Monday: 8:00 am - … The name "Ouachita" (Wash-it-taw) is derived from an American Indian word meaning "good hunting." Email Website Hours Add To Trip Open Trip Planner Hours. It's really no secret that my family and I love to get away to a quiet camping spot away from all civilization and people and noise. Established in 1907, the South's oldest and one of the largest (1.6 million acres) national forest. Some of the highlights of the forest include the 11-mile Horsethief Springs Trail, which is one of the most beautiful trails in the state. Ouachita National Forest is massive, so don’t expect to see it all in one trip. Office Fax: 580-494-6406. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Oklahoma and is a must-see destination. The preserve has since tripled in size and is now 1.8 million acres, protecting the watersheds of the Arkansas River Valley, Ouachita River Valley, and Little River Watersheds. The Forest offers high quality nature-related sightseeing and scenic driving as well as hunting, fishing and dispersed camping. The Ouachita Mountains abound in a wide variety of wildlife, including game and non-game species. It lies within the 1.7-million-acre Ouachita National Forest, the South’s oldest (established in 1907) and largest national forest. 60 Things To Do In Hot Springs National Park Arkansas. The best views of the area are in spring and fall along the Talimena Scenic Drive, a National Scenic Byway. Walk the Promenade above the bathhouses in downtown Hot Springs. The South’s first national forest, Ouachita was officially established in 1907 by President Theodore Roosevelt, after heavy logging knocked out much of Arkansas’ old-growth forest. Flickr/Shena Tschofen. Also given is their area as of September 30, 2007. Looking for a great trail in Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas? Here are some suggestions to get you started. The Ouachita Mountains stretch for about 160 miles northwest from Little Rock into Oklahoma. The Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT) is a premier long-distance hiking trail crossing more than 165 miles of the forest and running from Lake Fort Smith State Park to the Buffalo National River. Shuttles provided upstream and downstream providing access to some of the best fishing in Arkansas. From Ouachita National Forest you acquire a great sight of Brushy Mountain. The Ouachita National Forest covers 1.8 million acres in central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The park is surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, so more hiking and outdoor adventures can be enjoyed within the national forest. Our gorgeous, restorative resort town, Hot Springs, is located in the Ouachita Mountain Range. Take in the beauty of the Ouachita National Forest and see the abundant wild life along the river. Headquartered in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the forest is managed for multiple uses, including timber and wood production, watershed protection and improvement, habitat for wildlife and fish species (including threatened and endangered ones), wilderness area management, minerals … Nearly 50 miles of trails are offered in this beautiful section of southeast Oklahoma, which is the home of the majestic Ouachita Mountains and Talimena Scenic Byway. RiverView Cabins and Canoes provides Canoe Rental and Shuttle Service on the Ouachita River. Flickr/Richard May. Gateway airports include Little Rock's Clinton National Airport and Oklahoma's Tulsa International Airport. The southern section of the forest lies along the Arkansas River Valley south to the Ouachita Mountains, and there are several Arkansas State Scenic Byways as you're passing through. Ouachita National Recreation Trail is the longest trail at 192 miles beginning at Talihina, Oklahoma and ending at Perryville, Arkansas. The Ouachita National Forest stretches over 1.8 million acres between Arkansas and Oklahoma and is mostly located in the Ouachita Mountains. An elevator goes to the observation deck 216 feet up. TAKE A trail ride through the Ouachita National Forest at Mountain Harbor Riding Stable. Ouachita National Forest Address: 52175 Hwy 59 Hodgen, OK 74939. Visit Arkansas’s Largest Lake Ready for some activity? This area is a popular outdoor activity and scenic driving destination. Home / Activities / Parks & Nature / National Forests / Ouachita / Waterfalls. Looking for a great trail in Ouachita National Forest, Oklahoma? On Tripadvisor's Hot Springs travel forum, travellers are asking questions and offering advice on topics like "Advise on pictureque hiking trails". They are listed here in descending order of forestland within the county. Ready for some activity? Broken Bow Lake covers 14,000 acres and has 180 miles of lush tree covered natural shoreline, which is perfect for boating, fishing, swimming and water sports. 5. Mena/Oden Ranger District Mena, AR Phone: (479) 394-2382. Lake Ouachita, pronounced "Wash-ah-taw," stretches over 48,000 acres nestled in the hills of Ouachita National Forest. Ouachita National Forest is located in 13 counties in western and central Arkansas and 2 counties in southeastern Oklahoma. We choose to do a 26-mile loop in Arkansas known as Eagle Rock Loop (ERL). The Ouachita National Forest spans over 1.8 million acres in southeastern Oklahoma and into central Arkansas. Although the Ouachita Mountains don't have nearly as many waterfalls as they do to the north in the Ozarks, what waterfalls do exist are in such beautiful locations that they should all be visited. Of Ouachita National Forest is located in the hills of Ouachita National Forest spans over 1.8 million acres southeastern! 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