rock, parts of section 10 get quite a bit of dayhiker and trail runner use. There are several convenient access points for day hikes.
As always, the definitive guide to the OT is the Ouachita Trail Guide by Tim Ernst.
Hikes in section 10 of the Ouachita Trail are grouped into the 3 sections listed below. Each of the three sections (see below) contain multiple hikes, some with individual hike descriptions and some with photos-only.
Ouachita Trail (section 10) mile 202 to 212.2 (multiple hikes)
This segment of OT section 10 runs from the Hwy 10 crossing to Hwy 300 at Lundsford Corner, for a distance is about 10 miles.
The trail emerges from section 9 onto Hwy 300 on the south end of the bridge over Lake Maumelle. It continues across the bridge and then re-enters the forest on the righ (heading north).
After reentering the forest, it winds around hillsides, crosses Hwy 113 twice and then runs for an (approx.) 7 mile stretch to the first crossing of Hwy 300, followed by an additional ~ 1 mile to the 2nd crossing of Hwy 300 at Lundsford Corner. The best reference, as usual, is Tim Ernst's Ouachita Trail Guide, which provides almost step-by-step guidance!
Compared to the OT further west, this section is relatively flat and is entirely a 'walk in the forest', with very few views. There are some nice views of Lake Maumelle from several 'unofficial' spur trails that drop down to the lakeside. -jc
Ouachita Trail (section 10) mile 212.2 to 220 (multiple hikes)
This segment of the OT runs from mile 212.2 (Lundsford Corner crossing of Hwy 300) to about mile 220, at the 3rd crossing of Hwy 300 in Natural Steps.
It is quite similar to the previous 10 miles as it continues around the northern edge of Lake Maumelle.
In this segment there are more ups and down but its still relatively flat. There is a so-called "vista point" at mile 215.2 but you really can't see much anymore due to growth of plants/trees. There are much better vistas available by walking down to the lake along any of the little spur trails to the lake.
This section is easily accessible from Lundsford Corner or from Spillway road. It is also accessible from Hwy 300 near Pinnacle Mountain State Park but you'll have to walk along a busy highway for a bit if you park here.
Below there are links to some full hike pages (with description page and photo link to gallery) and other hikes with photos only (no description page). Originally, I was going to make a description page for every hike, but there are simply too many repeat hikes in the same place. So, for those hikes with many repeats, I am just posting the photos and putting a link on this page.
Ouachita Trail (section 10) mile 212.2 to 214.8
Hike Features:
Date: August 16, 2007
State: Arkansas
County: Pulaski
Location: OT day hike starting at Lundsford Corner on hwy 300
Length of hike: ~ 5.3 miles
Trail: All on-trail
GPS: none needed
42 photos in OHJ Photo Gallery
Reaching Trailhead: Parking area at Lundsford corner (highway 300) (N34 54.455 W092 32.981, DMM WGS84; 541138.78E 3862886.91N 15S UTM WGS84) There is a parking area just at the 90 degree bend in the road (hwy 300) here, complete with trash can. From the parking area, walked north on hwy 300 about 50-100 feet and found the Ouachita Trail road crossing.
Description: It was 103°F on this day, which was one of many days during August 2007 with temps over 100 degrees. If that wasn't enough, there had been no rain for at least two weeks (more like 3 weeks). I made a snap decision at about 3:30pm to go hiking and was at the trailhead by 4pm. The map in the photo gallery shows the trail route, mapped with a Garmin GPS 60CSx set on 'highest detail' mode. I think its quite accurate (no guarantees). Basically, the photo gallery says it all. This section of trail is in good condition, with lots of ups and downs but nothing very challenging. Its a nice day hike. If a particular destination is desired, this hike could end at the "scenic vista", which would make it about 6 miles round trip. I was fascinated by the forest in the dry heat of August, when temps had been consistently > 100°F and as high as 106 degrees on some days. All of this is without a drop of rain since sometime in mid-July. it was amazing to see how the forest was coping with this. In any case, there is a detailed description accompanying the 42 photos in the gallery.
Notes: There is room for about 3 cars at Lundsford Corner.
Wildlife sightings: Numerous deer (most deer sightings per hike in the last 5 years), woodpecker, chuck-wills-widow, hawk, katydids, spiders, etc. The KATYDIDS were amazing. For info about katydids and even recordings of their "songs", there is an excellent site called Singing Insects of North America. It's a great site, well worth a visit.
Cautions: None.
Hikers: jc
Ouachita Trail (section 10) mile 212.2 to 219.2
Hike Features:
Date: June 23, 2007
State: Arkansas
County: Pulaski
Location: OT between highway 300 at Lundsford Corner and highway 300 near PMSP.
Length of hike: ~ 7 miles (OT miles 212.2 to 219.2)
Trail: All on-trail
GPS: none
No photos
Reaching Trailhead: Parking area at Lundsford corner (highway 300) (N34 54.455 W092 32.981, DMM WGS84; 541138.78E 3862886.91N 15S UTM WGS84) There is a parking area just at the 90 degree bend in the road (hwy 300) here, complete with trash can. From the parking area, we walked north/east on hwy 300 about 50-100 feet and found the Ouachita Trail road crossing.
Description: This started out as a planned 5-6 mile hike. We intended to hike east on the OT from Lundsford Corner about 3 miles and then turn around and come back. It was a muggy morning and the forecast was for 30% chance of showers, mainly after 11:00am. Started hiking at 9:30 am.
The trail is in great condition and quite clean except for small deadfall here and there. It goes up and down through hickory/pine forest along the north side of Lake Maumelle. There's nothing spectacular in this section but the forest is very 'open' and its a nice walk in the woods. There were a lot of mushrooms of many different varieties. About a mile in, there is a spur trail to a designated campsite area.
Just past the designated campsite area (mile 213.2) we started hearing thunder but decided to try to reach mile 215. By the time we reached 215, it was pouring rain and we were in the middle of a strong thunderstorm, with lightning but not much wind. At that point, the storms appeared to be mainly west, so we made a decision to keep hiking east. There was, in fact, a lull in the storms but within about half an hour more storms came up from the south and we spent the rest of the hike in pouring rain and lightning. This is why there are no photos. On the east end we called home for a ride and shuttle back to the truck at Lundsford Corner; exiting the trail on Spillway Road (the place is obvious) at about OT mile 219.5 (marked "END" on the map). The trail continues on to hwy 300, where a car can be parked just south of the bridge over Maumelle spillway (marked "car" on map).
Overall, this is a great little hike, especially if it can be done one way (with a car shuttle). It's basically a bunch of "up-and-downing" as Tim Ernst says in the guidebook, but its a pleasant walk and its great for exercise close to Little Rock.
Notes: On the above map, the trail route from Lundsford Corner to mile 216 is approximate. From 216 to hwy 300, its an accurate route from a GPS.
Wildlife sightings: Turtles, squirrel, crows... not much was out in the pouring rain.
Cautions: None. Snakes maybe.
Hikers: jc, Steve B.
Ouachita Trail (section 10) mile 219.5 to 216.5
Hike Features:
Date: June 22, 2007
State: Arkansas
County: Pulaski
Location: OT between highway 300 at Natural Steps and mile 216.6 (and back).
Length of hike: ~ 6 miles (OT miles 216.5 to 219.5, round trip)
Trail: All on-trail
GPS: none
22 photos + map in photo gallery
Reaching Trailhead: Parking area on Spillway Road, which is off hwy 300 just north of Pinnacle Mountain State Park (in Natural Steps). there is an obvious place to pull off, an obvious place where people cross over an embankment into the spillway area and a large white Central Arkansas Water sign. The OT is just on the other side of the embankment.
Description: This was a quick afternoon exercise hike. From this starting point, hiked west on the OT. Not far from the Maumelle dam, it opens up into a broad, easy trail on an old roadbed. Basically, the trail just goes up and down across what seems like 100's of little streams and hills. There are several places where the trail comes close to the lake. You can hike it as far as you like and then turn around and come back to the car. On this particular day, in the 90+ degree heat, I hiked to ~ OT mile 216.5.
There were a lot of mushrooms (see photo gallery) but little wildlife out. The high point of the hike (from a wildlife standpoint) was the Chuck-Wills-Widow that flew right in front of me and landed on a log a few feet away. It's unusual to see this nocturnal bird so closely in the daytime. Otherwise, spotted a few turtles, squirrels, vultures, crows, woodpeckers and assorted other birds. Exercise was the main goal.
Overall, this is a great place for a nice hike in the woods near Little Rock. Its good for exercise and you'll rarely see other people. Last time I hiked here before this, we saw a solitary runner and no one else.
Wildlife sightings: Chuck-Wills-Widow, vultures, crows, woodpeckers and assorted other birds. Also, a few turtles, squirrels, etc.
Cautions: None. Snakes maybe.
Hikers: jc
Ouachita Trail (section 10) mile 220 to 223 (multiple hikes)
Page under construction today, August 24, 2008. Will be done soon.