Hot Springs to Mena advice

[valkyrie610]

Hey guys, this may sound crazy, but I need some advice. Wifey and I are gonna be in Hot Springs this August, and looking at the maps it seems like one could pretty much get from Hot Springs to Mena off the highway- lots of forest service roads, etc.

How is it in reality? The roads between H.S. & Norman appear to be either paved or graded, and I assume the NFS roads between Norman & Mena are dirt- am I correct?

We would like to camp along the way, but could drive to Mena straight through if necessary.

We are continuing from Mean to Clayton using the K-trials & camping along the way.

Just wondering if any of y'all are familiar enough with the area to advise?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Michael Hanson]

The old CC triails and forest service trails used to be pretty good. I would take a chain saw in case something is down in the road, the views should be great,plenty of wild life.Stop at a ranger station ask about your route. Mike

 

[tyama]

HS to Mena

Hi,

If you're short on time, I'd say head west following the roads that parallel 270W but then work your way south till you're over by little Missouri area. There's lots of good scenery and roads to in that area. Check out the cossatot area too. There's a nice state park over there.

The roads near norman are fine. They'll take you down to albert pike if you want or over to shady lake. It'll be a bit warm in august but if there's water in the creeks, it'll be nice to sit in.

If you have time, head north towards perryville and then cut west by lake sylvia. the roads there parallel the ouachita trail and have some of the best views in that part of the state. If you go west to booneville and then south, there's some nice scenery there too. I'd still make time to hit the little mo and cossatot. HTH, ty

 

[valkyrie610]

The old CC triails

Pardon my ignorance, but what are CC trails?

Hi,

If you're short on time, I'd say head west following the roads that parallel 270W but then work your way south till you're over by little Missouri area. There's lots of good scenery and roads to in that area. Check out the cossatot area too. There's a nice state park over there.

The roads near norman are fine. They'll take you down to albert pike if you want or over to shady lake. It'll be a bit warm in august but if there's water in the creeks, it'll be nice to sit in.

If you have time, head north towards perryville and then cut west by lake sylvia. the roads there parallel the ouachita trail and have some of the best views in that part of the state. If you go west to booneville and then south, there's some nice scenery there too. I'd still make time to hit the little mo and cossatot. HTH, ty

Ty, thanks!

I was hoping to do this trip off-pavement as much as possible, even if we're just meandering down farm roads or whatever... any thoughts? Is it do-able?

The Northern route sounds interesting, but we'll have our Lab with us, so we'd like to be near water fairly often. I assume the scenic route in the higher elevations will be a little more dry?

Sorry for all the questions guys, but we don't get vacations often and we are really looking forward to this...

 

[Matt60]

for what its worth i'd park the truck and go ride the womble trail. i've done the Ouachita challenge several times and nothing is more scenic than that... any way have a great trip...

 

[valkyrie610]

Thank you Matt, but sadly my MB days are behind me now...

 

[tyama]

You can still do it pretty well on dirt. Most of the roads follow the valleys so your lab will have chances to get out. Here's a link to the winona drive, which starts north of HS.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/maps/documents/Winona_Auto_Tour.pdf

If you order a forest map or look on google earth, you'll see some good routes.

BTW, I think CC is for CCC--civilian conservation corps

Pardon my ignorance, but what are CC trails?

Ty, thanks!

I was hoping to do this trip off-pavement as much as possible, even if we're just meandering down farm roads or whatever... any thoughts? Is it do-able?

The Northern route sounds interesting, but we'll have our Lab with us, so we'd like to be near water fairly often. I assume the scenic route in the higher elevations will be a little more dry?

Sorry for all the questions guys, but we don't get vacations often and we are really looking forward to this...

 

[valkyrie610]

Very cool, thanks!

 

[valkyrie610]

Is the Caddo Gap Road paved, gravel, unimproved...?

 

[tyama]

The highway that goes from glenwood to norman is paved. Most of the roads off of it are not or mostly not.

 

[YotaJosh]

Chris - when you do nail down your route, I'd be very interested if you could share it somehow (google maps, gps route, etc.). I've lived in AR my whole life and I've yet to fully explore either of our National Forests.

Sounds like a something I might have to try one day.

 

[valkyrie610]

Thanks guys... Josh, I have an outline, I have it loaded in Google Maps, I just need to get better at Google Maps.

I can share the link if you PM me your email addy... Ty, you too or anyone else that has some input..

 

[79coyotefrg]

Chris, I have one of the Forest Service Ouachita National forest maps, it covers everything from west of Benton to Clayton OK

I have driven from just north of Jessieville on 7 to Glenwood, its a gorgeous drive and lots of water/streams and camping area's, one are near Norman (all on gravel/dirt roads) has a tiny pavilion (one picnic table) and a natural spring.

I can take you and Barbara up to the trail head any time you want that week

 

[79coyotefrg]

Is the Caddo Gap Road paved, gravel, unimproved...?

unless it says state hwy or County rd its gravel

USDA Forest Service - Ouachita National Forest

 

[valkyrie610]

Thanks Glen! I just may take you up on that!

 

[MEMCruiser]

Chris,

I am in Hot Springs now and was cruising the internets when I found this post. I have bought a great map from the U.S. Forest Service in downtown Hot Springs. Was 9 dollars and has a lot of great info. Let me know how your trip goes.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Spend some time on Lake Ouachita its large and very clean. Mike