This shaded relief, 1:37,500 scale topographic map is up to date with scenic area icons, road names and numbers, and features 50 ft contour intervals, UTM 1,000 meter labeled grid lines, interpretive and map use information and more, all presented on rugged, waterproof stock folded to 4 3/8 x 9 3/8. We were trying to navigate all these obstacle with just the beam from our headlamps, and it was easy to get lost. Likewise for washouts and landslides. That is not the BRT. The greatest moment on the trail came when the light from our headlamps reflected off a bright, yellow sign that read “Woolum,” signifying the end of our long, hard-fought battle. The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) is one of the premier, long-distance hiking trails in the United States. White Rock Mountain, Little Mulberry Creek, Haw Creek Falls, Ozone Camp, Salt Fork and Potato Knob are some of the intriguing places on the route. Eastbound vs Westbound The Ouachita Trail is traditionally a west-to-east hike, though it can be hiked in either direction. We placed our trust in the goodness of others and drank the entire jug! It helps the OHTA and land managers to know the number of people using a section, and it gives search and rescue crews a clue where to find you if the unexpected happens. At any moment we could have quit and gone home. If you come across larger trees or limbs across the trail and can do so, please take the time to stop and pull them off the trail. Dylan assured me he’d be right there, every step of the way, and I welcomed the company but was sure he didn’t understand what he was getting in to. The Ozark Highlands Trail is a 164 mile (260 km) journey from Lake Fort Smith to the Buffalo River at Woolum. The longest continuous piece is 207 miles in the Boston Mountains and Buffalo River areas. It coexists with part of the Buffalo River Trail here so is commonly called the BRT/OHT. Ozark Highlands Trail's 2020 OHT Thru-Hike. Things seem easier and goals become more attainable. We met exactly one backpacker over those two days, but he was a special encounter. My thru-­hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) was no exception. Location: Arizona, Utah. So we changed the schedule, accepted that fact that we’d have to carry extra water, relied on some luck and the expedition pressed on. Fall through Spring are the peak seasons for this trail. But we did. Our three-part topographic Backcountry Maps, Thru-Hiker Series, covers it in dramatic detail from the highest, rugged ridges in … Download the most popular smartphone app for thruhikers! At the top of Hare Mountain we saw an amazing view of the Ozarks, low lying clouds resting in the valleys. The National Park Service does not permit dogs on trails within its boundary. The more information you provide the better the results. These shaded relief, 1:35,000 scale topographic maps are up to date with correct mile marker labels and locations, scenic area icons, road names and numbers, and feature 50 ft contour intervals, UTM 1,000 meter labeled grid lines, interpretive and map use information and more, all presented on rugged, waterproof stock folded to 4 3/8 x 9 3/8. Each page will be 1:24,000 scale if printed on 11×17 paper. Accurate and detailed reports save our sawyers time and are much appreciated. ... hikers from Nob Hill, explore the trail on … Keep that in mind when looking at older maps, books, trail reports, etc. Published on: Nov 21st, 2020 Ozark Highlands Trail's 2020 OHT Thru-Hike We got started this morning around 6:45-7 from the Lake Fort Smith trailhead. Located in the middle-South, it is well-known for its winter hiking opportunities when many other trails are impassable. The Hiker’s Guide, Ozark Highlands Trail Route, Lower Buffalo Wilderness (available at Pack Rat and the OHTA web store) has topo maps and GPS waypoints for this route. NEW: The entire trail is now on Google Earth. We had beat the previous known time by seven days! Call the visitor information center at 870-757-2211 if that might impact your plans. I saw her smooth and well blazed, I saw her rough and overgrown. A thru­-hike of any trail presents many challenges that most are unaware of. One crisp night, bedded down in a small clearing, we looked up and saw an unbelievable display of stars. River to River Trail. The answer is no. Tim Ernst’s Ozark Highlands Trail Guide has long been the definitive source of information for this segment. Required fields are marked *. Ozark Highlands Trail. Sometimes blazes were missing, some far apart, making it difficult to find the way. You don’t always climb a mountain for the sake of the climb, but rather to stand on top to prove that you can. Besides the awesome scenery, there were small moments that lifted our spirits. Knowing that we can withstand the pain and suffering all day, then wake up, and do it again. From the first day I could feel my knee slowly start complaining. Either way, we ate it and felt wonderful. Much of the trail from the Richland Creek crossing to just past the Old Arnold Cemetery is shared with equestrians and blazed both white and yellow. The trail is located almost entirely on public land that is open to seasonal hunting. Our hiking guides are perfect for a day-hike, section-hike, or thru-hike. Learn more: … The trail runs 165 miles, from Lake Ft. Smith to the Woolum Campground on the Buffalo River. Ozark Highlands Trail is one of the longest hikes in the Midwest, extending for about 165 miles. Including a 15 mile section of the Buffalo River Trail needed to get to a trailhead with vehicle access, a little over 170 miles were covered in a little over 9 days. It was extremely demanding, in many ways, but before I get into my hike I would like to shine some light on the trail. Maps for the Boston Mountains section are available from our store. Besides his feet, his knee started acting up on the downhills and his legs were really feeling it. If you prefer maps that you can use on a mobile device or print yourself, download this 16-map set (maps 1-8, maps 9-16). I wanted to hike this thing, without assistance, faster than anyone had ever hiked it before. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ouachita as I only saw people during 3 of the 17 days I was on trail. Sure, hiking can be physically demanding but if you don’t have the head and the heart to endure everything the trail is going to throw at you, then she will eat your lunch. The West map covers the area from Lake Fort Smith east to the Ozone Campground (miles 0 to 86). Injuries also plagued our trip. I have completed the Ouachita trail but bailed on the Ozark Highlands trail (because of hazardous water crossings). Also, the map shows a part of the BRT on the north side of the river from US-65 to Gilbert. I had been planning and preparing for this trip for months. He cycles quite a bit and is in great shape but he’d never done anything like this before. So why did we put ourselves through four and a half days of hell? We’re in that ‘in-between’ stage of life: we’re not really sure what’s next. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is accessible year-round. It passes through some of the highest, most rugged, and scenic parts of the Ozarks. I did both in spring. Hiker-dog and I were out for an overnighter from Cherry Bend to Lick Branch. East of Dillard’s Ferry to the Spring Creek trail head in the Sylamore area is a 15-mile bushwhack – mostly through the Lower Buffalo Wilderness. An old timer was making trail name tags with wood alphabet beads for hikers. Duration: 1-2 weeks. November 19, 2020 Nov 19th, 2020. A proper map of the area is in the works. A blog about adventure, life, travel, and finding your place in the world. Before I left for the trail, my roommate Dylan decided he wanted to join me. They are responsible for building and maintaining the trail and do a wonderful job with the resources they have, however, there were sections that needed attention (We started at the beginning of their maintenance season so by the time Spring rolls around the obstacles we encountered will be cleaned up). I started to worry that we wouldn’t find a good water source and that completing the hike would be impossible. The most exhausting, grueling, and wearisome aspect of this brand of adventure is the mental perseverance it takes to complete such a daunting task. Being cold, wet, hungry, hurt, and exhausted and knowing we had miles and miles to cover before we could rest, made it difficult to push forward. About 270 miles of the OHT have been built with 50 miles to do across the Lower Buffalo Wilderness and 3 gaps near Lake Norfork. Crossing creeks, climbing mountains, and traversing ridges, the trail winds through some of Arkansas’ most remote wilderness. Most of the leaves had fallen, covering the forest floor and occasionally we’d come to huge blowdowns we’d have to climb around, then search for the trail on the other side. At one of the hardest sections of the trail we found a few cans of food, either left intentionally for us or by a previous hiker who’d decided to lighten their load. The trail is full of ups and downs, both literally and metaphorically. Knowing that we have the mental fortitude to bite down, pick up our packs, and take just one more step. But you know what is worth it? Please report trees across the trail that you cannot step over by describing the situation, the mile marker number of the next marker you come to and the date you saw it. Trip description: Thru hike of the OHT Thanksgiving week, expecting night lows in the 30s. I thought it a relatively short distance, over gradually sloped mountains, and I was not prepared for the obstacles that were to come my way. Feel free to post comments, questions or … As Sir Edmund Hillary once said, “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”. So far, it might seem like the entire hike was a complete and miserable suck fest…and it kind of was. The Ozark Highlands Trail Guide: Fifth Edition is the hikers bible for the OHT. I had to make frequent stops, stretch it out and continue limping. "Located in the middle-South, it is well-known for its winter hiking opportunities when many other trails are impassable,” according to the Ozark Highlands Trail … Sep 8 2020-Oct 2020:  Falling Water Road (FR 1205) – south of the Richland Creek Wilderness – will be closed during the week but open and accessible on the weekends. Background. Honestly, I thought it would be a cake walk. The first 5 miles or so just get you around the lake then you start some light climbing towards the East. There is a complete mile-by-mile description of this 164-mile trail, which has been rated as one of the Top-Ten hiking trails in the United States. Your email address will not be published. His feet were a breeding ground for blisters and I still don’t think his pinkie toe looks human. Even the new 2019 edition of this map is incorrect. Trails Appalachian Trail Pacific Crest Trail Continental Divide Trail Long Trail Colorado Trail. Cherry Bend (mile 35.3): Park at 35.743316,-93.811553. Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) Sylamore Section is a 32 mile linear thru-trail, a link in the 800-mile Trans Ozark Trail, under construction and 80% complete. By the end of the second day it was locking up and refusing to cooperate. OHT-adjacent areas affected include Haw Creek, Ozone, Redding, Richland Creek, Shores Lake, and White Rock Mountain. The major segments of the OHT are (from west to east): You can get trail alerts by subscribing to our RSS feed. I welcome the hardships that I face with open arms because without them, I wouldn’t grow as a person. When complete, the OHT will run about 320 miles across northern Arkansas with the west end at Lake Fort Smith and the east end at the Missouri border north of Lake Norfork where it will someday connect to the Ozark Trail near Tecumseh MO. The pine forests and birch groves give way to spectacular waterfalls and unbelievable rock formations. He added one to … I’d just hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and I knew what it took to walk fifteen to ­eighteen hours a day, day after day. But there were great moments too. Dylan had troubles of his own. It’s not actually complete, with at least one reroute to construct, but it is very hikeable. The folks at Richard's Canoe have been shuttling Ozark Trail hikers for years and they know the trailheads well. Hiker-only trail is blazed white, equestrian trail is blazed yellow. A lifetime of beauty in 11 days!! Norfork, AR 72658. While the trail is long, it is well worth the magical forest setting that you become immersed throughout the trip. May 28 2020: White Rock Mtn Road (FR1003) is closed between Ragtown Rd (FR1509) and Potato Knob Rd (FR1510) due to a landslide. Tracy Arm section (aka Lake Norfork Trail), about 13 miles. State Parks: The west end of the OHT in Lake Fort Smith State Park is open. Was the record worth the agony? The trail alternates between low creek crossings and bluff tops with some great views and historical artifacts (leave them!) We like to be outside, we like to travel, we like to run, and we like to make sure our dog gets to do it all with us. The short time I was on the OHT (70ish miles) I didn't see many either. Most have moved east at least a mile. Hodges says the path through Ozark County will eventually serve as a keystone piece of trail connecting Missouri’s Ozark Trail to the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas, creating a 700-mile trail, dubbed the Trans-Ozark Trail, reaching all the way from St. Louis to Lake Fort Smith, Arkansas. We assumed someone had left it for hikers because that section of the trail was particularly dry. Spring Creek: 36.05301,-92.44501  (Sylamore area – don’t confuse with Spring Creek Road trail head above). Welcome to the Ozark Highlands Trail Fan Page. Shakedown. The area is between mile 140.8 and 141.5. Just e-mail our Maintenance Coordinator. When it all boils down, I attempted to set the unsupported speed record of the Ozark Highlands Trail because I had to see if I could do it. Thru-hiking season: March to May, September … Previous Next. The idea of this hike began with a recurring and nagging thought over a period of months… “I want to hike the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) end to end.” I had hiked most of the trail in pieces and random order but never in sequence from beginning to end. Trails Illustrated map #233 shows the trail to the point where it crosses AR-341 (about mile marker 23). Trails Illustrated map #233 shows the area from about mile 154 of the Boston Mountains segment east to the Sylamore area but none of the “new” trail – between US-65 and AR-14 – is shown. I had been conditioning my mind and my body to thru-­hike the OHT in record time and I wasn’t sure he could keep up. It used to be said that the Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) was 165 miles long, stretching from Lake Fort Smith State Park to Woolum Ford on the Buffalo River. Ken Smith’s Buffalo River Handbook is the definitive source of information for the river, trails, and surrounding area. With some planning and advanced route-planning, some hikers have connected the Ouachita Trail with the ~170-mile long Ozark Highlands Trail to create a longer thru-hike. The trail is blazed with 2″x6″ white markers oriented vertically and typically nailed to a tree near eye level. No one forced us to be there, we were electing to put ourselves through hell. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. in abundance. The more people we talk to, the more we realize that everyone feels this way and that this feeling might never go away. Mile markers are a 12″ piece of carsonite post oriented horizontally and attached to a tree near eye level and facing the trail. Sometimes knowing that I could be at home in bed watching Russian YouTube videos instead of slugging through the wilderness made it near impossible to take another step. I’m pleased to share an inspiring accounting of an Ozark Highlands Trail thru-hike. The OHTA web store has a map that covers the Richland Valley east through the Sylamore area (miles 164 to 253). The first realization that this would be more difficult than expected came when we tried to find water. I got to experience the full spectrum of the trail. Spring Creek (mile 0) 36.05301,-92.44501  (don’t confuse with the Spring Creek Rd trail head in the Buffalo River area), Moccasin Springs (mile 9) 36.02983,-92.35291, Cripple Turkey (mile 14.4) 36.05655, -92.31844  (this is also the west end of the North Sylamore Creek Trail), Brush Creek (mile 18.1) 36.10046,-92.32681, Matney Knob (mile 31.6) 36.21423,-92.30819, Dam: trail head @ 36.25725, -92.24115  with day-use parking @ 36.25645, -92.24052, Lake Road / Briarcliff: approximately 36.2739,-92.2638, Tracy Park: trail crossing @ 36.29850, -92.27125,  parking @ 36.29910, -92.26894, Panther Bay: 36.37832, -92.24935  (there may be a day-use fee here), Bidwell Point Rec Area: approximately 36.3877, -92.2434. Join me as I thru-hike the magnificent 165 mile Ozark Highlands Trail. As you hike along you can help out a great deal by simply kicking off downed limbs and loose rocks on the trail. 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