Hiking Eagle Rock Loop w/ SIX SONS 14 & Under

In Fall 2022, I hiked Arkansas's beautiful Eagle Rock Loop Trail, with our 6 youngest sons. We completed the 27-mile loop when they were 14, 12, 9, 7, 5, and 4. They walked every inch of it themselves, and everyone carried some weight/community gear.
This is a peek at what that looked like-- our experiences, meals, waypoints, mistakes, and what we liked best on our hike of Arkansas's top-rated backpacking loop: Eagle Rock Loop Trail, in the Ouachita National Forest.
DETAILS FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED:
We started at the Albert Pike Recreation Area, and parked on Hwy 369, just past the entrance road to Albert Pike. We hiked counterclockwise. It took us 5 days, but because we started mid-day, and ended mid-day, it was really done in 96 hours/4 days. The only places on the trail that we found trash cans were at Albert Pike and Little Missouri Falls.
OTHER LINKS:
* BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE- recipe here: backcountryfoodie.com/chocola...
* MEAL PLAN FOR THIS EAGLE ROCK LOOP TRIP:
• FAMILY BACKPACKING MEA...
* VIDEO of our WONDERLAND TRAIL hike (93 miles around Mt. Rainier in 2016): • Family of 9 on the Won...
* HOW WE FIT 6 BOYS in 2 SLEEPING BAGS:
• 9-Person Family in a 4...
* POOPING IN THE WOODS??!
• Pooping in the Woods? ...
* Articles about parenting, marriage, sex, & more: JessConnell.com
* Interview-style podcasts: kzbin.info?list...
* My book for new moms here: ONE THING: Top Tip (From a Mom of Six) amzn.to/3c5f60i
FEATURED MUSIC (used by permission):
Bite Your Lips- Andrew Applepie
Memory Replaced (Instrumental Version)- Josh Woodward
Canals- Andrew Applepie
Mare- Andrew Applepie
Good Old Days- Joakim Karud
Endless Joy- RUDE
Darien Gap- Instrumental- Josh Woodward
I Feel Good - Ehrling
Loupe- Andrew Applepie
Something New - Joakim Karud
And So It Begins - Artificial.Music
Bounce Your Head - Dixxy
Great Days - Joakim Karud
Fatherhood- Joakim Karud
Recover- Joakim Karud
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And share your comments & questions below!

[@adnan2911]

Super kids !! Future Super Heroes! and Salute to this Mom! 🫡

[@mikehopkins4725]

Awesome getting them out there and off the electronics. Good job momma!

[@texashikeaholicsadventures5651]

Absolutely awesome video!! Love seeing the boys enjoy nature!! I think this is the best ERL video I’ve ever seen!! Great job!!!

[@Jess_Connell]

aw, thank you!!

[@sabitthapa3358]

Hii jess . Good to see your small family 😊

[@lesliecordova1408]

Thanks for sharing. Looks like so much fun playing in all of the streams.

[@Jess_Connell]

It totally was!!

[@survivalbraceletgirl]

Hi there! My friend and I passed you guys on Athens. We passed along an encouraging word of “snickers ahead” to Silas and Moses. I loved watching your video. You make it look easy to do with a crew of boys. What fun memories they’ll have forever. You’re a great mom!!

[@Jess_Connell]

oh yay! How fun to "run" back into you :) Thanks for the encouraging comment!

[@mosesconnell]

thanks

[@farmgirlforever1028]

This is precious! I love it. Good job, boys! Great job, momma. Big families are the best. ❤️❤️

[@Jess_Connell]

THANK YOU! 🥰

[@USMC6976]

I am wanting to know where everyone parks their vehicles.

[@Jess_Connell]

Good question. There's a place on Google Maps called "ERL Access" where I have learned that a lot of people park. Another place is through Albert PIke toward Winding Stairs, at the Winding Stairs Trailhead. Those are the places most easily accessible for Texans. There's also an access point with parking near the Viles Branch trail, one at Blaylock Creek, one at the Little Missouri Falls, and one at the Upper Little Missouri River trailhead. To me, that last one was the most difficult to access (I did that last fall and it was 90+ minutes of awful forest-road driving). I'm planning to use the ERL access spot (where there are 4 parking spots) any time we hike it in the future. Hope this helps.