Hiking and Riding More than 600 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding are available, ranging from short interpretive trails of less than 1 mile to longer routes on the 192-mile Ouachita National Trail. Trails vary in level of difficulty from primitive trails in wilderness areas to paved, interpretive trails, some for physically challenged visitors. Camping and Picnicking Thirty-three camp and picnic grounds are available during the late spring, summer and early fall. Selected areas remain open year-round to accommodate fall and winter visitors. A fee is charged to use some national forest recreation areas.
Fees vary based on the type of services provided at each area.
Arkansas Scenic Highway 7 and Talimena Scenic Byway crossing mountain tops from Arkansas into Oklahoma. Both byways offer visitors outstanding opportunities to enjoy pleasure driving and scenic viewing. The variety of enjoyable experiences provided by the assortment of rivers on the Ouachita is remarkably wide, ranging from unmatched trout streams to rugged whitewater rivers, to peaceful passages ideal for first-time floaters. Some of the Forest s most popular waterways are the Caddo and Ouachita Rivers and the two designated Wild and Scenic Rivers, Cossatot and Little Missouri. Fishing Our waters abound with largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass, green sunfish, longear sunfish, catfish, bluegill, and crappie.