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