Shelters on the Ouachita National Recreation Trail

The Ouachita National Recreation Trail (pronounced as wosh-i-taw) is a 223-mile backcountry trail, running east and west the length of the Ouachita Mountains. It lies primarily within the Ouachita National Forest, with 177 miles of the trail in Arkansas and 46 miles extending into Oklahoma.

Both ends of the trail are in State parks. The eastern terminus is in Pinnacle Mountain State Park, west of Little Rock; the western terminus is in Talimena State Park, Oklahoma.

Originally intended as a foot trail, the entire length is open to both day hikers and backpackers. Since 2000, mountain bikers have been given access to western portions of the trail, currently about 140 miles, and have joined other trail users as good stewards of the trail.

In addition to the State parks, Forest Service recreation areas provide campground facilities along the trail. A string of overnight shelters further enhance the experience for backpackers. The goal is a shelter every 10 to 12 miles to foster multi-day excursions.

Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT) has partnered with the Ouachita National Forest to maintain and enhance the trail since 2004. Part of the enhancement effort has been a trail shelter project. The project called for adding 12 additional shelters covering approximately 120 miles on the western end of the Ouachita Trail.

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