You are hereOuachita Trail - day hike from Flatside Pinnacle to Crystal Prong Creek crossing

Ouachita Trail - day hike from Flatside Pinnacle to Crystal Prong Creek crossing


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)

Photo album for this hike   Maps and photos in photo gallery       
KMZ file for viewing track in Google Earth  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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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