Mountain Biking Areas

• Caddo/Womble Ranger District

  Caddo/Womble Office
  1523 Hwy 270E
  Mount Ida, AR 71957
  (870) 867-2101

  The Caddo-Womble Ranger District consists of approximately 310,000 acres located in the Ouachita Mountains.  The district has very diverse natural resource and recreational programs.  Annually, there are  timber sales of 18 to 20 MMBF (million board feet), prescribed burns of 25,000 – 30,000 acres, diverse wildlife and fisheries programs, and a unique quartz minerals program. The district office is located in Mount Ida, a small rural community of 900 people surrounded by national forest, Corps of Engineers managed lands, and Lake Ouachita.  Lake Ouachita, at 40,000 acres, is one of the largest, cleanest, and most beautiful lakes in the Southern Region of the USDA Forest Service.  Hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, and water sports such as swimming, scuba diving, and boating attract people from all over the south and midwest to the district. Come visit the Caddo-Womble District to experience our beautiful scenery, vast natural resources, and developed and dispersed recreation programs!

  Recreation sites within the Caddo/Womble Ranger District.

• Albert Pike Day Use
• Athens Big Fork Trail
• Charlton Recreation Area
• Charlton Trail
• Lake Ouachita Vista Trail
• Little Missouri Trail
• Viles Branch Trail
• Jessieville Winona Fourche Ranger District

  Jessieville/Winona/Fourche Office
  8607 N Hwy 7
  PO Box 189
  Jessieville AR 71949
  (501) 984-5313

  Jessieville-Winona-Fourche Ranger District covers approximately 406 thousand acres on the north and east end of the Ouachita National Forest. The district is blessed with 11 lakes and numerous creeks and rivers for public fishing and water activities. Recreation opportunities abound. This district has a portion of the Scenic 7 Byway running through it with three Civilian Conservation Corp Camp interpretive sites. It has Richardson Bottoms Wildlife Viewing Area, Winona Scenic Drive, the 9,507 acre Flatside Wilderness area, three walk- in-turkey hunting areas, three designated scenic areas, three developed campgrounds including Lake Sylvia, two public rifle ranges, and 183 miles of trail for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The Ouachita National Recreation Trail spans 71 miles across the district and has nine trail shelters dispersed along its length for hiker use. The district is also home to Camp Ouachita, a historic Girl Scouts Inc. camp built between 1936 and 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). The camp is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the only surviving WPA and CCC constructed Girl Scouts Inc. camp in the United States.

  A prominent feature of the district, Forked Mountain, is visible from Highway 7 from Nimrod Lake to Jessieville. Read the legend behind this mountain.

• Bear Creek Trail & Horse Camp
• Buffalo Gap Trail
• Danville Mountain Trail
• Lake Sylvia Recreation Area
• Lake Winona Gravel Bike Loop
• Little Blakely Trail
• Possum Kingdom Trail
• Wildcat Mountain Trail
• Mena/Oden Ranger District

  Mena/Oden Office
  1603 Hwy 71 North
  Mena, AR 71953
  (479) 394-2382

  Mena-Oden Ranger District is a fast paced, complex, multiple use district consisting of approximately 43 permanent employees, several seasonal employees and a large volunteer program We manage approximately 400,000 acres including five recreation areas, two Wilderness areas, two ATV Multi-use Trail Complexes and Historical Tower Sites.  Come experience Shady Lake, Bard Springs, Dragover River access, Big Brushy, Shirley Creek Access, Caney Creek Wilderness, Black Fork Mountain Wilderness ,Wolf Pen Gap Trails, Fouche Mountain Trails, Bee Mountain, Rich Mountain and Tall Peak Tower.

  The City of Mena sits at the base of Rich Mountain and home of Queen Wilhelmena State Park and Talimena National Scenic Byway.  The District has two Visitor Information Stations. One is located at the Mena Ranger Station and another along the Scenic Drive.

• Big Brushy Trail Complex
• Earthquake Ridge Trail
• Shady Lake
• Wolf Pen Gap
• Oklahoma Ranger District

  The Oklahoma Ranger District consists of about 363,000 acres located on the west side of the Ouachita Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma.  The district is split into three areas: the northern unit is within LeFlore County and has many hiking trails and camp grounds, natural areas and a national recreation area; the central unit contains the large and beautiful Broken Bow Lake that provides thousands of people great fishing and water sports opportunities; the southern unit is more coastal plains with good timber production and a large wildlife area called Red Slough.  Annually we have timber sales of about 15 MMBF (million board feet), prescribed burns of 25,000 – 30,000 acres, diverse wildlife and fisheries programs, and many OHV trails/roads. The district has two offices: Hodgen and the main office in Hochatown.  Hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, and water sports such as swimming, scuba diving, and boating attract people from all over the south and midwest to the district.  Come on down and enjoy the beautiful vistas on the Talimena Scenic Drive, fish, camp, hike, drive, or hunt in southeastern Oklahoma.

• Billy Creek Recreation Area
• Billy Creek Trail
• Boardstand /Military Road
• Cedar Lake Recreation Area
• Horsethief Springs Trail
• Mountain Top Trail
• Winding Stair Equestrian
• Ouachita National Recreation Trail
• Poteau/Cold Springs Ranger District

  Cold Springs Office (479)675-3256
  PO Box 417
  2190 E Main St
  Booneville AR 72927 

  Poteau Office (479) 637-4174
  PO Box 2255
  Jct Hwy 71 & 248
  Waldron, AR 72958

  Poteau-Cold Springs Ranger District  is a 334,000 acre unit with a complex mix of natural resource management programs and public use opportunities.   Caring for the land is its hallmark, 120,000 acres are dedicated to a unique, nationally recognized project designed to restore the fire-dependent Shortleaf pine/Bluestem grass ecosystem and help restore the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.   The area has also been recognized as Arkansas first “Birding Area”, designated a neo-tropical migratory bird viewing area.
  If you enjoy scenic driving check out Forest Road 158, along the crest of Poteau Mountain, just a short distance from the Poteau Mountain Multi Use trail.  This route traverses the mountain top and is designated as the Poteau Mountain Rustic Road Auto Tour.  This 22 mile auto tour displays spectacular vistas, both pull-in and window vistas while traveling.  There are two picnic tables with fire rings designed for day use, although camping is not restricted.  Along this route is wildlife viewing opportunities, a historic stage coach crossing, a historic house place with a large natural spring/food cellar, and access to the Poteau Mountain Multi Use Trail.
  Access to the tallest waterfall in the Ouachitas is off Poteau Mountain Rustic Road Auto Tour, the trail is approximately 4.6 miles round trip and is considered a moderate hike.  Along the route is the rugged and remote 10,884 acre Poteau Mountain Wilderness Area.  Located on the north side of the mountain, it includes Slate Falls and Ruggles Cascade and it offers full wildlife hunting and viewing, hiking, and camping opportunities.  Vehicles are prohibited.
  Approximately 40 miles to the east is the district’s second wilderness area, the 6,000 acre remote and rugged Dry Creek area.  Outside the boundary but adjacent to the northwest portion of Dry Creek Wilderness Area is Lake Vista Overlook.  Enjoy a panoramic view to the north, east and west overlooking the Petit Jean River Valley and come almost eye-level with the tallest mountain in Arkansas, Mt. Magazine.
  More spectacular adventure awaits you back on the south side of the district.  Along the crest of Fourche Mountain lies the Ouachita National Recreation Trail.  The total trail extends from eastern Oklahoma to almost central Arkansas.  Approximately 22 miles of this National Recreation Trail are on the Poteau-Cold Springs District.  Use of this trail is designated for foot travel and mountain bike enthusiasts only.  Primitive camping is allowed anywhere along the trail, outside of riparian areas along drains where sensitive species of plants could exist.
  To add more outdoor recreation opportunities the district supports two pistol, rifle and/or shotgun shooting ranges, Buck Ridge and Brushy Hollow Memorial Shooting Range.  Both facilities, as most of our services, are free. Like turkey, deer, bear, squirrel, quail or rabbit hunting?  This 334,000 acre unit offers some of the finest. The entire 334,000 acres of the Poteau/Cold Springs are open to the public for free hunting.  The only areas where hunting is not allowed are developed recreation areas.
  Poteau-Cold Springs Offices located in Booneville (479-675-3233) and Waldron (479-637-4174) are just a phone call or a visit away for more information on district opportunities. 

• Belle Starr Multi-Use

  The Belle Starr Mult-Use Trail is a 22.6 mile looping trail that winds over the unique and varied terrain of the Ouachita National Forest. Riders and hikers will experience a diverse forest, with tree species including shortleaf pine, hickory, oak, ash, sweetgum, maple and elm as well as flowering and fruit trees like dogwood, redbud, and wild plum. The trail offers users an opportnity to explore exciting outdoor adventures, including awe-inspiring vistas, clear mountain creeks, and stunning scenery. Rides range from moderately easy to more difficult.

  The Belle Starr Multi-Use trail system was formally known as Poteau Mountain Multi-Use Trail.

  Use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on the Belle Starr Multi-Use Trail is limited to designated roads and trails. Please camp only at designated campsites. Trailheads are not designated campsites. For your safety, helmet use is highly recommended. 

  Information guide and map

  Map pdf

  Map jpeg

  Link to the Avenza Trail map on Avenza to be used on the avenza smartphone app. More information about the Avenza app is available here.

• Belle Starr North Parking/Trailhead
• Belle Starr West Parking/Trailhead
• Fourche Mountain Trail
• Sugar Creek Multiuse
• Womble Trail