You are hereOuachita Trail / Ouachita Trail section 8 / Ouachita Trail (section 08) mile 168.8 to 179.2 (multiple hikes) / Ouachita Trail (section 08) mile 177 to 179.3
Ouachita Trail (section 08) mile 177 to 179.3
Hike Features:
Date: October 14, 2007
State: Arkansas
County:
Location: Start - north east end of Flatside Wilderness at OT trailhead
Length of hike shown: ~ 4.7 miles
Trail: All on trail
GPS: N34 52 28.7 W92 54 49.1 (NAD27) (OT trailhead at Pinnacle Mountain parking area)
Maps and photos in photo gallery
KMZ file of hike (GPS track) for Google Earth (open in Google Earth*)
Reaching Trailhead: Reaching this trailhead is relatively easy. The hike starts at the large parking area just west of Flatside Pinnacle.
Description of hike: This is a great dayhike. It starts at the parking area just west of Flatside Pinnacle. The short hike up to the top of Flatside is a 'must' for this area too.
At the south end of the parking area there is a big wilderness sign. From there, the trail is basically downhill all the way to Crystal Prong Creek crossing on the OT, heading west. There is a pond (see map and photos in photo gallery) along the way, not far from the beginning of this hike. There is also a small waterfall down in the valley, but it only runs after substantial rains. This is a nice hike in all seasons but fall and during Iris blooming time in the springtime is especially nice. The Crystal Prong crossing area has some nice spots for lunch. Camping is strongly discouraged here due to overuse damage.
Cautions: none. Snakes in hot weather. Expect ticks and mosquitoes in hot weather. It is rated "moderate" only because it is up hill all the way back with a total elevation gain > 1000 ft.
Notes: *Requires Google Earth. If it does not open directly in Google Earth, try saving to disk first and then open with Google Earth.
Hikers: jc, sb
I've heard several folks say that camping is discouraged near Crystal Prong Creek. Are there any potential campsites at Flatside Pinnacle? (mile marker 179.4) I'm planning a trip along section eight next month and am trying to figure out where to stop overnight. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi... I have heard that too, for a long time. I think Tim Ernst's Ouachita Trail Guide mentions that camping is discouraged at Crystal Prong Creek crossing due to past overuse. That area does have a large camping/picnic area just south of the trail on the west side of the creek that is nearly devoid of undergrowth and looks like it was beaten down by heavy use in the past.
Between hwy 7 and hwy 9 there are three shelters, Oak Mountain, Brown Creek and Chinquapin. The closest to Flatside Pinnacle is Brown Creek Shelter at around mile 182. As far as camping areas, there are a couple of nice camping areas near Moccasin Springs falls (mile 175). I could give you details on where these are. There are some flat areas on a ridgetop between 175 and 176 but no water up there. Miles 176-177 are quite rocky.
At Crystal Prong Crossing, there is an old abandoned road heading north along the west side of the creek. Ive bushwhacked in there and noted some flat areas that could be OK campsites (and not overused). You might not want to camp near the creek if rain is possible.
Between Crystal Prong and Flatside the trail heads up several narrow valleys that don't have many flat areas. After passing the Flatside spur trail, at around mile 180, the OT crosses another forest road and passes through a saddle where there is a car camping area. Following that, it follows a rocky ridgeline for the next 2 miles until reaching Brown Creek Shelter. The ridgetop is quite broad in places and no doubt you could find some suitable campsites in there, but its only a bit more distance to go on to the shelter.
Brown Creek Shelter (around mile 182) is in a large flat ridgetop area with ample space to pitch tents, but no immediate water supply. During wet times, there is a small stream about 0.1-0.2 miles past the shelter where water might be obtained.
Where are you starting/ending?
We're starting at Hwy 7 near Hunts Loop and ending at FR#152 near Lake Sylvia. It's about 27 miles and we're planning to take three days for the trip. I was thinking the spring at mile 170.6 might be a good campsite for the first night. Crystal Prong is only about seven miles from there though and I'd like to get further down the trail on the second day. I was hoping Flatside Pinnacle might have some good spots. I figured we'd replenish our water supply at Crystal Prong and carry it up to the top.
Thanks for the information.
Sounds like a great trip!
Dividing this 27 mile trip into equal thirds (9 miles/day) sort of works, as far as campsites go.
Brown Creek Shelter is located at mile 182.5 (more or less) and is nice, but that's 22 miles from where you're starting and would require you to hike 11 miles/day for the first 2 days. Not really a good option.
There is a flat area right on the trail under Flatside Pinnacle but it's not a campsite and camping there is discouraged for a lot of reasons. You might be able to bushwhack round in the area of Flatside and find something... I don't have any specific suggestions there. As I mentioned before, at about mile 180, where the trail crosses a forest road, there's a car camping area and you might find other flat places for camping nearby. However, there is no water in that area that I'm aware of.
It would be great to hear what your final plans are and then hear how it works out. If you want to send a trip report and/or pictures, I'll post them on this site. -jc
jc
It's been about a year since I posted my original question. Unfortunately my 2008 Ouachita Trail hike never came to pass, but I'm planning to try it again this fall. You offered to describe in greater detail a potential campsite at Moccasin Springs. Can you tell me about those now?
I'd be glad to supply a trip report and pictures once my hike is completed.
Thanks!
Please write to me at the email address in the footer (contact). I'll be glad to tell you more about potential camping spots. -jc
Did you send in info to FoOT for the problems at Crystal Prong in your 10-14 trip? Some of the pictures show lots of overgrowth and I see this on the latest trail condition report. Note the dates. 173.5 177.2 Grindstone Gap Spur to Crystal Prong Creek Ouachita Mountain Hikers 11/07 Work Report 11/8/2007 trees down around Crystal Prong Creek 177.2 179.2 Crystal Prong Creek to FR 94 2.0 Ouachita Mountain Hikers 2/07 Work Report 2/15/2007
You're right, there were quite a few medium-sized trees down and quite a bit of deadfall. While hiking, we cleaned up some of it. I don't think I submitted a report from that hike. Good point... I should have. The worst of it is right down by Crystal Prong Creek near the crossing. -jc
Hey, John. FoOT has agreed to collect the cards at the trailheads and I take care of HWY 9, and Brown Creek. I thought that Flatside would have one but did not see it from the road. So now I see one in your pictures. How far west from the Flatside parking lot is it? Do you know of any more east of that spot? Is there one near Lake Sylvia? Thanks, Sid
Hi Sid, The Flatside trailhead sign-in (on the east end near Flatside Pinnacle) is just about 100 feet on the trail west of the parking area. You know, the trail drops down there from the parking area with steps, turns sharply right and goes along the bottom of the hill under the parking area. The sign-in post is right down there. Concerning the trail east of there, I'm not sure. I may have more info later. -jc