Ouachita National Forest
| Ouachita National Forest | |
|---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
| Location | Arkansas, USA |
| Nearest city | Hot Springs, AR |
| Area | 1.8 million acres (7,285 km²) |
| Established | 1907 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Ouachita National Forest is a National Forest that lies in the western section of Arkansas and portions of eastern Oklahoma.
The Ouachita National Forest is the oldest National Forest in the southern United States. The forest encompasses more than 1,800,000 acres (2,812.5 sq mi; 7,284.3 km2) including most of the scenic Ouachita Mountains. Six locations in the forest, comprising 65,000 acres (101.56 sq mi; 263.05 km2), have been designated as wilderness areas. Ouachita is the French spelling of the Indian word Washita which means "good hunting grounds".
Rich in history, the rugged and scenic Ouachita Mountains were first explored in 1541 by Hernando de Soto's party of Spaniards. French explorers followed, flavoring the region with names like Fourche La Fave River.
The area including the forest nearly became a 165,000 acres (257.81 sq mi; 667.73 km2) National Park during the 1930s but a last-minute veto by President Calvin Coolidge ended the effort.
Two wilderness areas are found in the forest, protecting the sections of the forest that have had the least amount of human intervention. The 13,139 acres (20.53 sq mi; 53.17 km2) Black Fork Mountain Wilderness is located in both Arkansas and Oklahoma while the 9,754 acres (15.24 sq mi; 39.47 km2) Upper Kiamichi River Wilderness is located solely in Oklahoma.
The forest contains a number of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. The most extensive hiking trail is the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, which traverses 223 miles (358.9 km) across the region. This is a well-maintained backpacking, hiking trail with overnight shelters in several portions of the trail. Mountain biking is also allowed for some sections of the trail.
In the Oklahoma section of the forest the 26,445 acres (41.32 sq mi; 107.02 km2) Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area and six other designated areas offer visitors a full range of activities with more than 150 campsites, a 90 acres (3,920,400.000 sq ft; 364,217.078 m2) lake, and an equestrian camp.
The Talimena Scenic Drive, which is Highway 1 in Oklahoma and Highway 88 in Arkansas, is a National Scenic Byway which meanders through the forest providing amazing vistas and excellent photo opportunities.
Canoeing and fishing are popular activities on the Caddo River, Little Missouri River, and Ouachita River within the bounds of the forest. The Cossatot River, said to be the most difficult whitewater river between the Smoky and Rocky Mountains, also passes through the forest.
Rockhounds frequent a belt several miles wide containing large amounts of quartz crystals. Visitors and rock collectors are free to pick up loose crystals within the belt for personal use and may dig for quartz with the permission of the district ranger.
Points of interest
- Beavers Bend Resort Park
- Broken Bow Lake
- Kerr Arboretum and Botanical Area
- Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area
- Black Fork Mountain Wilderness
- Upper Kiamichi River Wilderness
- Ouachita National Recreation Trail
