Ouachita Trail (section 08) mile 179.2 to 187.4 (multiple hikes)
This is another interesting segment of the OT in section 8, running from FR94 (the parking area for Flatside Pinnacle) to FR152, for a total of 8 miles.
The nice features of this section include a) Flatside Pinnacle via a spur trail, b) Brown Creek Shelter, c) Brown Creek crossing, d) North Fork Pinnacle (via a spur trail) and Lake Sylvia (via a spur trail). Looks like there's lots of spur trails in this segment!
Flatside Pinnacle is definitely worth the extra hike up to the top. As shown in the photo, it is a rocky crag with cliffs that will induce vertigo (and nice views too).
Brown Creek Shelter is nice and the area is very flat... but there is no source of water at the shelter. You'll have to stock up before reaching the shelter. If you're heading east, this means either Crystal Prong Creek or the pond just before reaching FR94. If you're heading west, water should be taken from Brown Creek at the crossing (183.1 mile on the OT).
There are some nice views in the section between Flatside Pinnacle and Brown Creek shelter. They are off-trail, so you'll have to figure out where they are and look for them. Northfork Pinnacle also has panoramic views from the top.
Overall, this section of the OT is well-maintained and has some nice features. Between Flatside and FR152 there is substantial up, down, up and down... probably with a cumulative elevation gain of many 100's of feet.
Below are some listings of hikes in this area.
Ouachita Trail (section 08) mile 183.1 to 184
Hike Features:
State: Arkansas
County: Perry
Location: Off Highway 10, on Brown Creek forest road.
Length of hike shown: ~ 2 miles
Trail: Part bushwhack (off trail) and part on trail.
GPS: 512140.40E 3858487.19N 15S (UTM WGS84) (OT crossing of forest road)
7 photos in OHJ Photo Gallery
Reaching Trailhead: We drove out HWY 10 from Little Rock, past Williams Junction until we reached the sign to turn left for Lake Sylvia. A few miles down that road brought us to a dirt road (going off to the right) called Brown Creek road (or something like that). We went down Brown Creek road until 512717.91E 3858502.47N 15S (UTM GPS coordinates, WGS84, labeled "start" on map).
Description of hike: I'm a little ambivalent about putting these hikes on the web. This off-trail hike goes to a wonderful waterfall under a bluff. Its really more of a cascade than a true waterfall. The cascade height is not impressive (maybe 10 feet), but the place is a gushing, roaring vortex during big rains. Great place. During times of lesser rains, its still nice. My ambivalence is about publicizing the location of these places. On the one hand, it would be bad to see them trampled by the masses. On the other hand, people who really care need to know that these gems are there so they can help protect these areas.
Anyway, we parked at the starting point (see above, map). From there we hiked up the west side of the creek, which was a surging torrent on January 14, 2007 after 3 days of rain. There is no trail but its easy to follow the creek, staying to the west. Some rock scrambling is necessary. After scrambling over an east-west running rock dyke, we reached an old road trace that follows the creek up to the falls. It's overgrown (of course) and has numerous fallen trees, but it was easy to follow. After 
a quarter of a mile or so we reached the falls. There is a large bluff (overhang) where 2 streams converge. The streams drop under the cliff in a cascade of swirling water. On a day like today, when the water is flowing 10+, its an impressive place. It was pouring rain during the whole hike, with low-hanging clouds, fog, gushing water everywhere... really fantastic atmosphere. Rainy days are my personal favorite for hiking.
After hanging around the falls for a bit, we decided to continue on up the mountain. As seen on the map, the waterfall area is just northeast of North Fork Pinnacle and the hillsides are steep and rocky. There are some 'boulder fields' that aren't really a barrier but are not easy to walk across. Anyway, I knew that the OT was on the ridge top, from previous hikes in this area. I've spent 100's of hours hiking off trail here. So we hiked on up to the ridge to catch the OT. From there it was a nice stroll back to the road. There are two more nice waterfalls just to the west.
When we reached the road we were curious to see what SF Brown Creek looked like. It was a raging torrent. The OT bridge was nearly underwater. I had never seen the water quite so high here. From there it was a brief quarter mile or so back to the car. We were also curious to see what the low-water ford across Brown Creek looked like (see photo).
Cautions: The off-trail hike to the falls is easy but there is a small bit of rock scrambling. There are also a lot of briars in summer. The is best as a winter hike, preferably after big rains. The other caution is to treat the falls area with great care.
Where are the photos of the falls? Why aren't there any pictures of the cascade? It was pouring rain from the time we started and during the whole time at the cascade. I forgot my umbrella (which I usually take for keep the rain off the camera on rainy days). Simple as that. There are other photos of this place that I'll link to later.
Hikers: mec, sb, jc
Ouachita Trail (section 08) mile 184.8 to 187.4
Hike Features:
State: Arkansas
County: Perry
Location: Off Highway 10, near Lake Sylvia
Length of hike shown: ~ 5.4 miles
Trail: All on trail
GPS: 34.85759° N 92.81764° W (OT crossing of forest road #152)
41 photos and topo map in OHJ Photo Gallery
Reaching Trailhead: Drove to Lake Sylvia, then continued south to the place where the OT crosses FR #152 at mile 187.4. There is room for 2 cars to park there. Alternatively, you can park at the Lake Sylvia parking lot (hiking lot) and use the half-mile long spur trail to reach the OT.
Description of hike: This hike was a dayhike, from where the OT crosses FR #152 to the spur trail for North Fork Pinnacle. The total mileage according to the GPS was 5.5 miles and the elevation gain was about 1000 feet cumulatively. It starts about about 780 feet elevation and goes up to about 1,400 feet, but there is also some up/down along the way.
Basically, the OT here follows the north side of an un-named mountain so it is cut into the slope almost the whole way. There is very little "flat" trail in here. Also, in places its very rocky... you spend a lot of time looking at your feet while walking (which is not a bad idea anyway for reptile reasons, especially in summer). I saw one snake on this trip (see photos).
At about mile 185.5 there are some interesting small rock outcrops but otherwise there are no special landmarks... this is just a pleasant walk in the woods. The trail is well-done and well-maintained.
You could use this hike as a route to North Fork Pinnacle. If you did, it would be about 6 miles round trip. For those not wanting to exert that much energy, North Fork Pinnacle can be reached by a much shorter trail (see here).
Cautions: Snakes in spring, summer and fall. Otherwise, none.
Hikers: jc