You are hereWildcat Mountain Trail (multiple hikes)
Wildcat Mountain Trail (multiple hikes)
General: The Wildcat Mountain Trail is a hiking/bike trail located in the eastern Ouachita Mountains off the Winona Scenic Drive (FR 142), near hwy 9. It is a loop trail and, depending on where you shortcut the loop, you can make it shorter by taking several alternative connections. The whole loop is officially 8.8 miles but I just clocked at 8.55 miles using a GPS (Garmin 60csx).
Navigation: The trail is blazed with white vertical patches that are frequent enough that most hikers shouldn't get lost. The entire trail consists of old logging roads that date back to the 1930's according to the NFS. A GPS is not necessary but it doesn't hurt. A map is probably more useful than a GPS here. Beware that in some places the blazes are few and far between.
Refer to map... the trail starts at a parking area ("PARK"), which is also the highest elevation. It descends rapidly to point "A", where it forks. You can hike/bike the loop either way of course. I personally find it easier to hike clockwise around the loop. Following the loop clockwise...
- "B" is a place where you can shortcut the trail and make a shorter loop. It's not official and its not advised in summer, but if you just follow that stream it will take you over to the other side of the loop, near "H".
- "C" is referred to as "Bobcat Point". If you scramble to the top (not easy due to briars), you can see Wildcat Mountain. If you're into having lots of scratches, it may be worth it.
- "C" to "D" is the only section that is not on an old road. It used to be "single track" trail but now the ATV'ers have made it double track. There are some views in this section if you're tall.
- "D" is another point where you can shortcut the trail and make a shorter loop. There is an old road heading southwest at point "D". This actually is an 'official' shortcut and it appears on the ONF-NFS map. I did this hike in 2002 as described here.
- "E" is a place where you could miss the trail if you're not alert for it.
- "F" is the southern-most point on the trail. You should also be careful here as the trail takes a very sharp turn and getting lost is a possibility for less experienced hikers.
- "G" is another place where the trail takes a sudden turn. It's well marked.
- From "G" its uphill all the way back to the car... but not difficult because the climb is so gradual.
- "H" is an alternative access point to the trail (from the nearby forest road). This is used quite a bit by ATV'ers, although I think its illegal.
Elevations: According to the GPS, the total descent is ~ 1,200 feet (cumulative) and the ascent is the same (1,200 feet cumulative) over ~8.6 miles. The high point on the trail is the trailhead, at 1160 feet elevation (PARK). Hiking the loop clockwise... the trail quickly drops into a valley to about 790 feet ("B") elevation before climbing back up on the other side to ~1120 ft elev ("C"). From that point the trail drops steadily over several miles down to about 690 ft. elev, then climbs back up to 800 ft on a road ("E"). From the road it drops to the south down to about 630 feet elevation, which I think is the low point on the trail ("F"). From this point (the southern tip of the loop, see map) it turns back west until it reaches a creek ("G"), where it turns back north and follows the creek almost all the way back up, gaining ~500 feet elevation in about 2 miles.
Pros:
- Relatively easy hike
- Varied scenery
- Adjustable loops
- Very easy walking, mostly on old roads
- Deer, turkey, other wildlife likely seen
- Occasional views
- Good place for off-trail hiking (use the WMBT to get in, then go off-trail)
Issues/cautions:
- Numerous creek crossings (wouldn't try this trail after major rains)
- Used by ATV's although officially they're not allowed
- Blazes are few and far between in some places
- Maze of old roads can be confusing
- Hunters in season
- Incredible bugs/mosquitoes in season (summer)
- Lots of snakes near streams in summer
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