Exploring Off Road in the Ouachita National Forest

[@tedmayben8007]

There's a few water sheds hidden in the Ouachita that are great for camping, swimming and fishing as well . Also some amazing vistas , hiking trails and grave yards to explore . Don't forget we have mines , caves and waterfalls that are extremely breathtaking . Arkansas rules !!! Great video hope to see y'all on the trails soon .

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I'll be looking for all those things!! Thanks!

[@gypsyrose5]

I have a Ford fiesta hatchback, yes its small but you have no idea the challenges that my (blue bird) car faced. Its not only been threw the Ouachita mountains, Ozarks mountains, mark twain mountains, Poconos mountains and just caught a flat tire on rt 25 in the New River National park in West Virginia (thanks to the ATV people) who helped change my tire. A retired old fat disabled lady adventuring alone exploring....all the while Bigfoot is watching he he he, upgrading to Campervsn soon! Safe travels

[@newtsautorepair5662]

Thanks!

[@bootmender]

I grew up just east of Williams Junction on Highway 10. As a child in the late 50’s early 60’s we lived in the Ouachita mostly around Lake Winona.

[@TonyStark-or3er]

As someone that’s more used to the deserts of the US southwest, all I can think of when I see some of these campsites is how bad the mosquitoes must be! Very beautiful and definitely a place I want to check out someday!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Mosquitos can definitely be an issue in the summer months.

[@alvexaerial]

This is awesome. Reform Road (fr 179), Ritter Trail (fr 211), & Muse Mt Trail (fr 778) are all fun trails in the Eastern Ouachitas. All those trails are right in my back yard 👍

[@alvexaerial]

Then I finished watching the video and saw that you hit all 3! And the swimming hole by the spillway. Dang man, you're giving away all the spots 😉 I'm surprised that there wasn't more footage from Reform and Ritter.

[@BeanoNoir]

As someone who was born and raised near the front range of the Rockies, the Ouachitas scratch the itch much moreso than the Ozarks. Now the Ozarks have their own charm, but they are densely packed eroded plateaus, and as such, don't really feel like mountains. The Ouachitas have much more prominence, a drier terrain (even though they receive more rainfall, go figure)and much wider valleys, giving them a big sky grandeur. I now live in SE OK, and I don't have the homesickness I have had in the past living in flat places. I will say the western Ouachitas are significantly taller on average, and have more complex terrain than central and eastern. All that rain ruts the paths pretty fiercely on some of the paths I've been on. There are a lot of logging roads, so trucks have to be able to navigate those. Poteau mountain, Rich mountain, The winding stairs, The Kiamichi mountains, Sugarloaf, and Cavanal dwarf everything east and west other than Magazine.

[@billmccullough2323]

THANK YOU for doing a Ouachita trip! You were in the Jessieville/Winona District. The Womble District has some really nice spots to camp and fabulous views too. I love the ONF!! A fun fact, the Ouachitas are the only mountain range in North America that the ridge lines run East and West instead of North and South. They are a major influence, especially with weather!

[@GOE-MORC]

Woot woot! Congratulations on 25k.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Thank you!!

[@nathanwalston6120]

That campsite at 16:00 is very nice in the spring and you can hear the water rushing. There’s a road towards the back of the campsite you can walk down and the creek opens up quite a bit!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I can't wait to see it in the spring.

[@greenman2515]

I love the ouachita! I’m new to Arkansas and have been going there every weekend for the last 3 months using the onx off road maps. This last weekend we went to the ozarks for the first time and ran the prison fence trail.

[@dwood2010]

That last spot you found was so beautiful that no words can describe it. Can't wait until my rig is ready!

[@diamondstateoverlanding]

Very jealous of your drone shots! We have camped there at Crystal Mntn many times. That is our favorite campsite out there! If you ever see the stock yellow wrangler out there say hey to use! There are for sure more technical trails you can take off the main auto tour that are definitely more fun. Love the new rig and the channel!

[@paulzarychta3201]

Cannot wait to go for labor day weekend! Excited for this video!

[@Venture2Roam]

So glad to see your fridge was keeping the knock-off lunchables fresh!!! LoL. This inspired me to do more scouting trips. Loved the outside of the rig shots!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Thanks bro!

[@darksideemt]

Would love to tag along in the cooler weather those looked like my kind of trails.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Heck yeah!

[@BartonHNewell]

It was really fun moving out to this area and learning that it is in fact not pronounced "Oh-a-chita"

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

😂

[@alpha6tango860]

Very cool. I live near Little Rock and been on every road you have shown. Nice work on the camera. Very enjoyable to watch. Setting the camera and going back gets old I know, but makes it a nice episode. Thank you!

[@southernappalachianrecon]

I grew up in the Ouachita Mountains very close to where you were riding in this video. I enjoy seeing the landscape and revisiting the area through your videos 💯👍

[@johnpate4982]

I rode through both the National forest in AR last week. It was hot and super dry. I had a blast there though.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Awesome!!

[@rangerdoc1029]

My favorite part of camping in the Ozarks is exploring for potential new camp sites.

[@alpha6tango860]

Btw… great GMRS repeater in the area at Paron. Ch 16 462.575 / 467.575 tone 114.8 Covers a lot of the area

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Very good to know!

[@ajs7817]

Maybe I’m just noticing it, but like the different shots and drone footage you had in this video compared to some others. Creative choice wise this video was refreshing and really solid man!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Thank you!! I had a blast shooting this one.

[@johnroberts6160]

I dig it!

[@jerryrodgers6785]

Very nice vid. Some of that run looks a little like the Rigs n Coffee run in the Tstorm last month!!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

it probably was.

[@scottpickett4862]

Congrats you deserve it you work very hard to put out content have to come adventure down that way soon

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Thanks!

[@lifewithnofilterlnf4911]

You're over by the Eagle Rock loop hiking trail, I think it's the longest trail India Ouachita National Forest

[@brandongray6531]

Living in LR I’ve been on pretty much all those roads. I really enjoyed watching the video, thanks for putting so much effort into it! The road (212) that was closed is absolutely my favorite in the whole area. It’s got three good campsites on its south side. Oh, and your rig’s paint is welcome for all the lopping done on Reform Rd and 778! ;-)

[@terrywilliams5676]

Glad to hear your channel is doing well. I enjoyed this video. It's good to see some trails that my truck will fit on that are simplistic and just chill. I don't want to tear up my every day driver yet want to get outside and kick it in 4 wheel drive.🙂 Thanks as always for taking me along for the ride. It was fun

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Thanks so much!

[@chefmartyjoe58]

Now that's what we want to do just explore.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Same!!

[@randyh8736]

Love the video, Since my wife and I moved back to the area my brother and I have made a couple trips out there. We use to hunt some out there when we were younger. I live in Conway and have seen your rig and trailer a few times and always thought they were nice and well equipped!

[@ChaseArkansas]

i absolutely loe mtn magazine and flatside pinnnacle. forked mtn is cool too

[@curtevans838]

Beautiful footage!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Many thanks!

[@absmith001]

Congrats on the growth. I think you were around 5K when we wheeled at LBL.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Thanks!! Sounds about right.

[@ericreeves6997]

may have been one of the best intros

[@TheCampfirekitchen]

Haha so true about the lunchable and the left over candy. Who eat krunch now days!! 😂

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

LOL! I did eat the Krunch.

[@TheCampfirekitchen]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I’ll let it slide since your in the woods and candy choices are fairly slim out there haha 😂

[@FreysOnTheSide]

Really well done on this video Matt. Great shots and great editing. Loving the style. ….old Halloween candy (LOL).

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Thanks Bro!!

[@jaredinark]

The Ouachitas are beautiful! Wish I could have taken the day off to explore with you, hopefully next time....

[@paulzarychta3201]

Sadly 9/5/21 212 was still closed. I really wanted to take that one. Also be careful with that rope swing at the swimming hole we found a few rocks right under the surface. Great place to go camp and explore!

[@jimmccallmotomccall5071]

Those drone shots are incredible! I want a drone now! 😆

[@chrissolomon8868]

loved this video 👍🏼

[@jmpotts64]

Where is The World's Largest Hill? It is a two track off of 7 or 71 I believe. There was a sign that stated it along the highway. I think it was some homemade sign. Couldn't take the semi up there, was bound to locate it and go back to drive up the hill off the highway.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I guarantee you the worlds longest hill isn’t in Arkansas. Lol

[@jmpotts64]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I remember traveling down through the Ozarks and oachita with my truck driver friend. We were already high up and there was a homemade sign that stated world's largest hill at the opening of the two track heading up. Always wanted to go back down there and drive up in a regular vehicle.

[@7963308]

Thanks for your work. Would their be any place there for 3 40’ motorhome pulling out utv to camp a few days. We enjoy boondocking or dry camping. Thanks

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I'm sure there are a few places that can handle that but I'm not sure.

[@ChaseArkansas]

my favorite part of Arkansas probably

[@BarrettFarms]

I am a pretty short drive to both the Ozarks and the Ouachitas. If you ever have an opening or want someone to follow you on a drive reach out.

[@sh-df1bb]

where can we stay near hot springs and near off road trails in a 30ft RV trailering the Side by sides? and also are we allowed to drive the talons along the roads anywhere in hot springs? My son has state championship all week at the hot springs convention center and we were hoping maybe we could be close to there and some trails also with a place to park the rv as well. Without having to bring an extra vehicle to get him back and forth, it would be nice to just use the side by sides

[@tundraoutlander3488]

Ever check the salt content of a lunchable?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Probably don't want to. LOL

[@tundraoutlander3488]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures 👍😉

[@destinationwilderness4238]

Great video, awesome ride along, do you like this place better or the ozarks? 🍻

[@Okierover]

Saw you passed a lot of poison ivy. Did you avoid getting it on you?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Poison Ivy doesn’t bother me. Not allergic to it.

[@Okierover]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventuresLucky you. Thanks for the Gaia class at Big Brutus.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

@@Okierover very welcome.

[@TheChris1500]

is there a name for these trails you ran? i never been to Arkansas but planning a small overland trip in late august, been watching your gaia videos trying to learn it but still a little struggle finding stuff. i just dont know anything about Arkansas. im looking for stuff like this, easy to mild, nice camp spots along water

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Just forest service road numbers

[@jessemendez6127]

QOAT 1-5? Coming soon?!?! 👀

[@4ME2DRV]

Nice. How do I get to that location specifically? I'm not from there so not sure where to go to get to it.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

All my GPS data is shared with our patreon supporters.

[@4ME2DRV]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Sorry. I just meant that enterance to the park. I'll just wing it. thanks

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

@@4ME2DRV This isn't a park. It's all national forest.

[@lazyitus]

Do you need to air down for these kinds of trails?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Not for these.

[@lazyitus]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Thanks. Great video. I enjoyed it.

[@denisestarr2314]

Most of the so called technical trails have been closed , many millions acers of the ouachitas have been turned into wilderness zones . I done lots of horseback trips .

[@scarborosasquatchstation1403]

Whoa not again a forest video with no sight of any live creature...nary of a bird , small or large woodland animals , no slithering snakes , basking on a rock turtles , no frogs splashing in the water , no bird songs heck not even a lonely crow...let alone a fluttering butterfly.... Just a man with his expensive Jeep all alone atop the mountain peak !

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

You actually see very little wildlife when you’re overlanding. Our deer, rabbits and squirrels in Arkansas run away as soon as they see you. Watch my Colorado videos and you’ll see lots of wildlife. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@hotmugatushouseofwheels8922]

🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@marcusalancate1782]

Do you always go out alone 4 wheelin?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I do a lot but not always.

[@rebelmintz4389]

I’m one of your Patreon supporters, can you share to me on patron the overlook camping area for crystal mountain, planning an OVL trip there soon an wanna find it

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Shoot me a message through Patreon. Happy to send that to you.

[@tonyash8080]

Was that Toad suck dam?

[@bowtiecity]

Congrats on the channel increase. You deserve it. Just find a good spotter lol....

[@guarnibl]

How tall is your Jeep at the highest point ( with the RTT on )? Is it under 7 feet? Assume 37’s and 3” lift ?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

It's right at 7 feet. I have an 8ft garage door.

[@tacomafamily]

What was this trail called?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

it's a mixture of different forest service roads. It doesn't have a name.

[@nathanphillips3061]

Do you have a route you can share?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

All my GPS data is shared with our Patreon supporters.

[@FurkanCemTurfanda]

What Americans consider "off-road" the Balkans consider a commute and drive a mk2 Golf on.