Ouachitas in a Week: Kicking Around the Country's Least Known Mountain Range

It’s no secret that I love the Ouachita Mountains. With over 800 named peaks, there’s so much to see. I’ve always wanted a week to explore them and recently I got just that. So come along and see my take on the Ouachitas in a Week.
First stop: The long abandoned Beech Creek National Scenic and Botanical Area on the south side of highway 63 just west of the Arkansas state line. We set up camp right beside Pigeon Creek on Forest Road 6026 and enjoyed a peaceful night in the woods.
The next morning we gathered our gear and headed out into the wilderness to try and retrace the route of the old Turkey Snout Trail. We hit the trail as the leaves started to change color which made for a beautiful journey. A few hours, and a copperhead encounter or two later, we made our way back to the truck having successfully bushwhacked the route.
Next stop: A creekside camp off Forest Road 38 in Arkansas just north of the Caney Creek Wilderness Area. We set up our hammocks and took in a little rest before the backpacking adventure we’d begin early the next morning.
On day three of our week in the Ouachitas, we packed up for an overnighter on the 11-mile Buckeye Mountain and Caney Creek loop trail. The trailhead is on Forest Road 38 just south of the campsite. The hike is somewhat challenging, but it is packed with beauty in every mile. Do be sure sure to bring a map. There is only one sign in the entire wilderness area.
The Buckeye Mountain trail follows the ridge of, you guessed it, Buckeye mountain, and it has some of the best views you’ll find anywhere in Arkansas. I did a video of the hike a little while back if you’d like to see the whole thing.
Just before you reach the intersection of the Buckeye Mountain Trail with the Caney Creek Trail you’ll find Katy Falls - our stopping place for the night. There’s a well-used site just beside the falls. Make sure you do your part to keep the site beautiful. Pack out your trash and anything else you can carry out if you find it destroyed by the idiot campers before you.
A great night’s rest brought us to day 4 of our big Ouachitas adventure. With coffee and oatmeal in us, we hit the trail and headed toward the truck by way of the East Caney Creek Trail.
Before we dipped back into the wilderness we stopped by the Bluebell Cafe and Country Store in Story, Arkansas. The place is famous among thru hikers of the nearby Ouachita Trail for its hospitality and its burgers, and it delivered on both in the very best way.
With those delicious burgers still in our tummies we set up camp at the end of Forest Road 793 near Hollis, Arkansas. This unique site is well-known and an excellent jumping off place for one of my Ouachita favorites, Forked Mountain.
Before dinner that evening I climbed a little hill near camp to have a look at Forked Mountain. In the morning, I was going to bushwhack right up the side of it.
Forked Mountain has to be one of the coolest mountains in the whole Ouachita range. It’s not the tallest, but it sure has some character, and a heck of a lot of rocks. The rain didn’t make the climb any easier, but it sure didn’t dampen my spirits, either.
The weather off the mountain was pretty feisty, too, so we decided to pack up and find a new spot to camp for the night.
We finally made it out of the fog and rain and set up camp near the Pashubbe Trailhead off of Highway 259 in Oklahoma. The next morning we tore down camp early but found the place too pretty not to explore. We went for a short hike to the Pashubbe Shelter along the Ouachita Trail, a place I’ve stayed many nights before.
There’s a logbook at the shelter that folks use as a sort of community journal. We opened it up to find an entry I had made on my last night there.
Our week in the Ouachitas was about as special as they come. The mountains, the weather, the changing of the leaves….it all made it so magical. By no means was this the only way one could enjoy a few days out there, but with country this pretty, how could you go wrong?
*GEAR LIST FOR THE BACKPACKING TRIP”
(If you have questions, leave them in the comments and I’ll respond.)
Osprey ATMOS AG 65L backpack
Eno Double Nest hammock
Bear Butt hanging straps
Chill Gorilla tarp/rainfly
Featherstone sleeping pad
Nature Hikes sleeping bag (probably rated down to 50º)
Nemo Fillo Elite pillow
Black Diamond carabiners
MSR Pocket Rocket + fuel
Sea to Summit pot/bowl/cup set
spoon + fork + knife
Reusable mesh coffee filter
Pocketknife
2 Nalgenes
Meals and snacks
Black Diamond headlamp + 3 AAA batteries installed
3 AAA batteries (backup)
Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter (in cute mushroom bag)
Pack rainfly
First aid kit
Paracord
NOCS binoculars
Rab long sleeve base layer
Cotopaxi Teca wind breaker
Marmot Precip raincoat
Smartwool merino leggings
Patagonia R1 hooded jacket
Smartwool hiking socks
Ball cap
Crocs
Biolite Charge 80 (power bank) + cord
Sea to Summit dry sacks (one big and one little)

[@shaynecoventry8894]

God I wanna see it. It's gonna take me a year or so to save for but, I'm looking forward to it all.

[@NorwayHikesTrails]

Beautiful scenery 👍

[@OklahomoHiker]

It’s some truly beautiful country. 🧡

[@denisestarr2314]

My backyard . And so much I have not explored . Love my Ouachitas.

[@OklahomoHiker]

I’d LOVE to have them in my back yard! The Ouachitas are just spectacular!

[@yahwehschild1375]

Im so glad theyre getting a little rain. Hope it brings the little missouri river up some.

[@OklahomoHiker]

Me, too! They need the rain.

[@yahwehschild1375]

A copperhead in Novemeber? Oh lawd. We headed over there this weekend. I spent alot of the summer in the Ouachitas and didn't see one snake..now falls here and there they are. 😢

[@OklahomoHiker]

This trip was made the last week of October, but it was still a little surprising to see copperheads still out.