Ouachita Trail Thru Hike: March 2023

On March 18th, 2023 I started a solo eastbound thru-hike of the Ouachita Trail. The OT is wonderful trail spanning 222 miles in Oklahoma and Arkansas. The trail offers plenty of great views and it is very well maintained. The shelters are consistently spacious and clean. I often had them all to myself -- even during peak spring hiking season. Plenty of solitude can still be found on the Ouachita.
I had cold, wet, hot, humid, and sunny all packed into the 9 days. On day 7, it rained very hard causing rapid flash flooding. Be careful out there!
Follow/Contact on IG: @davidbraunlich
Strava: / strava
Gear List: lighterpack.com/r/reos1d
Day 1: 9.25 miles
Day 2: 28.21 miles
Day 3: 25.56 miles
Day 4: 28.44 miles
Day 5: 27.25 miles
Day 6: 26.42 miles
Day 7: 24.32 miles
Day 8: 29.82 miles
Day 9: 26.50 miles
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Thumbnail credit: Jack L

[@kevinperkins8472]

Hike there many times great informational video, you had me taking notes

[@doconthetrail]

Doc from The Trek here, stepping out on this one in a month ! Great posts here !

[@davebraunlich]

Enjoy, you should have mostly summer conditions by then!

[@TheAdventuresofEli]

Great Video! You and @DixonHikes are huge inspirations for me to get on this trail even more, been doing research to Thru-hike this trail for March 2024. Man You put in some serious miles for sure a day. I'm looking at 14-16 days to complete this as of right now.

[@davebraunlich]

Thank you! It’s a great little trail. Enjoy it.

[@calebtheshirt]

Get that work in Mr b 💪💪

[@DixonHikes]

Great video, Dave! You crushed it. We crossed paths on 3/23 around mile 125 I think. Good meeting you. Hope you enjoyed the OT & your time in Arkansas. ✌🏼

[@davebraunlich]

I remember talking to you after Iron Forks. Nice job to you as well. I'll need to check out your videos soon.

[@ChadM10]

Congrats on your thru hike and thanks for sharing!

[@user-bp4gc2lw6d]

That crossing right before flatside pinnacle was up to my butt when we crossed it. I’m glad we went for it but it was our sketchiest crossing. Crystal prong eas a strong second

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

This look like a great hike. I am adding this to my bucket list. New follower here. Crow

[@user-bp4gc2lw6d]

This is Doc from oak mountain shelter. Excellent video. You inspired us to do more miles and we finished far ahead of our expected eta. Peace 70’s

[@davebraunlich]

Awesome! Glad to hear you guys made it to the end. Congrats!

[@maxiemills6982]

I did about 25 miles of this trail sometime in the 1980s. I didn't see anyone on the trail. End of summer and lots of spiderwebs across the trail.

[@gavincogburn9603]

Yessir mr b

[@anthonynguyen4770]

Me and Jeremiah think this is a W.

[@ChrisWilliams-pw6gw]

Attempted "skunk-scaring", hahaha

[@rungavagairun]

Well done. Planning to do this trip in the fall this year. 8 days was ambitious. I'm hoping to do it in 10. We'll see how that works out.

[@davebraunlich]

10 days is definitely doable if you’re in shape. I’d love to see the OT in the fall. Good luck!

[@Mountian-Zen]

Nice …. TY for sharing. What month? Looks like there was no issue with water, did I see a water cache?

[@davebraunlich]

March. There was a water cache that someone left for any hiker. I did not prearrage any caches.

[@DryBonesOutdoors]

Nice video!! This is a trail that is in my radar!! Thanks for sharing your experience. Have you done any backpacking in Kentucky?

[@davebraunlich]

No, but want to do the Sheltowee Trace someday!

[@DryBonesOutdoors]

Yeah the Sheltowee is nice. Red River Gorge is an experience all in itself.