Eagle Rock Loop - Ouachita Mountains, AR

This 27-mile loop is one of the best backpacking experiences in our little part of the world. Located near Mena, AR, it has beautiful views of the Ouachita Mountains, crosses the Little Missouri River, and passes by the Little Missouri Falls.

[@ryanjewell9832]

Planning on doing this hike real soon, thanks for sharing.

[@lizstrailsandtravels4624]

Wow what a view and camp. Wish us was nearby me - get up there for a night

[@texashikeaholicsadventures5651]

Love love love the Eagle Rock Loop trail! We did it back in 2015 and can't wait to go back and do it again!! Thanks for sharing!! One of the best videos on the area I've seen.

[@EricHeber]

Wow thanks!

[@TXMEDRGR]

It is great to have you back. I've used your videos to plan some hikes and found the information you provide very useful. Thanks and keep'em coming.

[@EricHeber]

Thank you that’s the best compliment!

[@jdmattii1581]

Hey brother Eric. I miss you. I'm thankful for you. I never got to meet you personally but thank you for all You've done. My son and I are planning to do this next hike together here at the end of June. We did the backbone trail together a week or two ago and I thought about you while I was out there.

[@buheebam]

Do you know how he passed away?

[@jdmattii1581]

@@buheebam No, I don't. I wish I did. I have a few guesses but I don't want to speculate publicly.

[@stevensanders235]

Have done ERL 5 times over the last 16 years, always the few days before Thanksgiving. Except for the four big Up’s and four big Down’s on the west leg it’s great.

[@jessespad]

I enjoy the whole thing, mountains and all.

[@5thGenNativeTexan]

This one's on my "loops" bucket list. I've heard the fall is a great time to do it. What is the weather / temp typically like in November?

[@stevensanders235]

@@5thGenNativeTexan Thanksgiving week pretty cold, and many of the leaves have dropped. Still, a beautiful time to walk the loop and enjoy some cold water crossings. Little MO usually shin deep, as is Viles Branch.

[@davidsirmon8425]

I cuss that leg every time. Its almost like the mail route designer had never heard of switch backs.

[@OntarioHikingTrails]

Nice hiking video solatute is great sometimes

[@jamesscoggins7311]

My wife and I ran into you guys at the LM Falls as you guys come through the day before we hiked the ERL for the first time. Thank you for taking the time to explain the Guthook app operations to me. It truly helped us along the hike. Love watching your videos. We plan some Louisiana hikes soon. Much thanks to you. My wife give me my trail name along the loop “Buffalo Two Sticks”. She said I sounded like a buffalo hiking along the trail lol lol

[@EricHeber]

I love that app! Glad y’all enjoyed the hike!

[@codybrichard]

I love hiking eagle rock loop.

[@EricHeber]

The best!

[@UtahFishingChannel]

Thanks for sharing! I just subscribed.

[@EricHeber]

Thanks!

[@WalkTheTrails]

Good job. I think we did it around same time.

[@BrendaKline]

Really cool! I wish I had the warm weather like you guys. It was 28 here in Pennsylvania today yuck! Awesome 👏 adventure guys! Those views though 💜

[@nascarmikeb]

I am considering this trail in either March or April. Probably leaning towards April, 2020. I know early Spring in the Ouachitas can get a lot of rain and some cold nights.

[@JenniferLupine]

Hi from Washington! new subscriber ... real nice hike - pretty area - enjoy the variety of trees and terraine on this trip - looking forward seeing more great hikes in Louisiana 😊

[@EricHeber]

Thank you!

[@livingChristianity]

Good channel man! I have subscribed!

[@jessespad]

When you went. I'm heading up 49 now. Figured I'd check for any new erl videos and here you are. Nice!

[@EricHeber]

This was the first weekend in October. Did you go this weekend?

[@jessespad]

@@EricHeber Yep, drove out there Friday night. Started the hike Saturday @ 8:30am and finished Sunday @ 4pm. Just the dog & I. This was my 3rd time there and I like it even more than before. It came out to about 30 miles and about 4400 feet elevation gain, but we got lost twice and had to bushwack over a small mountain. This is why a map and a compass is important, unless you just want to backtrack and depend on stripes.

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Nice video and channel. Looks like a cool trail and adventure. Subscribed. ✌️

[@kmcgoeshiking27]

Great video thanks for sharing. Is this loop attached to any part of the Ouachita trail?, or nearby it?

[@davidsirmon8425]

The Ouachita trail is an hour or so north, they are not connected. I like to start at the Athens/Big Fork trail head (southend) and make the loop and end up back where i started. The reason I like this way is your get your big mtns out of the way the first day. If you start your 2nd day at Little Missouri Falls, most of your hike is along the Little Mo River and there is not near as many mtns so you can kinda coast.

[@buheebam]

Does anyone know how he passed away?

[@arkansastraveler70]

What time of year was this hike ? What were the Temps?

[@SpiguyverBackpacking1]

Man we just missed each other, we were out there weekend before this past one.

[@EricHeber]

Nice! Best loop trail around here

[@jennarussell5809]

I am heading down to do ERL next weekend. Driving 12 hours from Iowa....how is the fall color??

[@USMC6976]

Should be better. We had a cold wave come in.

[@EricHeber]

Not much in the way of colors but like Greg said, should be better when you go.

[@USMC6976]

I thought I'd give you an update. I live just outside Mena. I went over to Hot Springs today on Hwy 88. The colors were really coming out. It should be very similar in the ERL area.

[@jessespad]

I was there this last weekend and there was plenty of red and orange leaves. Water wasn't too cold either, even though it got down to 30 degrees on Saturday night.

[@jons43]

I thought you fell off the earth!!!

[@EricHeber]

Haha yeah not much backpacking in the summer!