Ouachita Trail (section 09) mile 187.4 to 191.8 (multiple hikes)
This segment starts at the crossing of FR #152 and continues to the Hwy 9 trailhead. There is a small place to park on FR152 (for about 1-2 cars) or you can park near Lake Sylvia and connect to the OT via a short spur trail.
This segment of the OT is still in the mountains and winds through thick forest between FR152 and Nancy Mountain Shelter. The photo on the right was taken at ~ mile 188. In summer it can be jungle-like.
About 1.4 miles from FR152 (heading east) there is a trail junction where the OT meets the another trail heading to Lake Sylvia. This is called Chinquapin Gap. The Lake Sylvia trail system is great for dayhikes. If you use this part of the OT it is possible to do several long loop hikes.
The Nancy Mountain shelter is a typical OT shelter in a flat "saddle" area between the main ridge and Nancy Mountain. There is no source of water up there. The segment from Nancy Mountain Shelter to Hwy 9 is in a ravine called Hilary Hollow. This also makes a nice dayhike from the Hwy 9 trail head.
The Ouachita Trail Guide describes the OT in great detail. In addition, the Lake Sylvia Trails are detailed in Tim Ernst's books on dayhikes in Arkansas.
Below are links to descriptions and/or photos of several hikes in this segment.
Ouachita Trail (section 09) mile 187.4 to 188.7
Hike Features:
Date: September 1st, 2002
State: Arkansas
County: Perry
Location: Off Highway 9, off FR152.
Length of hike shown: ~ 2.6 miles (round trip)
Trail: All on trail.
GPS: 516668.65E 3857188.02N 15S (OT crossing of forest road 152, only approximate location)
11 photos of this hike in photo gallery
Reaching Trailhead: I drove out highway 10 from Little Rock to Williams Junction, then south on highway 9 to the Winona Scenic Drive. West on WSD to FR152 (2nd intersection), turned right (north). Trailhead is roughly 1 mile from road intersection. Can also reach the starting point for this hike by going to Lake Sylvia, then going south on FR152 for about 3/4 of a mile. There is a typical OT trail crossing sign and room on the east side of the road for 1 or perhaps 2 cars. This is not an official parking area; just a place to pull off the road.
Description of hike: This section of the OT is almost jungle-like in places during the summer. I've done this little hike many times when I wanted a short, quick day hike that was easy to access. This can also be part of a longer loop hike, it can be used as access to the Chinquapin Mountain Spur Trail, or it can just be part of an OT hike from FR152 to Hwy 9.
As seen on the map, it basically drops down into a wide valley, crosses a small creek, then swings over to follow another small creek upstream. It crosses that creek at about a mile in and then shortly thereafter reaches Chinquapin Gap (see last photo in 11-25-2000 series). One way, its only a 1.3 mile segment of the OT, but it traverses a beautiful part of the valley. For me, the best times for this hike are spring, summer and early fall. On this particular day, I simply hiked to Chinquapin Gap, turned around and came back. Easy 2.6 mile hike. Encountered a snake on the trail and lots of poison ivy. On other days, I've used this segment to reach Chinquapin Gap and then headed north on up to the Chinquapin Mountain Spur Trail (see separate entry). Another option is to link up with the Lake Sylvia trail system and make it a loop. Tim Ernst describes all of these options in one of his hiking guidebooks.
Cautions: snakes, poison ivy and turkey hunters. This part of the OT goes through a designated turkey hunting area. I usually avoid it during that time of year.
Hikers: jc
Ouachita Trail (section 09) mile 188.7 to 191.8
Hike Features:
Date: November 25, 2000
State: Arkansas
County: Perry
Location: Highway 9 OT trailhead
Date of hike: Nov 25, 2000
Length of hike shown: ~ 6.2 miles round trip
Trail: Ouachita Trail, section 9 (Hwy 9 to Chinquapin shelter and back)
12 photos + topo map in photo gallery
Reaching Starting point: From Little Rock, drove out Hwy 10 to Williams Junction, turn south on Hwy 9 for a few miles, parked at OT trailhead on left (east side of road).
Description: This is a section of the Ouachita Trail. On this day the starting point was the trailhead on Hwy 9, where the OT crosses the highway. Its a nice hike any time of year but is especially nice in fall and spring. On this autumn hike, it had been raining the night before and water was flowing in every stream, even the smallest ones. This always makes the whole forest seem more 'alive'; certainly alive with the sounds of the water. It was also overcast, so the light was diffused, which gave a strange glow to the yellow autumn leaves. The combination of the light and the wet leaves from the overnight rain made the yellow and few red trees appear luminescent.
The trail is easy to follow. After crossing the highway, the trail slips into the woods heading west along a stream. There is an OT sign-in box. The trail goes up a ravine called "Hilary Hollow" according to Tim Ernst's guidebook. I have no idea why it's called "Hilary Hollow". Tim says it has nothing to do with Hilary Clinton. Anyway... hiking in this way is uphill all the way, climbing over about 2.5 miles up to the Chinquapin Gap shelter. I went on past the shelter to the point where the OT intersects with the Chinquapin Mountain spur trail at about 3.1 miles from the start. So... it was 3.1 miles back, for a total of 6.2 miles. I rated this hike as moderate, only because of the 6.2 mile length and the fact that half of it is uphill. It is really easy walking, on-trail, with no difficulties to speak of. The excitement of the day was seeing a flock of wild turkeys. As photo models, they were too fast and vanished before I could ready the camera. However, I still remember those turkeys like a picture in my memory; wild turkeys are a sight you don't forget.
Cautions/comments: none
Hiker: jc